[Kharon]

Bollocks – quote - un quote.

But he agreed it was sometimes difficult for the industry to accept change.

Completely absurd, unmitigated BOLLOCKS.   Scrap the bastard AUSTRALIAN part 61 – Bring in a slightly modified FAA/NZ part 61 and watch how fast the industry embrace change and how hard it will work to make the change seamless.  The speed will blow your socks off.  

“We need feedback from individuals about what is working well and what is not.’’

“But at the same time what I’m trying to do now is … get the information — here’s my letter to people to say tell us what you think is not right and let us have a look at it and try to correct it.’’

Mr Skidmore also revealed he was looking at reinvigorating the Standards Consultative Council as one way of improving the regulatory process.

“That’s nice when you can see that starting to happen, so I’ll be looking for that and I know you guys will judge me on it,’’ he said.

Mr Skidmore took the unusual step last month of writing to all pilots about Part 61 seeking feedback on the rules.

“We need feedback from individuals about what is working well and what is not.’’

More Bollocks – Take weekend off and READ the ducking thing; then try to make it work; start with a humble single engine 'charter' operation; work through to a mixed multi engine aircraft IFR fleet; take a stroll on the RPT/ FIFO heavier operation then, just for fun try a flight school. Then take a week away and visit those operations (not the CAsA selected ones, that's too easy). When you have gained some insight into 'running' an operation – from the coal face; sit down again and try to make Part 61 'work'.  Perhaps, when at least a vague understanding of how civil aviation is managed has been gained; the charge to bin this appalling travesty will be led from the front; by a DAS.  One who has at least faint comprehension of reality, rather than the current mush being spoon fed by those who have made a complete hash of the current 'rule set'.

Study of Part 61 as opposed to having tea, biscuits and endless 'chats' with the vested interest society will, or should, shock the DAS into coming to grips with doing his job; as it should be; not the way of bunch of highly skilled word weasels want it done; but the way industry demands he do it.  If he is not prepared to do it properly, he should bugger off back to whichever sheltered workshop spawned him and learn to knit.  

Mate, the skip is out of the back door, turn right walk ten paces, lift the lid and just drop the Part 61 abomination in there, close the lid.  Then I'll put the kettle on and we can have a look at the rest of worlds, ICAO compliant, best practice rule set.  Lets see if we can loose 500 pages of mindless, amateurish dribble.  

Feed back – Bollocks.... .....Listen, the same vicious, vengeful casamites who terrified and beat the industry into silence are still doing their jobs.  Tel me how FFS do you expect to get 'honest' feed back?, from those who have businesses and jobs to protect.    

FCOFL - Toot ducking toot, toot, toot.... . 

There, I feel better now.

[Peetwo]

Pending.. : A miniscule announcement  

Now here's a turn up for the books, Steve Creedy was so keen to get the scoop that he skipped a cursory edit on this one, either that or he has Spanish heritage ... (Ps See headline)

Brindabella Airlinea founder Jeff Boyd to chair CASA  

• by: STEVE CREEDY
  
• From: The Australian
  
• May 13, 2015 12:00AM
  

Steve Creedy


Brindabella Airlines founder Jeff Boyd will be named today as the new chairman of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, as the air safety regulator moves to repair a fractured relationship with the aviation industry.  

The move to appoint Mr Boyd for a three-year term will be welcomed as another sign that Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss and the federal government are responding to industry anger about the way the authority had been pursuing regulatory reform and its relations with operators.

The Aviation Safety Regulatory Review report, chaired by industry veteran David Forsyth, last year called for sweeping reforms after criticising CASA for taking too hard a line and maintaining an adversarial approach to the industry, which had lost trust in the authority.

Mr Truss has since installed former Air Vice-Marshal Mark Skidmore as the director of aviation safety, revamped the board and last month delivered a letter of expectations to the authority calling on it to work more closely with industry.

Mr Boyd has served as deputy chairman since July last year and will succeed Allan Hawke, who headed the board from 2009.

Mr Truss paid tribute to Dr Hawke’s efforts and said he was looking forward to working with Mr Boyd and the new CASA board as they engaged with the industry to implement the government’s response to the Forsyth review.

Mr Boyd has more than three decades in regional aviation industry and founded Brindabella in 1994 before selling in 2011. The airline foundered under its new owners but was considered a success under Mr Boyd.

He was a vice-chairman of the Regional Aviation Association of Australia and is a ­qualified commercial pilot and a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer. He has also owned and operated a flight training school.

The government will also announce today the reappointment of Airservices Australia chairman Angus Houston for another term.

Breathless with anticipation the crowd awaits the Hawke departure. - See more at: http://auntypru.com/#sthash.Av2ChClE.dpuf


...

MTF??- You bet!

[Gobbledock]

Yes the news about Hawke going and Boyd becoming Chairman isn't all that bad. Three cheers!!! Hawke is nothing but a well entrenched career bureaucrat who has spent his 40 + years wining and dining with government and industry executives and achieving nought. It is with great joy that the IOS watch the chief turd polisher depart from Fort Fumble, and I can assure you that the cheering will be robust. There may even be some rotten eggs and elephant dung thrown at the large unit as he waddles his way into some other Government department to apply his spin doctoring skills.
Boyd becoming Chairman is an interesting move. There are quite a few IOS who have a measure of respect for the man, and his CV is loaded with aviation knowledge. One might even say that he understands the mystique of aviation. His appointment by Truss is likely only to appease the pesky IOS and give the bad skinned Farmer a bit of distance from the fire, but then again it could signal that somebody has been listening to industry's concerns? Time will tell and I remain sceptical, but stranger things have happened.

Either way the Styx Houseboat steering lock pin has been removed, jetty chocks released and engine one started. The Houseboat is ready if needed.....tick tock

[Peetwo]

Pending.. : A miniscule announcement  

Now here's a turn up for the books, Steve Creedy was so keen to get the scoop that he skipped a cursory edit on this one, either that or he has Spanish heritage ... (Ps See headline)

Brindabella Airlinea founder Jeff Boyd to chair CASA  

• by: STEVE CREEDY
  
• From: The Australian
  
• May 13, 2015 12:00AM
  

Steve Creedy


Brindabella Airlines founder Jeff Boyd will be named today as the new chairman of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, as the air safety regulator moves to repair a fractured relationship with the aviation industry.  

The move to appoint Mr Boyd for a three-year term will be welcomed as another sign that Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss and the federal government are responding to industry anger about the way the authority had been pursuing regulatory reform and its relations with operators.

