[Peetwo]

If true?? God help us!

Reflecting on the Dougy gratuitous self-flagellation statement (above), particularly the bit in red,..

This is very encouraging stuff indeed and congratulations must go to the DAS Mark Skidmore and his deputy Jonathan Aleck.

...gave me pause to think back on a Ferryman Sunday Ramble from a couple of Weekends ago: 

or



A Sunday ramble.

The power behind the throne.

There exists a research project which has been knocking about the PAIN archives for a long while now; it’s almost complete, just waiting for the anniversary of the Skidmore appointment to round it off.  Although, until a ‘platform’ can be found, such as a Royal Commission or a full blooded inquiry into why Australian aviation is in such a sorry state, it is likely to remain under wraps, added to until an opportunity presents.

One of the more intriguing threads running through the report is the part played by Johnathon Aleck.  During a long tenure with CASA the ‘Doc’ has survived many pogroms and ‘tidy up’ runs, shifting effortlessly into the background when the spotlight is on, steering the likes of McComic through the pit-falls, guiding, cajoling and whispering advice.  It’s even said he has even managed to wrangle some unchallenged, alleged to be ‘unconstitutional’ legislation into the Act.  The story goes that this is admitted, but the cost of mounting a challenge is astronomical, the chances of winning slim and the likelihood of a challenge being so remote that the legislation will stand until the Act is repealed.

There are many legends surrounding this shadowy, mysterious figure; claimed by some to be the master puppeteer, this evidenced in the lacklustre, carefully scripted Skidmore performance.

We are faced with a dilemma; Truss is publicly demanding that the Forsyth reforms be instituted, industry is patiently waiting for those proposed reforms to become reality; the board seem to working very hard and well toward reform; and, the ‘alphabet’ groups are nearly all singing from the same page: so why the delay.  Who should we believe?  The stark tangible evidence of zero real change; or the minister?  Clearly, someone has the brakes on – but who?

The constants throughout the past two decades along the road to perdition have been Mike Mrdak and J Aleck.  So, one is left to wonder where the true power to bring in the changes lays, clearly not with the minister, obviously not with Skidmore.  Some how, the ‘troops’ know this, for little has improved within any of the three essential services to industry, provided by government, paid for by the public.

Careful research and tracking through many events invariably finds both men involved; always in control, one way or another.  It leads to the notion that the iron ring is attached to the solid bulwark of the real power and influence behind the thrones. And begs the question – just who really runs the puppet show?  No brainer in my opinion, proving it; aye well, that’s the challenge ain’t it.  Will Truss meet it? – another no brainer.

End Sunday ramble.    Lured away by the smell of fresh coffee fresh on a spring morning, and blueberry muffins cooling.

Jonathon Aleck for Deputy Dog?? - Then I thought they wouldn't dare would they?? After all this is the individual who authored the CASA prejudiced 2010 MoU, that helped facilitate the PelAir cover-up & ultimately the embuggerance of Dominic James.

This is also the guy that is rumoured to be the major contributor to writing many of the voluminous, virtually unreadable or usable regs; and for adding pages..& pages of notified differences to the ICAO SARPs, to the point we are no longer compliant (in any real sense) to the ICAO Annexes.  

Just to be sure I checked -

Deputy Director of Aviation Safety


Vacant


Functions
The Deputy Director provides strategic support and advice to the Director of Aviation Safety across a wide range of CASA’s regulatory and other activities. When required, the Deputy Director assumes responsibility for specific projects or initiatives on behalf of the Director, and may represent CASA at government and international forums.

The Deputy Director is responsible for CASA’s policies relating to aviation safety analysis capabilities including matters arising from aviation accident investigation, programme management, knowledge information management, and the management of certain interdepartmental arrangements.

The Executive Managers of CASA’s Operations, Standards and Airspace and Aerodrome Regulation divisions report directly to the Deputy Director.

Contact
CASA (local call cost) 131 757

 

Jonathan Aleck


Functions
The Associate Director provides strategic support and advice to the Director of Aviation Safety across a wide range of CASA’s activities.

The Associate Director is responsible for the development and articulation of CASA’s overarching approach to regulatory policy and practice, and oversight of CASA’s governance systems, risk management, internal audit, quality assurance, strategic planning and reporting, corporate communications, corporate correspondence management, ministerial advice and international relations functions. Responsibility for self-administering sport aviation organisations and the general aviation taskforce also sits under the Associate Director. When required, the Associate Director assumes responsibility for specific projects or initiatives on behalf of the Director, and may represent CASA at government and international forums.

