[Peetwo]

Supp Estimates AQON/Add Docs etc.

ASA:

QON 156:

Topic: AIRSERVICES - Brisbane BACACG meetings

Senator Bridget McKenzie asked:

Is ASA aware why the Minister announced the cessation of attendance by the department's
representatives for Brisbane BACACG meetings when discussion on aircraft flight paths and
aircraft noise remains ongoing?

Answer:

No such announcement was made.

QON 157:

Topic: AIRSERVICES - Recommendations from the Impact and Mitigation of Aircraft Noise
Senate Inquiry

Senator Bridget McKenzie asked:

1. Has AirServices Australia reviewed the recommendations of the Senate Inquiry into the
Impact and Mitigation of Aircraft Noise and to what extent has the organisation sought
to operationalise the the recommendations?
2. Why has ASA not complied with Senate Recommendation 16 to improve its community
engagement framework and develop robust processes in relation to Noise Action Plan
for Brisbane Phase 6, Package 3?
The Committee recommends that AirServices Australia builds upon work already
undertaken to improve its community engagement framework by urgently developing
robust processes for considering, responding to, and where applicable, implementing
outcomes of consultation processes.
3. Why has the ASA not complied with Recommendation 20 of the Impact and Mitigation
of Aircraft Noise Report to work to create a modern, user-friendly website that provides
a single source of truth for the community?
The committee recommends that the Department works with AirServices Australia, the
Aircraft Noise Ombudsman and aviation industry stakeholders to create a modern,, user
friendly website that provides a single source of truth for the community. This process
should include comprehensive community consultation.

Answer:

1. Yes. Airservices Australia is not the lead agency for all recommendations; however, we
are working closely with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional
Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts to deliver a coordinated response to
those recommendations that fall within our remit.
2. The Australian Government tabled its response to the Senate Standing Committee’s
report, including Recommendation 16, on 3 November 2025. The government supports
this recommendation and has set expectations for Airservices to apply best-practice
consultation when designing airspace and flight path changes.
The Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local
Government, the Hon Catherine King MP released a new Statement of Expectations for
Airservices on 1 November 2025 requiring Airservices to undertake and publish biennial
reviews into the implementation of Airservices Community Engagement Standard.
Airservices will undertake a review of its Community Engagement Standard in 2026 and
intends to consult with the community during this process.
3. The government has agreed in principle to Recommendation 20. Airservices and the
department will continue to collaborate on continuous improvement to provide highquality information to the public including through existing websites and enhanced
community feedback mechanisms.

QON 194 - AIRSERVICES - Curfew in Newcastle

QON 195 - AIRSERVICES - Date Australia adopted the reduction of tail wind speed

QON 198

QON 197

QON 196

QON 199 - AIRSERVICES - Cairns fire station upgrades and refurbishment

QON 200 - AIRSERVICES - BAC 2026 Master Plan - increase of noise and air pollution over Brisbane

QON 201 - AIRSERVICES - Number of staff available to cover absences

CASA:

AQON 57 - CASA - Health assessment and information of Qantas pilot

AQON 58 - CASA - Search of specific word in medical record system

AQON 59 - CASA - Conversations with Townsville Airport

AQON 61 - CASA - Delays in processing FOI requests

AQON 61 - Correspondence from Mr Barker to Minister C King

AQON 62 - CASA - Part 43 of CASR Maintenance of aircraft in private and aerial work operations

Senator Matt O'Sullivan asked:

Senator O'SULLIVAN: What's the current status of regulatory reforms around Part 43 of
CASR Maintenance of aircraft in private and aerial work operations?
Ms Spence: We've completed our consultation and engagement on that. There's a
recommendation with government whether to make the regulations or not. That would be
one better placed to the department than us.
Senator O'SULLIVAN: Has CASA provided advice to the minister?
Ms Spence: Yes.
Senator O'SULLIVAN: And the government. On how many occasions—and on each
occasion—was that advice provided, or was it just the formal response to the—
Ms Spence: Sorry—in relation to part 43?
Senator O'SULLIVAN: Yes.
Ms Spence: I think, probably, the final piece of advice was once we completed our
engagement with industry, did our consultation and provided a recommendation about the
readiness for the part to be made. I can certainly take that on notice, if there were other
pieces of advice.
[...]
Senator O'SULLIVAN: Was CASA's advice also provided to the department?
Ms Spence: That would be the mechanism for getting the advice to the minister—through
the department.
Senator O'SULLIVAN: It went through the department to the minister. That answers my next
question then. Has the minister provided any direction or feedback on the advice provided
by CASA?
Ms Spence: No.
Senator COLBECK: What date was the advice provided?
Ms Spence: Sorry, I'd have to take that on notice.

Answer:

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority provided the CASR Part 43 Regulatory Package to the
Department of Infrastructure Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts
on 28 October 2024.

AQON 63 - CASA - Approval and implementation of Part 43 regulatory reforms

Senator Matt O'Sullivan asked:

Senator O'SULLIVAN: Has CASA sought advice from the department or the minister or a
member of the minister's office on when approval could be expected?
Ms Spence: We've asked the department whether advice is being provided to the minister,
because it goes through them. But we're just being patient and waiting for advice.
Senator O'SULLIVAN: Do you have an expectation as to when the approval will be given?
Ms Spence: No. We've identified how we will go about implementing the part, should it be
made, so we're ready to go when we get the feedback, but the system will continue if it
doesn't.
Senator O'SULLIVAN: So, once you do get that approval, how long will it take for CASA to
implement the reforms?
Mr Campbell: We've got a date of—sorry; it's either three months or six months, and I can
take that on notice. It will be from the date the regulation is made to when it becomes
active. I'm going to say six months. We've got all the prep work done to get ready for that
date.

Answer:

The proposed Part 43 regulations have been drafted such that they would commence
3 months after the regulations are made and registered.

AQON 64 - Stakeholder interest and engagement regarding Part 43 regulatory reforms

Senator Matt O'Sullivan asked:

Senator O'SULLIVAN: [...] I note that you took quite an extensive consultation process
around part 43 regulatory reforms. Is CASA aware of any ongoing industry stakeholder
interests around changes to the part 43 regulatory reforms since that consultation process?
Ms Spence: Yes.
[...]
Senator O'SULLIVAN: Minister, could you take that on notice, please, and come back to us.
Senator McCarthy: I certainly can.
Senator O'SULLIVAN: Thank you. The question is, following the consultations as part of the
review, whether there's been any engagement with the minister's office from stakeholders.
If you could, let us know also which stakeholders the minister met with.
Senator McCarthy: So that's two questions there, on notice?
Senator O'SULLIVAN: Yes. Correct—as a subsequent.

Answer:

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority undertook a consultation process as a routine part of
developing proposed new arrangements for some types of aircraft maintenance under Civil
Aviation Safety Regulation Part 43.
The Hon Catherine King MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development
and Local Government is currently considering advice from the Department of
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts in
relation to the proposal.
The minister routinely receives feedback from a range of stakeholders in relation to matters
within her portfolio, including those relating to proposed Part 43.

AQON 65 - CASA - Number of HOTC or HOFO interviews conducted in a year

Senator Tyron Whitten asked:

Senator WHITTEN: How many staff does CASA have to perform the interviews? And I won't
hold you to it; your best guess will do.
Mr Bouttell: We've got roughly 70 people in our reg services team.
Senator WHITTEN: How many HOTC or HOFO interviews would you perform in a year?
Mr Bouttell: I couldn't answer that.
Ms Spence: We'll take that on notice.