The Aviation Safety Regulatory Review report, chaired by industry veteran David Forsyth, last year called for sweeping reforms after criticising CASA for taking too hard a line and maintaining an adversarial approach to the industry, which had lost trust in the authority.

Mr Truss has since installed former Air Vice-Marshal Mark Skidmore as the director of aviation safety, revamped the board and last month delivered a letter of expectations to the authority calling on it to work more closely with industry.

Mr Boyd has served as deputy chairman since July last year and will succeed Allan Hawke, who headed the board from 2009.

Mr Truss paid tribute to Dr Hawke’s efforts and said he was looking forward to working with Mr Boyd and the new CASA board as they engaged with the industry to implement the government’s response to the Forsyth review.

Mr Boyd has more than three decades in regional aviation industry and founded Brindabella in 1994 before selling in 2011. The airline foundered under its new owners but was considered a success under Mr Boyd.

He was a vice-chairman of the Regional Aviation Association of Australia and is a ­qualified commercial pilot and a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer. He has also owned and operated a flight training school.

The government will also announce today the reappointment of Airservices Australia chairman Angus Houston for another term.

Addendum


Finally here is the presser from Farmer Truss:

Government announces key aviation safety appointments  


Media Release

WT143/2015
13 May 2015

Two key aviation safety appointments were announced today by the Australian Government. Sir Angus Houston will continue as Chair on the Board of Airservices Australia and Mr Jeff Boyd will be the new Chair of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Board.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said Sir Angus had been reappointed for two years.

“Sir Angus's performance as Airservices Chair over the last three years and his role in leading the Joint Agency Coordination Centre in the search for MH 370 demonstrate the attributes that will stand the organisation in good stead for the next two years,” Mr Truss said.

“This is particularly important as the Board works towards the harmonisation of the civil and military air traffic management systems in Australia, in conjunction with the Department of Defence.

“Mr Jeff Boyd has been appointed chair of the CASA board for a three-year term.

“Mr Boyd has been Deputy Chair of the Board since July 2014 and brings to the position a wealth of aviation experience in both management and operational roles.

“I look forward to working with Jeff and the new CASA Board as they engage with the Australian aviation industry to implement the Government's response to the Aviation Safety Regulation Review Report.

“Mr Boyd will succeed Dr Alan Hawke AC, who has served on the CASA Board since July 2009.

“I wish to take this opportunity to publicly thank Dr Hawke for his services as chair of the CASA board during a period that has seen strong growth in the international and domestic aviation sectors.

“These appointments will offer both boards proactive leadership in setting, steering and overseeing the strategic direction of each agency to meet current and emerging challenges in aviation safety.”

For more information:
Airservices Australia—www.airservicesaustralia.com;
CASA—www.casa.gov.au.

And for once AA & Hitchen are catching up...

 From AA - Jeff Boyd appointed new CASA chairman

& from Oz Flying:

 


Aviation identify, RAAA director and former airline owner Jeff Boyd. (RAAA)


Jeff Boyd to lead the CASA Board
13 May 2015

Jeff Boyd has been appointed as the Chair of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority board for the next three years.

In announcing the appointment today, Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said CASA stood to gain from Boyd's aviation credentials.

“Mr Boyd has been Deputy Chair of the Board since July 2014 and brings to the position a wealth of aviation experience in both management and operational roles," he said.

“I look forward to working with Jeff and the new CASA Board as they engage with the Australian aviation industry to implement the Government's response to the Aviation Safety Regulation Review Report.

“Mr Boyd will succeed Dr Alan Hawke AC, who has served on the CASA Board since July 2009.

“I wish to take this opportunity to publicly thank Dr Hawke for his services as chair of the CASA board during a period that has seen strong growth in the international and domestic aviation sectors."

The minister also announced that Air Vice Marshall Sir Angus Houston had been appointed as Chair of Airservices Australia for a further two years.

On a different story - & somewhat belatedly - I intercepted the following article from local rag the Naracoorte Herald which made me smile... :

Senator airs aviation reforms

May 6, 2015, 11:30 p.m.

MEMBERS of the Naracoorte Aero Club discussed reforms in the aviation sector with SA Liberal Senator David Fawcett during his visit to the SE last week.
SA Liberal Senator David Fawcett (centre) with Naracoorte Aero Club members John McTernan (left), Allan Sears, Anthony Johnson, David McTernan and Gary Burgess on Friday night.

MEMBERS of the Naracoorte Aero Club discussed reforms in the aviation sector with SA Liberal Senator David Fawcett during his visit to the SE last week.

Significant reforms are being implemented in the industry following the Federal Government's sweeping Aviation Safety Regulation Review, chaired by industry veteran David Forsyth.

The review's recommendations reflected calls from smaller aviation operators to make changes at the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which had been widely criticised for its hard-line approach to enforcement of industry standards.

Senator Fawcett said regulatory reforms being carried out by CASA were the major talking point during his discussions with aero club members. He said the compliance requirements, which were set with airlines and larger training organisations in mind, were burdening smaller clubs like Naracoorte.

"Where there's a one-instructor flying club like Naracoorte, CASA's requirements can be very distracting and can prevent club members from doing more important things,"
Senator Fawcett said. Club members also raised concerns about the consistency of advice being provided by CASA.

"CASA has changed their requirements, but haven't actually issued new templates and that is creating a lot of work and a lot of expense," he said. "While aero club members here in Naracoorte are yet to see a great deal of change since the Forsyth Review has handed down, at a national level there are now some excellent new people at CASA who bring with them experience in aviation and a real commitment to working with the industry."

CASA has also been given a new directive by Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss that it must work with the industry and consider the commercial impacts of its decisions.

Senator Fawcett said members of the Naracoorte club would start seeing significant changes in the coming months.

"I'm here partly to let them know what's occurring, but also because it's important for me to get first-hand feedback from on a small regional aero club such as this," he said.

"Historically in Australia, flight training in the regions has been where a lot of pilots got their start, going on to work for the big airlines or in charter work. "It's a very important part of our aviation infrastructure and we need to keep it going." Aero club president Gary Burgess said the discussions with Federal Government representatives like Senator Fawcett were very productive. He said local members were hopeful the benefits of the changes at CASA would start "trickling down" to smaller clubs like Naracoorte.

"At the moment we seem to have a regulatory authority that's working very hard to make sure Qantas is alright, but then all of the little guys have got to comply to the same level of compliance that Qantas does," Mr Burgess said. "If you've got a big organisation like Qantas, you'll have dedicated employees who look after regulation.