The Executive Managers of CASA’s Industry Permissions, Legal Services, Safety Education and Promotion, and Corporate Services divisions report directly to the Associate Director.
 

Phew...

Anyway word of warning for Boyd, the Board & Murky Mandarin, think very carefully about putting JA in the Deputy Dog possie, PAIN has a voluminous dirt file on JA's shenanigans, some of which is very revealing..  

BEWARE - "White Man speak with forked tongue!"


MTF..P2  

[Gobbledock]

Latest from Hich

And at least with Hitch when he reports he doesn't give those in power an anal tongue bath.

http://www.australianflying.com.au/news/...ember-2015

On Skid'Mark;

"Mark Skidmore is obviously prepared to tell the rest of the CASA board and the Minister exactly what the state of play is. His recent memo to CASA internal staff stated that he was prepared to ignore the government's deadline to finish the regulation review if it meant getting it right. This is a bit of a quandry for GA. The regulation reform program has been running longer than The Simpsons, but hasn't been anywhere near as much fun, and realistically maybe we've all had enough. It has been badly mismanaged and several deadlines directed by several ministers have done nothing more than be measuring sticks for the extent of the problem. So, for Skidmore to come out now and say he's prepared to ignore another one takes guts, especially when he's running in the face of a storm of criticism that nothing's happening. On the contrary, if that is what it will take to get the regulations right, maybe that's what needs to happen. Do we really want another Part 61 generated by a desperate need just to hit a deadline? Bad regulation won't hurry the end of this, it will only drag it out further as we try to battle even more nonsense".

As P2 would say - MTF

[Kharon]

More noise, no traction and less action.

Good for Hitch, agree GD, at least you don’t need the hardworking bucket at hand to read his commentary.  Commentary which, as far as it goes is balanced and reasoned; I just wonder if Hitch and other similar commentators will go a little deeper.

The reform of the ‘regulations’ has been a farce, we can all agree on that; but I wonder why?  It is as much in the regulators interests to reform the regulations as it is for industry.  Less prosecution and ‘administrative’ actions, less investigation, less friction with industry; a realistic rule set would reduce the cost of running CASA and the incidence of ‘accidental’ or manufactured breach.  So, I wonder at the delays and the absence of simple law, written in plain English.

The obsession with ‘micro-management’ is one; the need for legal loopholes and ‘gotcha’ clauses is another. Then of course there is the ‘power’ built in which leaves CASA in complete control without any accountability, lots of wriggle room, or the need to ‘prove’ anything under the rules of evidence, in a court of law.  Administrative embuggerance is an in house sport. Skidmore has utterly failed to acknowledge this in any way, shape or form and yet it remains one industries top complaints; albeit a muted one, for fear of retribution - FACT.

The next big ticket item which has been ignored is the subjective, personalised interpretation of a rule (or part thereof) to suit a predetermined purpose; particularly in pursuit of an operator or individual.  There are countless instances where this has happened and continues to happen. This has not been addressed.  Both of these items require balls, tenacity and determination; alas.....

Forsyth’s ASRR review sighted the reform of CASA being more (equally) as important as the reform of regulation.  The rotten apples are still in the barrel, the systems used and the methodology remain unaddressed.  Skidmore has made the stand on the regulations, fair enough and bravo; but then it’s over to ‘legal’, principal established, get busy drafting.  Which leaves him little to do once that’s off his desk.  Now he needs to get a grip on the real issues, those that will, with little effort or time, give him credibility as the man who actually reformed CASA.

The gods know, it needs doing.  Floating about and making speeches, chatting with tame operators and writing fluffy, trite little letters to his ‘troops’ ain’t good enough, not by a long shot.  There’s some real dragons to slay out there for a wannabe hero.  

Does Skidmore want to do the job properly, or just look pretty?  We still don’t know, but on past performance, it’s a show pony not a charger.  We need St George, not Oliver Twist.

Selah.

[Peetwo]

Courtesy AA online:

CASA appoints new industry complaints commissioner

October 1, 2015 by australianaviation.com.au

Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has appointed a new industry complaints commissioner.

The new commissioner, Jonathan Hanton, started in his new role earlier this week, CASA said.

“CASA’s industry complaints commissioner can be used by people in the aviation community or the general public to lodge complaints about the regulator’s action or behaviour,” CASA said.

“Complaints can be made about decisions and administrative actions or services provided by CASA staff, delegates or authorised persons which are considered to be wrong, unjust, unlawful, discriminatory or unfair.”

