[Peetwo]

Skidmore on notice - Fawcett on Forsyth & CVD Pilots 

Well caught Sir.

Although not part of the AOPA hanger war party, the good Rev. Forsyth was indeed in attendance, he had taken the trouble to prepare a ‘stump’ speech – just in case.  I’ve never been sure if a ‘stump’ speech was one made while standing ‘on the stump’ or, one made when ‘stumped’ for something to say – not that it matters.  With the kind permission of the good Rev – herewith, unsullied as writ, from one of the best, unselfish, modest friends aviation has, a simple solution:-

CHART - Tamworth

From about 06:00 min Senator Fawcett chimes in with ( from Hansard):

CHAIR: Senator Fawcett, have you a couple of quick ones?


Senator FAWCETT: I am happy to put my questions on notice, given the time constraints. Mr Skidmore, the industry has been very positive about sector risk profiles. I would like an update on where CASA's view is with that process, who you have got working on it and what resources you are investing in it. It appears to be a good way of collaborating with industry.


Mr Skidmore : I will take that on notice, and thank you very much for those comments.


Senator FAWCETT: The ASRR, some of the updates you provided online, particularly your speech in Canada about some of the progress and things moving forward—can you give us an update against each of the 37 recommendations of the Forsyth report, just as to where you are at and your time frame for implementation.


Mr Skidmore : We can certainly give you an update with regard to the government response to the Aviation Safety Regulation Review report and what our implementation is on those.


Senator FAWCETT: I know what the government response was. I am interested in where you are at and where your time frame for implementation is going, particularly around the issues that you are obviously aware of—48 paragraph 1 parts 61 and 141, the things that are concerning industry, but I am also interested, for example, in how well the industry complaints commissioner is functioning in the way that Forsyth envisaged to get quick turnaround times. I would appreciate some actual facts and figures around number of complaints, times for resolution, what the outcomes were and how many have had to go back to the board member to indicate that CASA has taken a view that perhaps the independent expert, the board member, did not think was going to be appropriate.


Mr Mrdak : We can certainly do that. The terms of reference for the ICC were amended to be 'report directly to the board.' That was one of the aspects of the Aviation Safety Regulation Review that we have implemented. We can give you more figures in regard to the ICC process and the complaints.


Senator FAWCETT: We have spoken on many occasions about colour vision deficient pilots. We spoke about the safety case that exists for implementing an individualised capacity or functional text test for somebody who has failed the bench level testing. I am wondering what your current position is on that.


Mr Skidmore : I have reviewed the paper and I have had the paper reviewed in regard to proposing an operational test to be conducted each year. I am concerned that we would be imposing another cost on applicants in regard to that. That worries me, to start with. I am also concerned that operational testing incorporates many variables that we have no control over. We are working internationally with other regulators—we are proposing papers to get some sort of common standard across all of us in regard to assessing CVD.


Senator FAWCETT: The feedback I have had from pilots who are affected by this is that they would prefer to wear that cost as opposed to having the door closed in their face, which is what many of them are facing at the moment. In terms of the evidence, as we have talked about before, I see very little difference to assessing somebody's capability to pass an IRT on a given day—and we assume they are then going to be safe for the following year. I will follow that with interest.


Mr Skidmore : Chair, can I say thank you very much for your support for aviation and regional aviation in particular.


CHAIR: Thank you, and thank you for putting up with me.

First & foremost - what an absolute twat this WOFTAM of a DAS truly is.. 

However I do believe this former RAAF AVM (waste of space) has his head so far up his backside, that he may have missed the clear & present danger that the Senator Fawcett QWON (IMO) clearly articulated - typical of the arrogance of this individual


MTF...P2