"Here we've got to fly, teach people to fly, look after general aviation in the regional areas and then we're expected in our down time to comply with all the regulations. It is basically a full-time job."

The Naracoorte club boasts 60 members and is part of the wider training organisation, the Wimmera Aero Club, which stretches from Horsham to Mount Gambier and has 110 members.

"The Royal Flying Doctor Service is here almost on a daily basis and the Toll freight plane is here every day with bank deliveries.

"We're all committed to flight safety - no one ignores that for a second," Mr Burgess said.
"But we need to be able to operate in a commercial environment, because the more we stifle the commercial environment, the harder it is to be a part of the aviation industry."

Following his visit to the aero club, Senator Fawcett was guest speaker at the annual meeting of Naracoorte Liberal Party branch at Settlers Cafe.

At the meeting, Naracoorte Lucindale councillor Tom Dennis was re-elected unopposed as branch president for a third term.

Derek James was re-elected as vice-president, as was secretary Trace Burgess and treasurer Sonia Winter.

Hmm...Skates old son.. ..tick..tick..tick ???

MTF...P2...

[thorn bird]

Well guys and girls, rumors abound that certain rats may be deserting a sinking ship, or perhaps are running before being pushed.

With the imminent departure of Australia's premier A380 pilot, and a master mandarin, rivaled only by the Murky Macavellian, also known as Pumpkin head, there has been a rather unseemly scraping of chairs shuffling into an iron ring around poor old Skids.

Word on the street is, everything has been put on the table for review.

"SHOCK HORROR"

Apparently the push back has been more frantic than a NZ ewe on the edge of a cliff.

Time will tell I guess, but there is a sense that the sound of steel on oil stone is echoing around the hallowed halls of the fumbling fort, sending shudders up the spineless, sorry, spine of certain members.

Passing strange, that all of a sudden, your average previously unmovable, obstructionist FOI has morphed into an all sweetness and light ally.

Even, I hear, our beloved Wodger Wabbit, the psycho sociopathic ex RAAF baggage handler, when challenged on his condemnation of a very experienced C&T pilot as a "Not a fit and proper person" had a miraculous change of heart, all was forgiven, sins expunged, and the pilot concerned didn't even have to join CAsA first.

Mind you, I'm told Wodger was advised by a very well heeled potential C&T employer that he wanted the mans services and was prepared to entertain some rather expensive legal advice and public relations people to get it.

So there you go, Rumour control is out of hand, but we live in hope.

[Gobbledock]

Thorny, unlike our aviation bureaucrats you sir have your finger on the pulse, well done!
My sources tell me similar tales over the past few weeks. Tales of panic among Fort Fumbles lowlife. Many are poohing blood after realising that with Skates in action, the A380 pensioner pulling the pin and Boyd appointed as Chairman, that their day of recompense may be close at hand, something they never foresaw as being likely or even possible. There was/is another love-in of select high rollers from around the network down in Can'tberra this week. I also hear that another complaint has or is about to be filed with the ICC as well. Then you have the Senators, bless their hearts, lining up with their baseball bats, anti-bullshit polish and giant steak knives ready to carve or bash their way through any mound of spin or dung placed before them.

Yes poor poor Fort Fumble and their Masters in Government, they are all squirming in their britches, much the same way Captain Sentinel does when his adult nappy is full! All we need now is a little IOS anarchy and somebody to set up an independent aviation political party and we can then just sit back and enjoy the show as all the sewer rats make for the exit!!

Tick tock Thorny? I believe so old son!!

[Peetwo]

Courtesy of Steve Creedy from the Oz an update, with industry feedback, from his earlier in the week scoop on Jeff Boyd's appointment as CASA Board Chairman..

Industry hails Jeff Boyd as new CASA chairman  

• by: STEVE CREEDY
  
• From: The Australian
  
• May 15, 2015 12:00AM
  

Aviation Editor
Sydney




New CASA chairman Jeff Boyd with wife Lara Corry-Boyd. Picture: Dean Osland. Source: Supplied

News that industry veteran Jeff Boyd will be the new chairman of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority has received strong industry support.  

The announcement that the Brindabella Airlines founder would head the board for three years was made by Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss on Wednesday and comes as the air safety regulator is moving to repair a fractured relationship with the aviation industry.

The Aviation Safety Regulatory Review report, chaired by industry veteran David Forsyth, last year called for sweeping reforms after criticising CASA for taking too hard a line and maintaining an adversarial approach to the industry, which had lost trust in the authority.

Mr Truss has since installed former air vice-marshal Mark Skidmore as the director of aviation safety, revamped the board and last month delivered a letter of expectations to the authority, calling on it to work more closely with industry.

Regional Aviation Association of Australia chief executive Paul Tyrrell said regional airlines fully supported Mr Boyd’s appointment. “His 36 years in the industry, including running an airline, give him a deep understanding of the challenges facing the aviation industry and the experience to lead overdue change, in partnership with the DAS, across CASA,’’ he said.

Aviation Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Business Association head Ken Cannane said the appointment had his group’s “overwhelming support’’.

“At long last a chairman that has practical experience to understand the industry,’’ he said.

The Aerial Agricultural Association of Australia, another industry group that has led the criticism against CASA, described the announcement “as the most welcome news that the aviation industry has had for a long time’’.

AAAA chief executive Phil Hurst said the industry was looking forward to urgently moving ahead with issues such as Part 61 flight crew licensing and flight and duty times.

The association is also not happy about a recently released discussion paper on changes to aerial firefighting.

“We’re enormously encouraged by Jeff taking over the position of chairman, with his background in hands-on aviation and also in running a company,’’ Mr Hurst said.

“His commercial insights and his management insights are going to be absolutely critical to making CASA a more efficient and effective regulator.’’

Mr Hurst said the AAAA had recently lodged a 20-page submission to CASA on red tape ­reduction, seeking a new business model for working positively with CASA, and he believed Mr Boyd’s appointment set the scene for a healthier way of finding effici­encies.

“I think that once you look at the message that came out of the federal budget of trying to help small business, that’s a really big issue that CASA could take on board and do a lot of good with very quickly.’’

South Australian Liberal senator David Fawcett said Mr Boyd brought a wealth of aviation experience in both management and operational roles to the board.

Mr Boyd has served as deputy chairman since July last year and will succeed Allan Hawke, who headed the board from 2009.

Mr Truss paid tribute to Dr Hawke’s efforts and said he was looking forward to working with Mr Boyd and the new CASA board as they engaged with the industry to implement the government’s response to the Forsyth review.