A qualified lawyer, Hanton was previously an ombudsman at the United Kingdom’s Financial Ombudsman Service and a senior investigator at the New Zealand Banking Ombudsman’s office.

Hanton reports to the CASA board.

CASA set up the office of the industry complaints commissioner in 2006.

Meanwhile, CASA has opened applications for those seeking a grant to support their formal research on topics related to improving aviation safety in Australia.

CASA said it was “particularly interested” in receiving grant proposals on aviation safety issues with heliports; aviation safety issues with aerodromes and buildings in Australia; and aviation medicine clinical standards evidence base.

“The research grant program is designed to support research activities that promote Australia’s civil aviation safety policy objectives and add to the body of knowledge about aviation safety in Australia,” CASA said.

“Grants for research may include financial or in-kind support such as information materials, communication collateral and CASA staff participation.”

The deadline for the first round of applications is 5pm Wednesday October 28.
More details can be found on the CASA website.

 
Hmm...no comment


MTF..P2

[Peetwo]

The week that t'was - Yawn.. ! Slow week in Oz aviation media with the usual suspects, especially with Hitch still OS and MH370 in some sort of recent hiatus. Although Ventus probably nailed the reason for that - see here: 

Annex-13 gives the industry the luxury of playing the time game, to protect itself, it's own interests, not the public interest.

The best way to do that, is to release as little as possible, as late as possible.
People eventually forget, time goes on, it drops of their radar, especially so with the media.

In the case of MH-370, they are not just "letting the money run out", more importantly, more significantly, and more specifically, they are deliberately "running out the clock".

I listened to an address on ABC Radio by Angus Houston in Adelaide recently.

He spent almpost the entire speech on MH-17.  

What little he said about MH-370 (at the very end) was all about "damping down expectations" - "it took us 75 years to find HMAS Sydney" ... etc.
What does that tell you ?

Cast your mind back.
When did Angus come on scene with the JACC ?
When did he leave the JACC ?
The JACC still exists, and does what, of substance ?

The Chinese have walked away from the sham of this investigation already.
How long before it is shut down entirely ?

However there were some stories that broke.

First from Safety Culture OHS news, a blurb on the proposed Aerial Work Part 138:

Proposed new rules for aerial work operations open for public comment

Reported by Haydee | 12:52pm, Wednesday 07 October, 2015


Photo: skeeze, Pixabay

Comment is being sought on proposals to establish new rules for aerial work operations, which is to be contained in Part 138 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998.

These new rules will apply to those who conduct aerial work activities in aeroplanes and rotorcraft including mustering, spotting and survey operations, media operations, external load operations, surveillance operations, marine pilot transfers and emergency service operations such as search and rescue, police and customs operations.

This is part of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s regulation reform program, committed to enhance aviation safety, address known risks and maintain the reputation of Australia’s aviation industry as one of the safest in the world.

The proposed changes include:

• Consolidating all aeroplane and helicopter aerial work operations into a signle rule set, with these operations conducted under a Part 138 certificate rather than an air operator’s certificate (noting the rules for aerial application operations are contained in Part 137 and the rules for medical transport operations will be moved to Parts 119, 133 and 135 as applicable)
  
• Streamlining the current 41 aerial work activities into three categories: external load operations, dispensing operations and task-specialist operations
  
• Applying rotorcraft and aeroplane performance standards to certain aerial work operations as required, based on the assessed work
  
• Applying graduated training and checking standards to aerial work operations depending on the complexity of the operation
  
• Defining and specifying when aerial work specialists and aerial work passengers can be carried
  
  

Comments can be submitted until 10 November 2015.

Next from the Oz on the NPRM for Part121, which I've no doubt will cause some consternation for those middle of the road operators & some regional airline/charter operators...

New CASA rules put big charters in airline category  

• by: STEVE CREEDY
  
• From: The Australian
  
• October 09, 2015 12:00AM
  

Aviation Editor
Sydney




CASA expects safety improvements to flow from the new aviation safety standards. Picture: Sam Rosewarne Source: News Corp Australia

Charter operators flying bigger planes will have to meet the same safety standards as airlines under long-awaited new rules the aviation regulator says will boost safety for non-scheduled flights.  

A rewrite of Civil Aviation Safety Regulations Part 121 released this week for comment by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority will put charter aircraft fitted with more than nine seats or with a maximum takeoff weight of more than 8618kg into the same air transport category as airlines.

