[Peetwo]

Stan V in response to CASA TWG register etc. -

Via one of the PAIN/IOS email chains..

Hi All,

The CASA article copied below is to my mind an admission of a lack of competence on the part of CASA experts. The ASAP is one level, now a further level of industry experience is called for.

Admirable if not for the fact that the so called staff experts receive annual benefits of several hundred thousand dollars (each) for their so called expertise. I suppose this is further established in that their achievements in the almost thirty years since 1988, in complying with the Minister’s orders to “rewrite” the regulations has been almost completed. That’s if you regard approx. 50% as a good effort! Then in the same article (below) this appears! “the planned reform of the flying operations regulations and a post implementation review of aircraft maintenance engineer licensing”, these have been a work in progress for this extended period of time and still/again need “reform”?

Call for expressions of interest for CASA Technical Working Group register

Dear CASA subscriber

Following the successful establishment of the Aviation Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP), CASA is now in the process of establishing a register of aviation industry experts who are able to participate in Technical Working Groups (TWGs) to support the work of the ASAP.

Where established, TWGs will provide industry members and relevant technical experts with a forum to provide input on specific technical issues and proposals being considered by the ASAP.

Each TWG will be formed as required and disbanded at the completion of the assigned tasks. Specific details about TWGs can be found in the ASAP Terms of Reference.

To build a register of suitably qualified potential TWG members, we have launched an expression of interest process using the CASA Consultation Hub, where interested people will be able to register their details using a survey style questionnaire. CASA is looking for diversity in skills, experience and qualifications from interested applicants.

With several significant developments on CASA’s immediate horizon, including the planned reform of the flying operations regulations and a post implementation review of aircraft maintenance engineer licensing, establishing a register of suitable and available experts is a priority.

If you are a member of Australia’s aviation industry with a genuine interest in the future of aviation safety, then please go to the CASA Consultation Hub where you can register your interest.

All questions or inquiries about the EOI process can be directed to asap@casa.gov.au

 
On another matter, In 2007 Mr. S. Carmody advised the then Minister’s (Hon. Marc Vaile) that [my] long outstanding matters (cover-up of CASA involvement in Fuel Contamination and subsequent orchestrated failure (by CASA) of Schutt Aviation at YMMB) had been RESOLVED. Carmody was at the time working as Deputy to Bruce Byron. As no detail or slightest evidence of The RESOLUTION was available under F.O.I, the matter was further verified by subsequent regular requests to new Ministers, namely Albanese and Truss, which further established this.

These requests were made through my then local Member Mark Dreyfus.  It would attest that Carmody’s statement (Email provided under FOI) was a blatant untruth. Strangely, I was never even consulted in establishing any form of resolution!

For those of you still believers in Australian Democracy, open your eyes, we are a definite Bureaucracy run by overpaid unelected “crooks” overseen by incompetent politicians (with some exceptions). For those who haven’t yet read it get a copy of “Game of Mates” (EBook and hardcopy). No challenge on its content as they don’t want to wake up the public. If it concerned football or cricket we’d be all up in arms. No “she’ll be right mate”.

Regards   Stan van de Wiel.

And Sandy's response to Stan:

Stan,

Quite right, but an inadvertent admission; coming from a body that pretends that we need a whole bunch of industry expert personnel to help devise ways out of the black hole created deliberately by CASA. How much will these persons be paid? At the same hourly rate charged out by CASA for it’s numerous unnecessary permissions included outrageous upfront charges ($8000 for a single instructor basic flight school, and that’s just the application start)? 

“Safety” deja vu, the worn out, ancient and totally insincere excuse for inaction. ASAP is just another complete waste of time and will only accomplish more stalling.

Safety has been reduced due to loss of recency, loss of numerous skilful and experienced personnel from a myriad of aviation businesses in a number of specialities, both in piloting and repair and maintenance. All out due to the never ending streams of unworkable regulations accompanied with fee gouging and permission stalling making much of GA unviable and hence the great loss of businesses, flying schools charter operators and maintenance bases. 

CASA has proven itself incapable of the safe administration of aviation in Australia. The level of safety in this country exists in spite of CASA and safety cannot improve, where, in terms of General Aviation the industry is in a high degree of stress and decline which has been induced by the regulator, the regulator having none of the discipline or rigorous control imposed where the outcomes are sheeted home directly to the Minister and government. 

The ‘independent’ Commonwealth Corporate body is a failed model and CASA will never reform itself because it’s incentives are to maintain power for exceptional salaries and working conditions. Coupled with a succession of do nothing Ministers and their laughable ‘Statement of Expectations’ we have a hopeless situation until and unless Parliament makes substantial changes. 

There is no point at all wasting time with ASAP or it’s advisory groups.

It is well known what steps can be taken immediately to turn around the disastrous and continuing losses in GA. 

1. Relieve the outrageously expensive biennial special pilot ID (ASICs), increase validity period immediately (Not required in the USA). 

2. Allow independent instructors to teach without the super expensive Air Operators Certificate (as USA).

3. Allow car driver medicals (similar USA)

4. Revoke unique expensive and counterproductive Australian maintenance requirements and reinstate rational skills and qualification pathways for maintenance personnel .

Regarding no. 3, this reform had to be legislated by Congress;  the US Aviation Agency did not initiate this reform for much the same reasons our regulator will not cause real reforms of it’s own accord. 

Regards to all, an open email,

Sandy Reith 

MTF...P2