Mr Boyd has more than three decades in the regional aviation industry and founded Brindabella in 1994 before selling in 2011. The airline foundered under its new owners but was considered a success under Mr Boyd.

He was a vice-chairman of the Regional Aviation Association of Australia and is a ­qualified commercial pilot and a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer. He has also owned and operated a flight training school.

Mr Truss also reappointed Angus Houston for a further two-year term as chairman of Air­services Australia.

“Sir Angus’s performance as Airservices chair over the last three years … demonstrates the attributes that will stand the organisation in good stead for the next two years,” Mr Truss said.

Oh and this was Dougy's comment on these good tidings..

So Jeff Boyd will assume the CASA board chair when the current chairman steps down shortly. That was the original plan and it’s good to see that, despite distractions along the way, it is coming to fruition. Jeff is a warrior from the regional aviation sector with a solid track record of achievement - and is a genuinely good guy as a bonus. For me, that rules out any thought of David Forsyth taking up a CASA board position when the next vacancy occurs, which is a bitter/sweet result. Bitter, because DF probably has a better overview of, and insight into, CASA than anybody standing as a result of his lead in last year’s report and that would have added significant value to the CASA board. Sweet, in the sense that it leaves him free to provide an independent informed perspective on the evolution of a ‘new’ CASA. 

MTF...P2

[Kharon]

Good news indeed.

Actually, the best I've heard in a long, long while; Jeff Boyd to the chair and the GWM boss on his bike.  Stellar, brilliant and not before time.  

I just wonder, now that Wodger has lost his top cover and there is a clear change of 'attitude' pervading the fix, if it's not time to unleash the legal pit bull terriers.   There are some serious accounts to settle and the wascally weport wabbit do have a backlog of outstanding matters which needs must address.  It was a pointless, expensive exercise before the breeze of change wafted through the woods of Sleepy Hollow, far too much top cover.  What with McConvict and the GWM boss shouting the odds and having the ever compliant LSD defending their pet catamites, but perhaps now the time is right.  We shall consult..

Maybe good sense will prevail and the top guns will sort out some of the more vexed issues - out of court, to save a mountain of embarrassing evidence being released to the gullible public and the superb Senate committee.  After the Pel-Air spectacle it is uncertain just how much more the public will swallow before the Minister is being asked some very pointed questions about the credibility of CASA and whether some of it's more questionable, unfortunate decisions were made by those who are neither 'fit, proper or qualified' to hold positions of great trust.  Aye, the winds of change are all well and good; but, the hot breath of legal pit bull terriers at five paces, Oh, that's bliss.   

Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
Is the immediate jewel of their souls.
Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing;
'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands;
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him,
And makes me poor indeed.

Selah....

[Gobbledock]

Poor Wodger, does this mean he will be going back to bag chucking soon? Maybe he can jag a job as a refueller at Amerberley or as a load master? Should he be a little nervous at the moment? I believe so. A very reliable source this evening confirmed to me the veracity of the points raised above, and that is that with McComick out the way and Capt. Sentinel leaving, Wodger has been stripped as bare as the naturist ALIU manager on his favourite nudey beach!! No more protection, no more favors, no more get out of jail free cards, you're on your own son. In fact he is pretty much viewed as damaged goods by most within Fort Fumble and he is not a good luck charm to be worn! So sad so sad. But it gets better because the Senate is well aware of Wodgers wascally antics, and purportedly so is Pumpkin Heads department. Seems this little CAsA strategy of promoting hitmen/bullies is really starting to bite them on the arse.

Wodger, can you hear that clock ticking son? Hopefully you can. And hopefully you can hear the sound of the lawyers papers being shuffled around as well. Tick tock champ.

"Unsafe RAAF baggage handling for all"

[Gobbledock]

Poor Wodger, does this mean he will be going back to bag chucking soon? Maybe he can jag a job as a refueller at Amerberley or as a load master? Should he be a little nervous at the moment? I believe so. A very reliable source this evening confirmed to me the veracity of the points raised above, and that is that with McComick out the way and Capt. Sentinel leaving, Wodger has been stripped as bare as the naturist ALIU manager on his favourite nudey beach!! No more protection, no more favors, no more get out of jail free cards, you're on your own son. In fact he is pretty much viewed as damaged goods by most within Fort Fumble and he is not a good luck charm to be worn! So sad so sad. But it gets better because the Senate is well aware of Wodgers wascally antics, and purportedly so is Pumpkin Heads department. Seems this little CAsA strategy of promoting hitmen/bullies is really starting to bite them on the arse.

Wodger, can you hear that clock ticking son? Hopefully you can. And hopefully you can hear the sound of the lawyers papers being shuffled around as well. Tick tock champ.

"Unsafe RAAF baggage handling for all"

[Peetwo]

Warning: Bucket & mop maybe required...

Well it would seem that it is back to business as usual for the various pony pooh (Steve) media outlets that have dared to report - slightly inflammatory dribble - on the noxious state of aviation regulation & administration in this country ever since the angry man...




 left the building... :

 

Licences the top issue raised in CASA regulatory review  

• by: STEVE CREEDY
  
• From: The Australian
  

Aviation Editor
Sydney



The format of licences is an issue, CASA says. Source: ThinkStock
 
Issues about air transport pilot ­licences have attracted the most comment among more than 70 responses received so far to a ­letter sent out recently to pilots by the head of the air safety ­regulator.  

The 10 responses relating to ATPLs raised issues ranging from the effect of the regulations on costs, multi-crew training and the impact on people part way through working towards the ­licence.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority said yesterday the format of licences was also a common issue, with a number of people wanting credit card-style licences.
It said other issues included flight reviews, delays in getting a new licence and type ratings.

“We are happy that the responses have been constructive, even though it is fair to say a small number of people have expressed a desire for no changes to the regulations,’’ CASA chief Mark Skidmore said.

“CASA is responding to everyone who submits feedback and we are now analysing the issues raised and looking at what may need to be done next.’’

The industry has been highly critical of the way new regulations have been introduced and Mr Skidmore admitted recently that it should have been done better. Acrimony between industry groups and CASA led to the Aviation Safety Regulation Review, which criticised the regulator for taking too hard a line and maintaining an adversarial approach.

Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss subsequently appointed Mr Skidmore to head the agency and more recently appointed industry veteran Jeff Boyd to head the board. Mr Skidmore said many issues were being addressed by simply explaining how the new regulations work, with the package of information sheets on the licensing suite being expanded as needed. There are currently 23 information sheets on the CASA website.