A raft of changes include a move to formalise the cabin crew to passenger seat ratio at 1:50 — down from the previous standard of one for every 36 seats — in line with manufacturer recommendations. CASA has been granting exemptions to the 1:36 rule for some time but the move, strongly supported by airlines as an efficiency measure, for many years was opposed by the Flight Attendants Association of Australia on safety and security grounds.

CASA expects safety improvements to flow from areas such as record and document control, better information on non-certified aerodromes, improved procedures for pilots operating different types of aircraft, as well as simplified check and training requirements for flight crews.

There will also be improvements with safety management systems in conjunction with CASR Part 119, which deals with air operator’s certificates.

Other changes include the provision for new technology such as synthetic vision and enhanced vision systems, requirements for underwater location devices and additional medical equipment on some flights and rostering restrictions for inexperienced flight crew.

The authority said many of the changes would formalise current practices or simplify compliance and align “to the maximum extent possible’’ with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards and recommendations.

The move to put charter and airline operations under one umbrella stretches back over two decades and met with resistance in the early 2000s. The aviation authority has more recently come under intense criticism for the way it introduced new rules in areas such as flight crew licensing as well its failure to consult properly with the industry.

However, CASA said this time it had conducted comprehensive consultation on the proposed rules with airlines, smaller air ­operators, industry groups and unions.

It said consultations in nine working groups had culminated in the proposal, an associated technical draft of the manual of standards and draft acceptable means of compliance and guidance material.

The most recent consultation resulted in changes to the new rules, which are based on Euro­pean standards for air transport operations, to incorporate standards and rules commonly used in Australia.

A risk analysis had also shown that in most cases the new rules would mitigate known safety risks, the authority said.

“Generally, the application of a rule would not change the outcome but would reduce the probability of the risk being realised,’’ it said.

The regulator says it will consider all comments received as part of consultation process and wants them lodged by close of business on November 27.

  
Also covered by Hitch's fill in bloke:

Charter passenger and cargo aircraft with more than nine passenger seats or a max takeoff weight of more than 8618 kilograms will have to comply with new rules designed to bring such operations in line with regular public transport flights.


CASA releases new charter rules for public comment
09 Oct 2015

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has released for public comment proposed changes that will bring safety standards for charter flights in to line with those of regular public transport.

The new Part 121 rules will apply to passenger and cargo operations in aeroplanes fitted with more than nine passenger seats or with a maximum take-off weight of more than 8,618 kilograms.

CASA believes this means there will be improved safety standards in some areas of operations for non-scheduled flights which are currently classified as charter.

Other key changes include provisions for the use of new technology such as synthetic vision and enhanced vision systems, requirements for underwater locating devices on some flights, requirements for additional medical equipment on aircraft, restrictions on rostering inexperienced flight crew and new training and checking requirements for cabin crew.

Other changes proposed include new terminology and rules for extended diversion time operations, clearer rules for operations on narrow runways, simplified equipment regulations, new datalink recording requirements, options for more flexible pilot training and checking programs, simplified pilot recency requirements, formalising a cabin crew to passenger seat ratio of one to fifty and new recency requirements for cabin crew.

After a consultation program with air operators, aviation industry representative groups and pilot and cabin crew unions, CASA has now released the proposals in detail to the broader Australian aviation community for further consultation and comment.  The comment period closes on 27 November 2015.

The proposed new rules are designed to align to the maximum extent possible with International Civil Aviation Organization standards and recommended practices.

They consolidate all existing regulations for charter and regular public transport operations into one rule set, which is supported by a manual of standards as well as compliance and guidance material.

Many of the proposed changes will formalise current practices, while others will simplify compliance.

While with Oz Flying I noticed some comments in recent months worth regurgitating..

CASA has Scope for Improvement: Skidmore

Eyrie • 4 months ago

Sorry Mark. After the last 20 years plus of thrashing around it is clear that CASA cannot be reformed or improved. All that remains is to take it out to the parking lot and quietly put it out of its misery. Burn both the new and old regulations in a ceremonial bonfire.

Other small nations which have been unable (I think we qualify - look around you) or unwilling to run their own aviation systems have simply adopted the FAA rules in toto, including I'm told, Indonesia, a place where aviation is NOT optional, just like vast areas of this country.

There must be FAA people retiring all the time who would like a couple of years in Australia bedding down their rules here.

So be an Australian aviation hero who will be remembered for decades, Mark. Bite the bullet and do it.