Answer:

Head of Training and Checking (HOTC)
Closed successful applications only
• 2022 = 354
• 2023 = 310
• 2024 = 245
• 2025 – Current = 278
• 2025 – Expected = 328
Average over the past 3 years = 309
Head of Flying Operations (HOFO)
• 2022 = 332
• 2023 = 237
• 2024 = 206
• 2025 – Current = 100
• 2025 – Expected = 118
Average over the past 3 years = 223

AQON 66 - CASA - Consumer and airline protections for foreign-owned airports

Senator Bridget McKenzie asked:

Senator McKENZIE: Is CASA aware of the sale of the Ayers Rock Resort and its airstrip to US
private equity fund Journey Beyond?
Ms Spence: I think we were aware that there was activity going on in the resort there and
that the airstrip was attached to the resort. But, to be honest, we don't have any approval
roles relating to ownership. We just provide certification of the aerodrome itself.
Senator McKENZIE: I know that, yes, but you do have responsibility for safety. Are there any
other foreign owned airports in the country?
Ms Spence: I've got no—
Senator McKENZIE: Can you just, on notice, give me an appreciation and an understanding—
because we heard Minister King has no jurisdiction, and the ACCC doesn't manage AYQ's
prices, service quality or safety— of what consumer and airline protections are going to
exist if it's a foreign owned airport?
Ms Spence: Irrespective of the ownership of it, they would have to meet our normal
certification requirements from a safety perspective. But we've got no—
Senator McKENZIE: Can you look at it specifically, please?
Ms Spence: Yes, certainly.

Answer:

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) does not have responsibility for airport
ownership, authorisation of airport operators, or consumer and airline protections.
CASA’s role is limited to ensuring that aerodromes meet safety standards under the Civil
Aviation Safety Regulations, and the requirements apply regardless of ownership structure.

AQON 76 - CASA - Single engine go-arounds

Senator Jessica Collins asked:

1. If tracked, how many single engine go-arounds have occurred during normal operations,
private and commercial on average per year?
2. How many incidents, fatal or otherwise, have happened over the past 20 years
practising or tested on the single-engine go arounds? Please detail these incidents.

Answer:

1. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority does not track or hold specific data on go-arounds
conducted during normal operations for single-engine aircraft.
2. The National Aviation Occurrence Database, which is administered by the Australian
Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), captures in general terms the type of in-flight activity
being conducted (i.e. Instructional Flying). It does not capture the specific nature of the
activity to sufficient detail to allow flights where practice go-arounds were being
conducted and resulted in a safety occurrence to be reported on.


AQON 77 - CASA - Testing flights

Senator Jessica Collins asked:

1. Why are testing flights up to twice a year from once a year? What has informed this
change?
2. How many fatalities have occurred from training flights and procedure check-flights in
Australia over the last 20 years?
3. Over the past 20 years how many fatalities have occurred in Australia caused by
occurrences that are required to be simulated in training or check-flight conditions?

Answer:

Twice yearly proficiency checks were always required for pilots involved in regular public
transport (RPT) operations and all other commercial operations in aircraft heavier than
5700kg.
These requirements were expanded in December 2021 to include all pilots involved in air
transport operations where those operations involve flying in cloud or at night (flights
needing to use instruments). They also apply to aerial work operations involved in large
aircraft or high complexity. Prior to the change, aerial work operators and former charter
and air ambulance operators (now known as air transport operators) using aircraft at or
under 5700kg had less frequent checks.
A key driver for these changes was accident rate analysis for operations previously known as
charter and regular passenger transport (RPT) operations identifying significant accident
rate disparities between low-capacity charter and low-capacity RPT versus high-capacity
RPT.
For operators conducting these operations before December 2021, the new requirements
were delayed until the end of February 2025.

QON 159:

Topic: CASA - Uncrewed Aerial System approval wait-times

Senator Andrew Bragg asked:

1. What is the average wait-time for CASA approvals when it comes to Uncrewed Aerial
Systems?
2. I’ve been told that an application to fly a “complex drone operation” requires a specific
approval, and the specific approval takes upward of 12 months. Is that correct?
3. Is CASA aware of the effect these long wait times are having on the industry?

Answer:
1. Median times for specific drone-related approvals can be found on the Civil Aviation
Safety Authority’s (CASA) website
2. The median processing time for the last month for this application type was 78 days and
we expect this to further reduce as we roll out initiatives such as Broad Area Beyond
Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) approvals.
3. Yes.

