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Dear Comardy Capers (cc 6D) - L&Ks AOPA Oz.

Via AOPA Oz:

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Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Australia 
General aviation industry calls on CASA to appoint fair representation

Dear Mr Carmody,

Further to the announcement of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) new Aviation Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP).

Whilst the AOPA Australia can appreciate and understand CASA’s desire to streamline its industry consultative panels, we do not support the exclusion of the general aviation (GA) industry associations.

Based on CASA data, the GA sector of the Australian aviation industry is by far the largest employer and overall stakeholder, only second to the airline industry. The importance and value of GA to the overall Australian aviation economy can only be considered vital.

Excluding the GA industry associations from the ASAP is viewed as counterproductive to the overall safety objectives that guide CASA, further damaging the already strained relationship between the regulator and industry. It is also being viewed by many as an attempt to silence constructive industry objection and opposition.

We are genuinely alarmed that CASA has decided that the 12,000+ registered GA aircraft owners, 14,000+ GA pilots and 1,400+ GA AOC and COA holders (who employ tens of thousands of people across our industry) no longer warrant clear and direct representation. The AOPA Australia rejects this outcome entirely.

Mr Carmody, you have publicly stated; “My vision is for CASA to be an open and transparent regulator and one the aviation industry finds it easy to do business with… I am confident that by working co-operatively with the aviation community we can make positive progress and deliver effective changes that achieves safe skies for all… The ASAP will be the primary advisory body through which CASA will direct its engagement with industry and seek input on current and future regulatory and associated policy approaches... In addition to engagement and rule making, the ASAP has the latitude to engage on any issues which may impact on aviation safety or the way CASA operates.”

At no time prior to the announcement of the ASAP did CASA reach out to consult or discuss these important changes with the AOPA Australia. This does not demonstrate an ‘open and transparent’ relationship, nor does it convey a sense of ‘co-operation’.

If you are true to your statement and genuinely wish to work co-operatively with the aviation community, so as to make positive progress, then we are calling on you to review the ASAP appointments and to expand the panel to include the following vital industry associations;

- Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia
- Aircraft Maintenance and Repair Organisations Business Association
- Aerial Agriculture and Applicators Association

The listed associations are respected and managed by highly experienced and qualified boards, each able to demonstrate long histories of positive aviation safety advocacy on behalf of the GA industry and its participants.

The expansion of the ASAP to nine members does not represent an unreasonable or unmanageable number, and would not negatively impact on the ability of the panel to achieve its goals. What this expansion would do, is to ensure the GA industry is provided with valuable ‘direct’ representation and would demonstrate CASA’s commitment to genuine co-operation.

The concerns and challenges facing the GA community at this time require clear and direct representation at the highest levels of both CASA and the government, so as to enable open and transparent debate of the issues which are holding our industry in decline and damaging our collective future. We must both encourage open and free debate on the topics which challenge our thinking and resolve to identify solutions that can provide maximum benefit to both safety and industry productivity.

Working in partnership is the only genuine long-term solution to achieving this goal.

I trust that your statements are correct, and that you are indeed seeking an open and transparent co-operation and that you will move to include the GA associations before the first meeting of the ASAP.

Thank you for your time and I await your response.

Yours Sincerely,

BENJAMIN MORGAN
Executive Director

CASAASAP.pdf Size: 1.61 MB  Downloads: 1

Also via Oz Flying:

General aviation: AOPA Australia believes it is not being given fair representation in Canberra. (Steve Hitchen)


AOPA slams CASA over ASAP Exclusion
7 July 2017

AOPA Australia CEO Ben Morgan has described his organisation's exclusion from the Aviation Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) as counter-productive to aviation safety.

In a letter yet to be delivered to CASA CEO Shane Carmody and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester, Morgan says not including AOPA Australia, the Aviation Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Business Association (AMROBA) and the Aerial Application Association of Australia (AAAA) means that general aviation has not been given fair representation.

ASAP is made up of only six members:

• Qantas
  
• Virgin Australia
  
• Airports Association of Australia
  
• Regional Aviation Association of Australia
  
• The Australian Aviation Associations Forum
  
• Recreational Aviation Australia.
  

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"Whilst the AOPA Australia can appreciate and understand CASA’s desire to streamline its industry consultative panels, we do not support the exclusion of the general aviation (GA) industry associations," Morgan states.

"Based on CASA data, the GA sector of the Australian aviation industry is by far the largest employer and overall stakeholder, only second to the airline industry. The importance and value of GA to the overall Australian aviation economy can only be considered vital.

"Excluding the GA industry associations from the ASAP is viewed as counterproductive to the overall safety objectives that guide CASA, further damaging the already strained relationship between the regulator and industry. It is also being viewed by many as an attempt to silence constructive industry objection and opposition."

The make up of ASAP has been controversial since the new of the panel was released, but CASA has stated the the inclusion of The Australian Aviation Associations Forum (TAAAF) covers most of the GA associations. AOPA, AMROBA and AAAA are all members organisation of TAAAF.

Despite this, AOPA Australia and Ben Morgan believe there is scope for independent representation outside of TAAAF.

"The expansion of the ASAP to nine members does not represent an unreasonable or unmanageable number, and would not negatively impact on the ability of the panel to achieve its goals," Morgan says in the letter. "What this expansion would do, is to ensure the GA industry is provided with valuable ‘direct’ representation and would demonstrate CASA’s commitment to genuine co-operation.

"The concerns and challenges facing the GA community at this time require clear and direct representation at the highest levels of both CASA and the government, so as to enable open and transparent debate of the issues which are holding our industry in decline and damaging our collective future.

"We must both encourage open and free debate on the topics which challenge our thinking and resolve to identify solutions that can provide maximum benefit to both safety and industry productivity."

The letter is expected to be made publically available this afternoon

Read more at http://www.australianflying.com.au/lates...Q9jRvGr.99

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  - Hmm...popcorn is ordered...

MTF...P2