Steve • 4 months ago

Why is CASA involved with small air craft , CASA must have better things to do with commercial / hire and the air lines. There is the SAAA , RAAus doing a similar thing , why does CASA waste heaps of private and public money doubling up controlling such a small industry. It seems CASA has controlled the small air craft operators to the point there is less flying GA every year . The cost of compliance is too great for some and they just withdraw from the industry and why would young people waste their time and money training etc just to leave the industry disillusioned , The fun of flying is being erroded by over regulation

A lot of GA pilots are flying 15 to 20 hours or less, why? Someone should ask why.
ASIC card is a furphy and a waste of money, medicals are restrictive, intrusive and turn people away from the industry.

Think of this, less GA pilots , in turn these is less planes being sold and less hours flown, less maintenance staff , air strips close, then there will be less CASA staff .
Why not give GA a chance , look at RA Aus isnt it working and it's less restrictive,why wouldn't the same work for GA ?

AOPA demands Compensation for ADS-B Mandate

Anderson • a month ago

All this ADS-B infrastructure is of course an aviation / taxpayer funded "safety" drive to "fatten the pig" so to speak.
(Ever notice, whether it's in aviation or anything other government policy - the reason is "safety" or "security" - these are of course thinly veiled smokescreens for more nefarious objectives).

Anyone who can't see what's happening here must be either wilfully igorant or some sort of dullard.

ADS-B, massive cost reductions of existing infrastructure (dismantling of NDB and VOR navaids), revisions to fee structures: Who honestly can't see that Airservices is simply being ripened up to be sold off.

It's a classic case of socialising the costs and privatising the profits.

The beneficiaries of the new ATC system will be some private equity consortium - some action certainly to get in on if you can since monopoly enterprises (no matter how regulated) are always cash cow. The great Sydney Airport sell-off con anybody....?!!?

We dare not mention this though... In the same vein as any comments about the obvious fate of YSBK and YSCN by the end of the decade don't see the light of day...

Let's see what happens shall we, my guess is Airservices is private well within 5 years (regardless of which side of the fake political Hegelian dialectic might be in power)

From that man Eyrie again: The Last Minute Hitch: 25 September 2015

..Mark Skidmore is obviously prepared to tell the rest of the CASA board and the Minister exactly what the state of play is. His recent memo to CASA internal staff stated that he was prepared to ignore the government's deadline to finish the regulation review if it meant getting it right. This is a bit of a quandry for GA. The regulation reform program has been running longer than The Simpsons, but hasn't been anywhere near as much fun, and realistically maybe we've all had enough. It has been badly mismanaged and several deadlines directed by several ministers have done nothing more than be measuring sticks for the extent of the problem. So, for Skidmore to come out now and say he's prepared to ignore another one takes guts, especially when he's running in the face of a storm of criticism that nothing's happening. On the contrary, if that is what it will take to get the regulations right, maybe that's what needs to happen. Do we really want another Part 61 generated by a desperate need just to hit a deadline? Bad regulation won't hurry the end of this, it will only drag it out further as we try to battle even more nonsense...



Eyrie • 14 days ago
They've only had 21 years so far. If they can't finish by the deadline now just scrap the whole project and adopt the US FARs, or better still just outsource the management of the regulation of Australian aviation to the FAA. Other small, incompetent Pacific nations have done this.
If Skidmore can't or won't work to requirements he needs to resign or be fired. - I'll drink to that

MTF..P2

[P7_TOM]

AMROBA.

CASA, without consultation, repealed CAO 1080.34.

This CAO is, or was, the CAR 42V approved data supporting the radio inspections of Schedule 5.

Schedule 5 radio inspections reference the CAO.

Currently, aircraft being maintained to Schedule 5 cannot be released to service as the applicable “approved” maintenance data has been repealed by CASA.

There is a possibility of hundreds of aircraft that have been illegally released to service.

CASA’s Michael Broom is aware of the issue.


(4)               Take the following action in relation to navigation systems in aircraft equipped for I.F.R. flight:

                    (a)  check the ADF system for accuracy and correct performance in all modes of operation within the limits specified in section 108.34 of the Civil Aviation Orders;

                    (b)  check the VOR system for correct performance within the limits specified in section 108.34 of the Civil Aviation Orders;

                    ©  check the localiser system for correct performance within the limits specified in section 108.34 of the Civil Aviation Orders;

                    (d)  check the glideslope system for correct performance within the limits specified in section 108.34 of the Civil Aviation Orders;

Regards

Ken Cannane

Executive Director

AMROBA

Phone:   (02) 97592715

Fax:       (02) 97592025

Mobile:   0408029329

www.amroba.org.au

Total incompetence - yet again.   Let them explain that away to the Press, the industry, the Senate and the insurance companies and the passengers and the company's affected.  Maybe they could ask Wodger - to sort out the 'team work' and suitable "paper-work" for the prosecution.  Although who should prosecute whom is an interesting legal quandary.   
WTD are we paying for here:::  

[Peetwo]

AMROBA.