“Other issues are being examined as part of the post-­implementation review of the licensing regulations, which has been under way for some time,’’ he said. “Feedback from aviation representative organisations as well as individuals is informing this review.’’

Mr Skidmore said several key issues were examined this week at a meeting of the CASA and industry consultation committee on flight-crew licensing. These included a proposal for a multi-engine helicopter class rating, warbird aircraft training, the transition process for firefighting endorsements and certification standards for simulators used for multi-crew co-operation training.

He said a post-implementation review of the licensing regulations had already led to number of changes.

“This week two further changes were made,’’ he said. “One was extending the 14-day dual check requirement for student pilots to 30 days, while the other was allowing training for the Catalina to be conducted by Part 141 operators.

“The process of finetuning the new licensing regulations will continue.”

{Comment: Looks like old Pinocchio has been busy handing out sponsorships, IPADs & red letter warnings etc. to get the introduction to the new financial year & DAS off to a good start..  } 
  
“The process of finetuning the new licensing regulations will continue.”... 
..."more than 70" ...FCOL  ..
Think I need to take this over here ...definitely MTF..P2      

[Peetwo]

This is more like it unlike the happy, clappy, bulldust CASA propaganda piece by the other Steve (above), Hitch at least has taken the time to get in touch with a significant industry group in the RAAA for a bit of real feedback.. :

Aviation House: CASA's headquarters in the Canberra suburb of Woden. (Bidgee)

CASA and Industry at Odds over Feedback[url=http://www.australianflying.com.au/news/casa-and-industry-at-odds-over-feedback][/url]
22 May 2015

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has said it is happy with positive nature of aviation community feedback relating to the new CASR Part 61 regulations, but the industry is crying "enough".

Feedback was called for in a letter sent out to all pilots by Director of Aviation Safety Mark Skidmore in April.

"There has been a really positive response to the letter from CASA on the new licensing regulations with 76 feedback e-mails or letters received to date," a CASA spokesperson said.

"We are happy that the responses have been constructive, even though it is fair to say a small number of people have expressed a desire for no changes to the regulations.

"The area attracting most comment is air transport pilot licences – with ten responses. Various issues have been raised including the effect of the regulations on costs, multi crew training and the effect on people part way through working towards an ATPL.

"The next issue attracting most comment is the format of licences with a number of people wanting credit card style licences. Other issues raised include flight reviews, delays in getting a new licence and type ratings.

"CASA is responding to everyone who submits feedback and we are now analysing the issues raised and looking at what may need to be done next."

However, some parts of the aviation community have expressed dismay that CASA is calling for more feedback, saying that now is the time for action, not more consultation.

"CASA has had plenty of feedback, but I think the new DAS may always want more," says Paul Tyrrell, CEO of the Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA).

"The RAAA is happy to provide [feedback] but there is plenty of low hanging fruit that we want to see action on now. Part 61 received over 70 change recommendations directly from industry in December 2014.

"There must be no more delay on the implementation of the ASRR agreed recommendations.
"The RAAA sees action as CASA’s first priority. The feedback is already there in spades. It is good to see that the DAS and the new Board have begun to turn the ship around, but the momentum must be maintained."

Much of the push-back from the aviation industry is grounded in frustration over the time it has taken CASA to progress regulatory reform to this point, approximately 25 years. Many want to see an end to calls for industry input now and action taken to bring the reforms to completion, blaming a "jobs-for-the-boys" culture for much of the delay.

"You are probably well aware of the many new and under development regs that are still causing trouble, and that ‘reg reform’ has now been going for 25 years (some people have spent their whole careers in reg reform)," Tyrrell told Australian Flying.

"CASA staffing has increased considerably since 2009 with little or no safety benefit. In the meantime GA has been in steady decline.

"While CASA now has new DAS and Board leadership, the senior management levels need refreshing urgently.

"To be frank, it’s useless to have a happy sheltered workshop at CASA while GA (commercial and private), and GA manufacturing in particular, is in serious trouble."

  
Hoorah! And guess who used to be the Chair of the RAAA?- yep Jeff Boyd. And do you reckon Tyrell's opinion would be in anyway greatly different to Boyd's? Finally a sign of sanity in the chook house...

MTF...P2  

[Kharon]

Two Choc frogs for a fully redeemed Hitch, writing in Australian Flying.  Some straight reporting, sound opinion; and, importantly - comment from industry bodies.  


CF 1 – HERE

CF 2 – HERE

Cheers Hitch.... .....

[Peetwo]

Early start for Sally Cripps, courtesy of "The Land" (well done that lady... )

Helicopter mustering breakthrough

SALLY CRIPPS
04 Jun, 2015 04:00 AM



How would you like to be flying with someone with just two hours of recent flying?

The helicopter mustering industry has welcomed CASA's review of its low-level flying rules.

A BREAKTHROUGH on Civil Aviation Safety Authority rules affecting aerial mustering has been greeted with relief in rural Queensland.

Regulations introduced last September demanding additional training for flight crew licencing were howled down as dramatically increasing costs for graziers, especially the northern beef industry, for no positive increase in operational safety standards.

Late last week CASA announced changes to its new requirements for low-level flying following a concentrated response from the helicopter industry.

A planned 12-month flight review requirement for the low-level rating has been extended to 24 months, and a requirement to maintain a minimum of two hours of low-level flying over six months has been removed.

However, because mustering is a higher-risk activity, there are ‘recent experience’ requirements for pilots.

Aerial mustering pilots will be required to have a minimum of 20 hours of aerial mustering operations in the preceding 12 months.

These changes have been welcomed by Queensland senator Matt Canavan, who originally raised the issue at an LNP state council meeting in November 2014.

“The changes will make a big difference for pilots in aerial mustering,” he said. “This is an issue I took up on behalf of the cattle industry and I very much welcome CASA’s change of heart.”

Cloncurry’s Don McDonald said it was “bloody good news”.

He was looking at a threefold increase in charges for helicopter mustering, for four people, a cost he was unable to pass on.

“I think the costs will be lowered and we’ll have a more sensible operation,” he said.

Helicopter mustering advocate Craig Crumblin, who has been in the industry since 1986, said the changes showed CASA was finally really listening.

“They had asked for renewals every year but there was nothing in place to manage that – they’d put the wagon in front of the horse,” he said.

“We have to do a biennial flight review. With these changes we can do the low-level at the same time.

“It gives you the best bang for your buck. People are less likely to let it slide, and will want to take part in it all.”