QON 160:

Topic: CASA - Alternative approval models

Senator Andrew Bragg asked:

1. Is CASA exploring alternative approval models? (NB: They will say yes, but their current
proposed solutions only address small drones/simple operations)
2. If so, what alternatives is CASA exploring?
3. How long will it be before CASA begins trailing alternative approval processes?
4. By how much are those alternative approval models expected to cut wait times?

Answer:

1. Yes. As this industry sector has matured over the past decade and risks have become
better understood globally, opportunities have been identified that are aimed at
reducing direct Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) involvement in assessment of a
range of activities including certain Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations,
training, and medium category RPAS operations.
2. CASA is considering how to improve application and assessment pathways for remotely
piloted aircraft operator’s certificate (ReOC) holders for Operations Over and Near
People (OONP). CASA is considering under certain conditions how RPA operations can be
conducted above 400ft for ReOC holders without CASA approval.
3. The following is underway:
a. Broad Area Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) pathways
(https://www.casa.gov.au/drones/flight-au...ays(trial)) are being trialled by CASA to permit
approved operators to self-assess BVLOS operations in certain circumstances.
These are operations where the remote pilot can undertake operations within
having visual sight of the RPAS and therefore enabling much wider use of the
RPAS to conduct more varied missions.
b. CASA is trialling a new process to help Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) training
organisations add medium remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) to their courses. The
trial reduces delays and paperwork. It gives training organisations faster access
to new medium RPA models.
c. CASA no longer conducts an operational check for operators seeking to apply for
an Extended visual line of sight (EVLOS) approval.
d. CASA has commenced the trial for broad area BVLOS flight operations for 12
months until 15 October 2026. Whilst the Medium remotely piloted aircraft
(RPA) remote pilot licence (RePL) training alleviation commenced in September
2025. The RPAS and AAM Roadmap (https://www.casa.gov.au/resources-andedu...mapupdates) explains CASA’s plan for regulating RPAS and AAM into the future. Consultation is open for research and
development pathways for uncrewed operations.
(https://consultation.casa.gov.au/regulat...dp-2521us/)
4. CASA estimates the introduction of Broad Area BVLOS will see an approximate reduction
in the number of BVLOS application by approximately 30%. This will result in time
savings across all regulatory service types as well as further stimulating industry.
Processing times for related-related approvals, these can also be found on the CASA
website: (casa.gov.au/service-delivery-statistics)

QON 161:

Topic: CASA - Designating 'trusted operators'

Senator Andrew Bragg asked:

What’s stopping CASA from designating ‘trusted operators’, rewarding good engineering
and processes so credible industry players can get on with it safely?

Answer:

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) approach to oversighting industry is integrated
into the regulatory framework and there is no separate "trusted operator" designation. The
scope and frequency of oversight CASA undertakes is informed by an operators’ experience,
historical compliance, track record of safe operations and other risk factors.

QON 162:

Topic: CASA - Drone company failures

Senator Andrew Bragg asked:

Is CASA aware of the string of high-profile failures of drone companies, moves overseas, and
avoidance of the Australian market due to regulatory delays?

Answer:

No.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is aware of some Australian companies expanding
their operations into international markets. CASA is further aware of an increase in
international companies commencing operations in Australia.

CASA is not aware of any avoidance of the Australian market due to aviation safety
regulatory delays.

QON 185 - CASA - Long wait times for Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems applications

QON 202 - CASA - Fatalities during training exercises

QON 360 - CASR Part 43 Maintenance Regulations


Airports:

QON 350 - Aviation Safeguarding

QON 351 - Moorabbin Airport

QON 352 - Audit of Head Lease compliance

QON 353 - Development patterns at Moorabbin Airport

QON 354 - Protection of long-term viability of General Aviation airports

QON 355 - Demolition of buildings at Moorabbin Airport

QON 356 - Departmental review of Airport Building Controllers

QON 357 - Development proposals at federally leased airports

ATSB:

QON 183 - ATSB - Aircraft accident/incident investigations since 1 July 2005

QON 284 - Ministerial response to the Skerritt review

QON 285 - Advice provided to the Minister on the Skerritt review