CASA, without consultation, repealed CAO 1080.34.

This CAO is, or was, the CAR 42V approved data supporting the radio inspections of Schedule 5.

Schedule 5 radio inspections reference the CAO.

Currently, aircraft being maintained to Schedule 5 cannot be released to service as the applicable “approved” maintenance data has been repealed by CASA.

There is a possibility of hundreds of aircraft that have been illegally released to service.

CASA’s Michael Broom is aware of the issue.


(4)               Take the following action in relation to navigation systems in aircraft equipped for I.F.R. flight:

                    (a)  check the ADF system for accuracy and correct performance in all modes of operation within the limits specified in section 108.34 of the Civil Aviation Orders;

                    (b)  check the VOR system for correct performance within the limits specified in section 108.34 of the Civil Aviation Orders;

                    ©  check the localiser system for correct performance within the limits specified in section 108.34 of the Civil Aviation Orders;

                    (d)  check the glideslope system for correct performance within the limits specified in section 108.34 of the Civil Aviation Orders;

Regards

Ken Cannane

Executive Director

AMROBA

Phone:   (02) 97592715

Fax:       (02) 97592025

Mobile:   0408029329

www.amroba.org.au

Total incompetence - yet again.   Let them explain that away to the Press, the industry, the Senate and the insurance companies and the passengers and the company's affected.  Maybe they could ask Wodger - to sort out the 'team work' and suitable "paper-work" for the prosecution.  Although who should prosecute whom is an interesting legal quandary.   
WTD are we paying for here:::  

UAV mania out of control? What do we get from CAsA - Oliver droning on..& on

Senator FAWCETT: Changing topics completely to unmanned systems, are you aware of the recent decision of the FAA to require all operators of unmanned systems to register those because of the concern that they have had that even the smaller than two kilogram type operations, which at the moment I do not believe CASA intends to be engaged with, have come so close to causing accidents that they do not believe they can prevent accidents just through education? Do you have any similar concerns here or intent to try and influence the operation of sub two kilogram systems?


Mr Skidmore : It is fair to say that the remotely piloted aircraft systems is one of my risk areas and it is certainly one that we are focused on to understand the implications of all of those systems and how best we can actually put regulations in place to mitigate the concerns that are there. We are reviewing our CASR 101 at the moment, which is our unmanned aerial vehicle regulation, to make a consideration to see how best we can actually frame it. It was established in 2001. That is certainly a long time ago and things have changed since then. There is work that we need to do. We need to understand the actual implications across all of the remotely piloted aircraft systems and how best to implement them.

In regards to what the FAA is doing, I think it is fair to say that we will look at all the regulators out there and see what everyone is doing in regards to the remotely piloted aircraft space and see how best we can implement that in Australia.

Senator FAWCETT: I may come back and ask for some specific updates in another forum on that one...

...CHAIR: He actually answered that before.


Senator DASTYARI: I am sorry, I was in another hearing.

Mr Skidmore : We have the Civil Aviation Safety Regulation 101 introduced in 2001. We are currently in the process of doing an implementation review of that regulation. We are looking at all the other regulators around the world to see what other regulators are doing regarding the drones, or remotely piloted aircraft systems, and how best to implement regulations regarding those. We continue to talk with associations as well, the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Association, to get an understanding of that and I have had recent discussions with unmanned aerial vehicle operators just to get more of a feel of some of the situations out there.

Senator DASTYARI: I will ask one more question. I was in a different hearing when you came here, so I was not aware of this. Just for the purpose of not covering old ground, I will have a look at the evidence that has already been given and then put questions on notice if I have anything further. One final question is: as part of these discussions, have you been in discussion with the other security agencies including the Attorney-General's Department? I know they are all coming tomorrow so I was going to put the same question to them, but have you actually had discussions with, I assume, the security division of the Attorney-General's Department or other agencies in developing that, or is it stand alone?

Mr Skidmore : I am not sure exactly what that is regarding. The Privacy Act is with other departments. We worry about the safety of the airspace and the aircraft and people on the ground.

Senator DASTYARI: There are probably a series of different considerations regarding drones or as you describe them with the more official title. There is a privacy concern. There is certainly a security concern and there is also the airspace and air management accident kind of concern. Obviously you manage the airspace component. Matters to do with privacy are matters for the Attorney-General's Department and matters to do with security obviously relate to others as well. I was wondering what the interaction is between you and other departments in relation to developing the review that you are undergoing.