He said the vast majority of career chopper pilots had started in the mustering industry, and it was important to keep that pool engaged.

Mr Crumblin added that the 20 hour minimum of flying in the last 12 months was all part of the “give and take”.

“It’s good; operators should have some currency. How would you like to be flying with someone with just two hours of recent flying?”

CASA’s director of aviation safety, Mark Skidmore said the organisation had been carefully working through all the feedback and making adjustments as necessary.

“This is a normal process after a large regulatory change to ensure the new rules are delivering the right safety outcomes without placing an inappropriate burden on the aviation community,” Mr Skidmore said.

“All wisdom does not lie within CASA so we are happy to listen to the views of others and consider if the regulations can be improved.

“Where there are unintended consequences these will be addressed as quickly as we can, recognising we are working with a comprehensive rule set.”

  
FCOL...that waffle from Skates is a piss poor excuse for not consulting properly (i.e. 2 way consultation - instead of my way or the highway.. ) with the heli-mustering industry sector in the first place...

Quote from Part61 that caused the controversy:

61.1055  Limitations on exercise of privileges of low‑level ratings—recent experience

             (1)  The holder of a low‑level rating is authorised to exercise the privileges of the rating only if the holder has, within the previous 6 months:
                     (a)  completed at least 2 hours of low‑level operations; or
                     (b)  been assessed as competent to conduct low‑level operations by a flight instructor who holds a low‑level training endorsement.
             (2)  The holder is taken to meet the requirements of subregulation (1) if the holder:
                     (a)  has successfully completed an operator proficiency check in low‑level operations within the previous 6 months; or
                     (b)  has successfully completed a flight review for the rating within the previous 6 months.

61.1060  Limitations on exercise of privileges of low‑level ratings—flight review
             (1)  The holder of a low‑level rating is authorised to exercise the privileges of the rating only if the holder has, within the previous 12 months, successfully completed a flight review for the rating.

{Comment: The Low Level rating does not appear to feature in the NZCAA Part 61 - I guess the heli-mustering industry is kind of uniquely Australian and therefore is in need of some sort of regulation. Therefore the only point of comparison is with the aerial application sections of both Part 61s. The NZed - Subpart O – Agricultural Ratings is contained within 3 pages & the Oz Aerial Application section goes for 12 pages i.e. a 1:4 ratio

Ps It is not clear to me whether the Aerial Application rating automatically covers for the Low Level rating's recency & privileges requirements??}  

Also from Dougy's weekly wrap - Editor's Insights 4 June 2015 - the bit on Ironbar's new enterprise UASI perked my interest (especially the bit about QBE.. ):

I attended a presentation by UAS International in Sydney on Friday, to hear about Safety Assurance for Unmanned Aircraft. Now UASI is a spinoff from Ron Bartsch’s entrepreneurial Avlaw International aimed fairly and squarely at that building maelstrom that is the UAV world. It has some pretty impressive people associated with it - and it’s in bed with aviation insurance stalwart QBE. Friday’s presentation was both professional and enlightening, defining UASI’s mission as establishing a set of auditable standards to raise the bar for reputable (UAV) operators, but independently of CASA.


Ron Bartsch himself suggested that the UAV phenomenon would have an impact on Aviation equivalent to that of the jet engine. While QBE’s Simon Hooper, flagging the inevitability of unmanned cargo operations, said that “If you don’t have a passenger on board, I don’t see the point of having a pilot”.

And we should expect global access to wireless broadband provided by UAVs weighing less than a small car and with a wingspan larger than a 737, loitering at 60,000 ft for months at a time.

 "In bed with QBE"- That explains a lot...

MTF...P2

[Stagger-Lee]

Is that the same Ron Bartsch who sits on the Administrative Appeals tribunal?

Very interesting indeed.

[Gobbledock]

Iron bar and his ex CAsA crony mates are always peddling themselves wherever an aviation buck can be made. It's safety WITH all the mumbo jumbo. I really can't see how there can be no conflict of interest with him serving on the AAT while also having his tentacles so robustly woven throughout so many parts of the industry?

[Minnie Banister]

Not only his tentacles Sweety, trust me. He and some of his mates are of great interst to certain houseboat crew members.

[Peetwo]

Following on from the Sally Cripps (Star) scoop, there was 1st the other Aunty catching up with some audio from Pinocchio...

Changes to aerial mustering rules following industry feedback

NT Country Hour
By Daniel Fitzgerald



Photo: Changes to low-level flight ratings will affect aerial musterers. (Daniel Fitzgerald)
         
Audio: CASA spokesperson Peter Gibson says changes to aerial mustering rules are a result of industry feedback (ABC Rural)

Recent changes to low-level flight rating requirements mean pilots involved with aerial mustering only need their rating reviewed every 24 months, instead of every 12.

Helicopters and light planes are often used to muster cattle on vast pastoral stations across northern Australia.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) says the changes recognise the previous rules imposed significant burdens without an increase in safety standards for those working in the high-risk aerial mustering industry.

CASA spokesperson Peter Gibson said the new requirements were a result of industry feedback.

"There has been a lot of feedback to the CASA about the new pilot licensing rules brought in in 2014 and we are making a number of changes to improve the rules and remove any unintended consequences," he said.

"In the new rules we had a requirement for a review of the low-level rating every 12 months, due to the feedback from the industry we have extended that back to two years."

Industry feedback to CASA noted the rules implemented in 2014 imposed "some unintended and unnecessary burdens on them without any significant improvements in safety".

"So we looked at that very carefully, weighed all that up and basically agreed and said we can ease the administrative burdens, reduce the costs, but still get the right safety outcomes,' Mr Gibson said.

"It's all about getting the balance between getting the best possible safety while letting people get on with the job of delivering their services to the agricultural sector."

The new changes also note aerial mustering pilots will be required to have a minimum of 20 hours of aerial mustering operations in the preceding 12 months.

Given aerial mustering pilots spend several hours in the air every day during muster, Mr Gibson said most pilots would easily fly more than 20 hours over 12 months.

"If pilots can't meet that they can do a flight review or proficiency check that includes some aerial mustering."

 
Then there was this from Rockie's the Morning Bulletin:

GALLERY: Ruling of no annual review has our Cam flying high


Michelle Gately | 5th Jun 2015 7:43 AM Updated: 10:58 AM

 



THERE are not too many bad days in the office for helicopter pilot Cameron Parker.
In what he describes as "just a good day out", Cameron spends his time getting a bird's eye view of Central Queensland, running a commercial aerial mustering business.

