[Peetwo]

The good
In CASA's latest missive - March CASA Briefing - where DAS Skidmore announced that he has initiated a full review of Avmed  he also linked to a recent speech he made to the Aviation Medical Society of Victoria. In that speech he also touched on the Government's direction in regards to aviation safety generally & more specifically to aeromedical issues:

Government’s Direction

• As most of you are aware, the Government has set a clear agenda for CASA in 2015 and the years to follow through its response to the Aviation Safety Regulation Review (ASRR), which was released late in 2014. I am glad the Government’s response to the Review has coincided with the commencement of my tenure as the Director of Aviation Safety, as this provides a clear basis for planning, action and achievement.
  
• Aviation medical concerns were amongst the more contentious issues raised in submissions to the ASRR and continue to be the subject of industry stakeholder comment. We are aware of a range of concerns raised by some members of the aviation community in the Report in relation to administration and decision making processes with respect to the issuing of aviation medical certificates.
  
• In response to the ASRR, CASA has already identified a range of administrative measures to improve turnaround in the processing of certificates.
  
• In relation to more contentious medical conditions, the Government has asked that CASA ensure its processes are as transparent as possible to the applicant, including the supporting reasons for its decisions to grant or not grant a medical certificate or place conditions on licences. It is acknowledged that different specialists can reach a different view on particularly complex cases but ultimately CASA has to make its decision based on aviation safety grounds.
  
• Moreover the Government has asked that CASA undertake a review of its aviation medical Branch to establish whether a more effective and efficient system might be put in place without adversely impacting on safety.
  
• Although the Aviation Medicine (AvMed) capability in CASA has achieved a range of significant improvements in performance and outcomes over the past three years, CASA recognises the need to improve its service delivery and to ensure that its decision-making processes are transparent and evidence-based.
  
• As with other similar regulators, CASA is having difficulty in recruiting and retaining medical staff and a continued high level of CASA resources are tied up in aviation medical case reviews, complaints and appeals. These and other competing work pressures are contributing to a significant backlog of cases for medical review.
  
• However, on a positive note let me tell you that CASA has already commenced a process to permit approved DAMEs to issue and renew Class 2 medical certificates. A post implementation review of this process will be conducted in the second half of 2015.
  
• The results of the post implementation review will be considered and assessed to inform future consideration of a detailed examination of issues involved with the potential ability for DAME’s to renew medical certificates for classes 1 and 3 as identified in the ASRR’s recommendation.
  
• Further, we have commenced a full review of our AvMed capability to ensure that the delivery of its functions are effective and efficient, and fully aligns with CASA’s obligations under the Civil Aviation Act, the expectations of Government and the needs of medical certificate applicants. The review will include looking at various options to improve service delivery and the options for obtaining timely expert advice on complex matters. The review will be completed by the second half of the year.
  
• Let me provide a bit more detail on this review for your information. During this review, we will consider, amongst other things:
  • ongoing issues experienced with the recruitment and retention of suitably qualified and experienced aviation medicine medical practitioners,
    
  • the strategic approach to aviation medicine policy standards and clinical practice development, and
    
  • options for how the organisation can optimally deliver aviation medicine services into the future.
    
• The review is planning to engage with stakeholders (applicants, broader industry and other key stakeholders) in the coming months to collate feedback on the business improvements currently being made to AvMed. Active engagement in the review is encouraged to ensure that all contributions are captured in improving the delivery of this important function.
  

 
The indifferent
Sounds quite positive but again the proof will be in the pudding and industry needs to show a certain level of trust that Skidmore's intentions are truly honourable for any of it too work?? It also wouldn't hurt if the miniscule pulled his finger out and showed support for the DAS with a SOE that guaranteed that the Forsyth review will be actively acted on ASAP - P2 "Dear Mr Truss..FFS stop with the procrastination & just get on with it!"      

And the bad

From the Oz:

CASA seeks to hike fees as $25m loss looms  


Steve Creedy

Aviation Editor
Sydney

AUSTRALIA’S air safety regulator is calling for comment on a raft of new fees it is proposing as revenues from aviation regulatory services fall more than $25 million short of costs.  

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority predicts the cost of ­activities for which it charges will be $40.8m this financial year, resulting in a deficit of $25.8m and predicts this will increase due to inflation to $30m in 2018-19.

While it is not planning to raise existing fees, which have traditionally produced cost recovery revenue from aviation regulatory services of below $15m, it has proposed applying hourly rates to a raft of new areas.

Many of these are associated with the controversial introduction of new Part 61 regulations on flight crew licensing that have ­angered aviation groups at the small end of town.

They include new fees for testing, approvals, professional development and endorsements.
CASA has not raised its four-tier hourly rates since 2007 and currently charges $100, $130, $160 or $190 per hour.
Which rate applies to which area depends on the complexity involved, what administration is involved and whether it requires the skills of specialist staff.

The top hourly rate of $190 applies where a senior CASA officer or an officer with specialist experience and qualifications are involved.
These now include services involving regular public transport, aerospace and aerodrome regulations, corporate jet and multi-­engine helicopters as well as flight simulators.

CASA emphasises in its Cost Recovery Implementation Statement that it will not change its overall fee and expense profile.
It says the new fees were made necessary by the introduction of part 61 as well as Part 64 authorisations for unlicensed personnel such as ground crew as well as parts 141 and 142 relating to pilot training.

“There are no increases in any existing fees,’’ the proposal says. “CASA forecasts that the revised costs recovery arrangements will be revenue neutral.

“Increases in revenue and expenditure from the new fee items are expected to be offset by a corresponding reduction in connection with existing fees.’’

The authority’s audited financial statements show it lost $4.2m in 2013-14, when expenses of $184.9m outstripped revenue of $180.7m.
The loss was down from a $12m surplus in 2012-13.

Aviation regulatory services last financial year brought in $14.6m. The government provided $42.7m and the aviation fuel excise generated $120.10m.

The new fees are already raising the ire of those affected.

"Aerial Agriculture Association of Australia chief executive Phil Hurst said there seemed to be a contradiction between CASA’s approach and government policy that new regulations should be cost neutral and red tape should be reduced." {Couldn't have put it better myself Phil }

Mr Hurst said the industry was also still waiting for Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss to provide a letter of intent that gave effect to the findings of the Forsyth review on aviation safety regulation.

“And then CASA, oblivious to all that, puts out a draft CRIS which says they’re going to raise by their accounting 90 new charges,’’ he said.
The Australian Aviation Associations Forum, the peak body for aviation groups, last month urged Mr Truss as well as the new Civil Aviation Safety Authority board and the authority’s boss Mark Skidmore to pursue “a fundamental improvement in aviation in Australia”.

"It called on Mr Truss’s letter of intent to direct CASA to follow a new path of co-operation that would cut outmoded regulation."  I repeat - [i]"Dear Mr Truss..FFS stop with the procrastination & just get on with it!"       [/i]

Hmmm....wonder what happened to the (89.9m) bucket
MTF..you bet! P2