Mr Skidmore : I have not had direct involvement with the Attorney-General's Department but we will continue to engage and consult with all agencies interested in—

Senator GALLACHER: If I send a drone up into airspace, is it an offence? Will I be convicted?

Mr Skidmore : As a private operator?

Senator GALLACHER: As a private citizen. If I buy a $1,000 drone and I send it up into the flight path, is that an offence?

Mr Skidmore : If you go above 400 feet, yes.

Senator GALLACHER: Is there an existing law that says I will be convicted?

Mr Skidmore : Yes.

Senator GALLACHER: So, you have obviously got interaction with the Attorney-General, or at least in the past.

Mr Skidmore : In regards to enforcement activities.

Senator DASTYARI: You said that you had not had a discussion recently with the Attorney-General's Department, and I appreciate that. If I was going to extend that to the security agencies, would you have the same answer?

Mr Skidmore : I have not had individual discussions with them. I am not sure whether anyone in my authority has so far.

Senator DASTYARI: Was that a no?

Dr Aleck : I personally have not.

Senator DASTYARI: If you can take that on notice. If the answer is no, if someone at mid-level comes to us in the next day and says, 'Actually, we have,' then I will understand that.

Mr Skidmore : We will take it on notice and then we will refer back any conversation.
Dr Aleck : I might say that we have participated in various hearings and House of Representative hearings in which representatives of those agencies were present. We all gave evidence, and, in the process, views were exchanged. It may well have been that, at the margins of those hearings, discussions were held, but to the best of my knowledge there was no formal discussion involving negotiations or discussions with those agencies.

Senator DASTYARI: I will put the rest on notice because you may have already answered them...

Ok with the above in mind - & given the 20+ year & 300+ million$ spent on the worst regs in the world - I found the following headline & article very amusing..

Courtesy the AFR:

The government moves too slowly for tech start-ups: Uber Australia



  Uber Australia chief executive David Rohrsheim. Louise Kennerley


by Jessica Sier
Uber's local managing director says governments need to engage earlier with disruptive tech players to avoid a repeat of the acrimonious protests and ongoing legal uncertainty that has clouded the ride-sharing app's early years. 

Platforms such as Airbnb and Uber have caused significant global controversy because their unanticipated technologies mean their activities have often been unregulated and even occasionally illegal.

Uber Australia's chief executive David Rohrsheim has experienced this firsthand and been forced to publicly grapple with regulators over the Uber platform, which offers an alternative to registered taxis.

"If you've got a new idea and it doesn't fit within the existing laws, which is often the case with a new piece of technology, how do you get a meeting with the government?" Rohrsheim asks.

"If you're a start-up and it takes you a year to get that meeting or approval, you're out of money and you've moved on to something else. That's a serious risk for Australian start-ups."

Uber launched in Australia in 2012, but it was only last month that the ACT became the first state to legalise the ride-sharing platform and reduce high taxi license fees. Other states around the country are currently reviewing Uber's service and until legislation is amended, the most popular offering, ride-sharing UberX, remains illegal and can attract high fines.  

"It was tough to get those meetings with government. It took a very long time," Rohrsheim says. "Uber is fortunate to have some capital behind the company now so we can continue to operate but the average start-up can't. They can't wait until they've got enormous public support before a minister is ready to talk about their new idea."

Airspace
Slow moving regulation is also hampering the drone industry, which is still awaiting its promised reform of current airspace regulations by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which oversees Australian airspace. 

"Australia did have an edge in 2002 when the first drone regulations were instated," says Frank Vierboom of Propeller Aerobotics, a start-up using drones to develop 3D maps for mining and construction companies.

"But when they realised those regulations weren't best suited to the realities of the drone industry, CASA said it would re-draft the aviation regulations to cover drones."

Currently, CASA must issue an operating certificate and remote pilot certificate to those wishing to operate a drone. But understanding how infant seatbelts are fitted into light planes have no bearing on drone operators, and CASA has since acknowledged these requirements are out of date. However the fledgling industry is still awaiting the reforms which were promised at the end of 2014.

"People have been told to expect this reform but it's stalled for a long time," Vierboom says. "There are lots of opportunities to use drone technology but we're all waiting around for this announcement.

"The voices calling for this have been fairly loud and it's important governments and regulators engage with new industries."

Rohrsheim agrees governments need to get on the front foot and engage small companies with new ideas. 