In the 18 years Cameron has been running Parker Helicopters, his clients have become friends and a hard day's work in the sky is always followed by a cuppa and chat.

Cameron spoke to The Morning Bulletin after the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) announced they would not be introducing an annual flight review requirement.

Instead reviews, requiring flight with instructors, will stay at the existing two years.

Despite a reputation of danger, Cameron said aerial mustering was a "very safe" and well-regulated industry.

"If you're doing it all the time, it's just second nature," he said. "We do it most days and the current bi-annual safety training is adequate."

Photos
View Photo Gallery





Cameron Parker has been mustering cattle with helicopters for 18 years. Photo Allan Reinikka / The Morning Bulletin
Photo: Allan Reinikka.

He said the rarity of bad accidents in the industry, despite the hundreds of pilots mustering across Australia daily, proved the current regulation level was working well.

One of the most challenging, and potentially dangerous aspects of the job comes when pilots are forced to fly low to the ground to get unco-operative cattle moving.

But Cameron said it wasn't a problem he experienced too often, after
having worked with many of the same producers for years.

Cameron said powerlines were a growing danger, even for experienced pilots, with mining developments rapidly changing the landscape. He said communication before developments proceeded could avoid this issue.

During Cameron's 18 years mustering, he's watched the mining boom dramatically change the industry as young men left the land to chase big bucks.

"Helicopters have replaced people on horseback," Cameron said.

"Even to go and find four men capable of mustering is not easy."

 

Finally there was this from Oz Aviation online who also (strangely) quotes Skidmore rather than PG..  :

Helicopter association welcomes changes to Part 61


June 5, 2015 by australianaviation.com.au



Australian Helicopter Industry Association (AHIA) president Peter Crook has welcomed some changes to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) new Part 61 regulations.

In late May, CASA said it had responded to feedback from the aviation community regarding Part 61 and noted especially the input of the helicopter industry.

Crook said the changes were a positive step, adding that communication between CASA and AHIA had improved considerably following a meeting between the two parties on May 6.

“With other significant amendments in the pipeline these actions demonstrate industry input is now being taken seriously and it adds faith to those who want to contribute but may feel held back by the frustrations of the previous environment,” Crook said in a statement.

As a result of the feedback, CASA said the 12-month flight review requirement for the low-level rating was extended to 24 months.

Meanwhile, CASA also removed new requirement to maintain a minimum of two hours of low-level flying over six months.

And the regulator said aerial mustering pilots will be required to have flown a minimum of 20 hours of aerial mustering operations in the preceding 12 months. If mustering pilots cannot meet this requirement they can complete a flight review, proficiency check or flight test that includes aerial mustering, CASA said.

“The changes to the low-level rating have been made by an exemption to the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations Part 61. In due course the regulations will be amended to include the changes,” CASA said in a statement on May 27.

“Most of the feedback on the low-level rating came from the helicopter industry, which put forward a case to show there were minimal safety benefits from the new requirements while they created administrative difficulties for pilots and air operators.”

CASA is currently seeking feedback from pilots regarding the implementation of Part 61 and director of aviation safety Mark Skidmore said the regulator was carefully considering all correspondence.

“This is a normal process after a large regulatory change to ensure the new rules are delivering the right safety outcomes without placing an inappropriate burden on the aviation community,” Skidmore said in a statement.

“All wisdom does not lie within CASA so we are happy to listen to the views of others and consider if the regulations can be improved.

“Where there are unintended consequences these will be addressed as quickly as we can, recognising we are working with a comprehensive rule set.”

The section covering student pilots has also been changed, with the 14-day dual check requirement extended to 30 days.

MTF...P2

[Peetwo]

Following on from the Sally Cripps (Star) scoop, there was 1st the other Aunty catching up with some audio from Pinocchio...

Changes to aerial mustering rules following industry feedback

NT Country Hour
By Daniel Fitzgerald



Photo: Changes to low-level flight ratings will affect aerial musterers. (Daniel Fitzgerald)
         
Audio: CASA spokesperson Peter Gibson says changes to aerial mustering rules are a result of industry feedback (ABC Rural)

Recent changes to low-level flight rating requirements mean pilots involved with aerial mustering only need their rating reviewed every 24 months, instead of every 12.

Helicopters and light planes are often used to muster cattle on vast pastoral stations across northern Australia.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) says the changes recognise the previous rules imposed significant burdens without an increase in safety standards for those working in the high-risk aerial mustering industry.

CASA spokesperson Peter Gibson said the new requirements were a result of industry feedback.

"There has been a lot of feedback to the CASA about the new pilot licensing rules brought in in 2014 and we are making a number of changes to improve the rules and remove any unintended consequences," he said.

"In the new rules we had a requirement for a review of the low-level rating every 12 months, due to the feedback from the industry we have extended that back to two years."

Industry feedback to CASA noted the rules implemented in 2014 imposed "some unintended and unnecessary burdens on them without any significant improvements in safety".

"So we looked at that very carefully, weighed all that up and basically agreed and said we can ease the administrative burdens, reduce the costs, but still get the right safety outcomes,' Mr Gibson said.

"It's all about getting the balance between getting the best possible safety while letting people get on with the job of delivering their services to the agricultural sector."

The new changes also note aerial mustering pilots will be required to have a minimum of 20 hours of aerial mustering operations in the preceding 12 months.

Given aerial mustering pilots spend several hours in the air every day during muster, Mr Gibson said most pilots would easily fly more than 20 hours over 12 months.

"If pilots can't meet that they can do a flight review or proficiency check that includes some aerial mustering."

 
Then there was this from Rockie's the Morning Bulletin:

GALLERY: Ruling of no annual review has our Cam flying high


Michelle Gately | 5th Jun 2015 7:43 AM Updated: 10:58 AM

 



THERE are not too many bad days in the office for helicopter pilot Cameron Parker.
In what he describes as "just a good day out", Cameron spends his time getting a bird's eye view of Central Queensland, running a commercial aerial mustering business.

In the 18 years Cameron has been running Parker Helicopters, his clients have become friends and a hard day's work in the sky is always followed by a cuppa and chat.

Cameron spoke to The Morning Bulletin after the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) announced they would not be introducing an annual flight review requirement.

Instead reviews, requiring flight with instructors, will stay at the existing two years.

Despite a reputation of danger, Cameron said aerial mustering was a "very safe" and well-regulated industry.

"If you're doing it all the time, it's just second nature," he said. "We do it most days and the current bi-annual safety training is adequate."

