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RAAA Convention: That's a wrap -

Summary of RAAA convention courtesy Avbiz... :

RAAA Conference wraps up in Hunter Valley
21 October 2016

The Regional Aviation Association of Australia’s 2016 national convention will close tonight with a gala dinner after two days of presentations and networking.
RAAA CEO Mike Higgins said this year’s event, set in the Hunter Valley, had “exceeded everybody’s expectations".

“The feedback we’ve got from people who have attended has been overwhelming,” he said. “The setting, the location, the context and atmosphere have all allowed delegates to freely exchange ideas.”

RAAA conventions are often characterised by robust debate, but Higgins believes bringing together key players from government and industry on controversial topics has always produced professional exchanges of ideas.

“We’re all here for the same reason, we’re all very passionate about aviation,” he said. “So it’s a safe environment for key government departments to come and join us.

“The only people here at the conference are those people that are professional, they have a lot of resources invested in their companies and they are more interested in safety than some regulators would ever be. So we’re interested in knowing where these various government departments are going in the future because we need to future proof ourselves.”

Higgins said the conference also provided a vital opportunity to build working relationships between various industry stakeholders.

“Every single government speaker who has presented today is presenting here for the first time,” he said. “So it’s a great encouraging time for a fresh start, for fresh engagement. And I can see that in the presenters themselves, they’re really happy to be here.”

Presentations and discussion topics ranged from new CAO48.1 fatigue regulation to the rise of remote piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), government regulation, possible future pilot and engineer shortages and safety.

New Acting Civil Aviation Safety Authority CEO Shane Carmody addressed the conference on Friday, beginning by removing any doubt about whether his position as “acting” CEO would limit his drive for progress.

“I have full authority, which I’ll use and full accountability, which I’ll wear for the decisions that I make and the decisions that go with the position,” he said. “My focus is on delivering a firm, fair and balanced aviation safety regulation system, promoting a positive and collaborative approach.”

In his opening address, RAAA Chairman Jim Davis said the conference was timely, coming soon after a raft of changes in regulation and personnel in prominent positions in the industry.

“The last year saw quite a few changes in senior management of major government authorities,” he said. “We have a new chief commissioner of the ATSB, we have a new aviation commissioner for the ATSB, a new CEO for CASA. And we have a new permanent head of Airservices Australia.”

He reiterated the RAAA’s three major targets in improving the industry for operators.

“First, it is time to implement some of the key recommendations of the ASRR report. Secondly, it is time for CASA to get a new direction and impetus from government to accomplish these changes. And thirdly, it is time to get serious about harmonisation with the regulations from other jurisdictions so that Australian industry can compete internationally on a level playing field.”


Read more at http://www.aviationbusiness.com.au/lates...vl22c7w.99

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