Photos
View Photo Gallery





Cameron Parker has been mustering cattle with helicopters for 18 years. Photo Allan Reinikka / The Morning Bulletin
Photo: Allan Reinikka.

He said the rarity of bad accidents in the industry, despite the hundreds of pilots mustering across Australia daily, proved the current regulation level was working well.

One of the most challenging, and potentially dangerous aspects of the job comes when pilots are forced to fly low to the ground to get unco-operative cattle moving.

But Cameron said it wasn't a problem he experienced too often, after
having worked with many of the same producers for years.

Cameron said powerlines were a growing danger, even for experienced pilots, with mining developments rapidly changing the landscape. He said communication before developments proceeded could avoid this issue.

During Cameron's 18 years mustering, he's watched the mining boom dramatically change the industry as young men left the land to chase big bucks.

"Helicopters have replaced people on horseback," Cameron said.

"Even to go and find four men capable of mustering is not easy."

 

Finally there was this from Oz Aviation online who also (strangely) quotes Skidmore rather than PG..  :

Helicopter association welcomes changes to Part 61


June 5, 2015 by australianaviation.com.au



Australian Helicopter Industry Association (AHIA) president Peter Crook has welcomed some changes to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) new Part 61 regulations.

In late May, CASA said it had responded to feedback from the aviation community regarding Part 61 and noted especially the input of the helicopter industry.

Crook said the changes were a positive step, adding that communication between CASA and AHIA had improved considerably following a meeting between the two parties on May 6.

“With other significant amendments in the pipeline these actions demonstrate industry input is now being taken seriously and it adds faith to those who want to contribute but may feel held back by the frustrations of the previous environment,” Crook said in a statement.

As a result of the feedback, CASA said the 12-month flight review requirement for the low-level rating was extended to 24 months.

Meanwhile, CASA also removed new requirement to maintain a minimum of two hours of low-level flying over six months.

And the regulator said aerial mustering pilots will be required to have flown a minimum of 20 hours of aerial mustering operations in the preceding 12 months. If mustering pilots cannot meet this requirement they can complete a flight review, proficiency check or flight test that includes aerial mustering, CASA said.

“The changes to the low-level rating have been made by an exemption to the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations Part 61. In due course the regulations will be amended to include the changes,” CASA said in a statement on May 27.

“Most of the feedback on the low-level rating came from the helicopter industry, which put forward a case to show there were minimal safety benefits from the new requirements while they created administrative difficulties for pilots and air operators.”

CASA is currently seeking feedback from pilots regarding the implementation of Part 61 and director of aviation safety Mark Skidmore said the regulator was carefully considering all correspondence.

“This is a normal process after a large regulatory change to ensure the new rules are delivering the right safety outcomes without placing an inappropriate burden on the aviation community,” Skidmore said in a statement.

“All wisdom does not lie within CASA so we are happy to listen to the views of others and consider if the regulations can be improved.

“Where there are unintended consequences these will be addressed as quickly as we can, recognising we are working with a comprehensive rule set.”

The section covering student pilots has also been changed, with the 14-day dual check requirement extended to 30 days.

In addition to this story, today Hitch posted this:

AHIA and CASA co-operate for Regulation Change
09 Jun 2015

CASA is moving forward with regulatory changes to CASR Part 61 after forming a co-operative partnership with the Australian Helicopter Industry Association (AHIA).
In a statement released yesterday, AHIA outlined the actions taken to improve Part 61, particularly for the helicopter industry.

"By a co-operative partnership with CASA, the AHIA and other industry members, CASA is moving forward with legislative changes to streamline regulatory provisions as a result of the post-implementation review of part 61," the statement reads.

"AHIA President Peter Crook sees this as a positive step closer to the industry contributing at a high level to legislative content for the betterment of the aviation industry."

Communication between AHIA and CASA has benefited from a meeting held in Sydney on 6 May, in which CASA DAS Mark Skidmore and senior flight standards and licencing staff met with AHIA president Peter Crook and lead Part 61 review team member Ray Cronin.
Peter Crook has since been appointed to the Minister's Aviation Industry Consultative Council, and Ray Cronin to the Joint CASA/SCC Flight Crew Licensing Sub-committee.

Changes made to Part 61 include as part of the review process are:

• Low level recency and flight review requirements extended to two years
  
• Sling, Winch and Rappel endorsement certifications and flight review requirements
  
• Expansion of the 61.040 approvals for flight testing and flight reviews to include a broader spectrum of approved persons and instructor qualifications to place specialist operational assessments within the upper level experience for each activity
  
• Student pilot recency requirements have been relaxed from 15 days to 30.
  
  

Other issues high on the priority list include:

• A pathway to allow an Australian ATPL(H) to be obtained
  
• Amendments to the Part 61 MoS
  
• The transition requirements for a firefighting endorsement for experienced firefighting pilots
  
• The development of a multi-engine class rating for helicopters
  
• The input to the development of CASR Part 138 (aerial work for both fixed-wing and rotary)
  
  

"With other significant amendments in the pipe line these actions demonstrate industry input is now being taken seriously and it adds faith to those who want to contribute but may feel held back by the frustrations of the previous environment," the AHIA statement says.

 
I am reliably informed that the Ferryman Part 61 exposé will very soon be taking a look at the relevant parts soon to be called either exemptions or amendments to Part 61 'Low Level Approvals' etc.

MTF..P2

[Kharon]

Has bin or Wheely Bin.

Good call P2 – politically low level operations are a time bomb and dangerous to those who fool about with the elements of the industry which routinely operate ‘in the weeds’; especially the ‘chopper’ crowd; the media being the most likely to kick off a pooh storm.  Then there are the police, search and rescue, medivac, fire fighters, flood relief food deliveries – all seriously operationally and financially likely to suffer because of the idiot rules enforced, without too much consultation on an industry which has much money invested and generates jobs, and a good return to the government. What a shame to treat it in such an off hand, shabby manner.

I will, probably finish up with the low level operations, the NZ rules are clean, simple to comply with,  ‘release’ the industry from undue regulatory cost burden and, by extension, the risk of prosecution by unintended breech; in about a dozen pages.

Wazza and his minions need to get weaving, before this all blows up.  Truss could with a wiggle of an eyebrow ‘freeze’ this debacle and score some much needed browneye points.  That or be the one ultimately responsible for Mrs and junior Brown stuck on roof top overnight because to rescue them would breech some arbitrary rule, writ by a purblind fool.

Exemption is not the solution – Bin, bin, bin, bin, bin, bin, bin, bin, bin.        

You know you want to.....