"Where you can say, here's my thing, I would like you to be aware of what's going on," he says. "Maybe establish a trial with some parameters around it, that would be a good opportunity to try this out. Start-ups need to be able to have those meetings."

Read more: http://www.afr.com/technology/the-government-moves-too-slowly-for-tech-startups-uber-australia-20151016-gkapav#ixzz3p9XJ642s

Follow us: @FinancialReview on Twitter | financialreview on Facebook

 
And from itnews - US government to introduce drone registry

..The FAA was originally barred from regulating recreational drone flights and their operators by the US Congress in 2012.
 

However, the sharp rise in the number of UAVs in recent years has prompted the government to take urgent action to limit potential safety and security risks.
 
The agency has also introduced a "no drone zone" program for areas where drone flights are deemed risky, and a smartphone app to help guide operators assess where they're allowed to fly. 

Drone flights and operation in Australia are regulated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

Commercial drone operators in Australia must apply for a certificate from CASA, which the agency said in September could take up six months due to a large increase in use resulting in a backlog of applications. Recreational drone users can fly their craft without a licence. 

In June this year, CASA said it intended to relax drone flight regulations for commercial operators, removing the need to apply for a licence under some conditions. 

The relaxed rules would apply for drones that weigh less than two kilograms and are flown well outside controlled airspace and restricted areas. 

Operators will also need to maintain a direct line of sight with the craft, fly during daylight hours only, stay away from populated areas, keep a distance of 30 metres away from people, and not exceed 400 feet height above the ground.

CASA expects its new rules to be implemented next year... 

Hmm...wonder what totally unworkable reg amendments Doc Hoodoo Voodoo will come up with this time..

MTF..you bet! P2

[P7_TOM]

Cash Cow and Productivity.

Canberra Times.

Meantime, federal public servants at the Civil Aviation Safety Authority have been told not to get too excited over news, announced by public service minister Michaelia Cash this week, that the government's 1.5 per cent cap on pay rises had been lifted to 2 per cent.

CASA's chief executive Mark Skidmore told his staff on Thursday that his agency still had to figure out ways to pay for a higher pay rise from within their already stretched budgets and took to crowd-sourcing money-saving ideas from his workers.

"We have made good progress in EA bargaining to date with funding approved for a pay offer of 4.5 per cent over three years without any requirement to remove or reduce entitlements from CASA staff," the chief executive wrote.

"The pay offer is funded by productivity improvements already identified."

"I am currently considering the implications for CASA of this change in Government policy and as always, would welcome your suggestions for any additional areas that CASA could focus on for cost savings."

Workplace union Professionals Australia official Dave Smith said Mr Skidmore's bulletin proved that the government's policy adjustment was just "smoke and mirrors".

"[Senator] Cash's move to increase potential pay increases is "smoke and mirrors" – particularly if Government doesn't give you sufficient funding or "cash" to pay for a better deal," Mr Smith said.

New system – Whereas it only ever took two men twenty hours (each) to confirm that a manufacturer check list matched the flight manual, an additional eight hours to finish the paperwork, eight hours to process and two hours to deliver; you can now expect that doubled – so everyone has a slice of the productive pie.  Then Avmed will double their costs to $150, to ensure your medical comes back within the notional three month limit; and then there’s the Part 61 licence, lots of scope to become more ‘productive’ there.

OST can’t get his head around 87% of his brief, but he’s all over the pay deal negotiation.  WTF, they want more money, we must supply that in return for what they are doing to aviation, grateful like.  Here’s my crowd sourcing idea – sack 75% of the useless sods – that will save some dollars and industry to boot.   Skidmore could volunteer to resign, that would go a long way toward helping, he’s an expensive talking head, G. Thomas could do a better job for half the cost and TV loves him, earn some dollars from advertising.  Win – win.  Less is more.

Bloody Muppets.

[Gobbledock]

Of depleted pots of money

Well Truss is as dopey as Albo so why doesn't Skid'Mark get Dr Voodoo to come up with one of his masterful smoke n mirror bullshit stories and ask for an extra $89 million???? It worked last time!

Dear Skates, here is an idea when it comes to cost reduction - try running the organisation as if it is a private enterprise business unit. Piss off all of your deadwood, eliminate executive bonuses, remove business class staff travel, end the pointless legal witch hunts of innocent pilots over trivial matters and which costs millions of dollars, and maybe get some accounting advice from that other department head who loves playing with his abacus - Beaker! This is all just for starters....oh, and remove all pot plants, which will save on upkeep and watering costs and get staff to turn off their computer monitors at the end of the day to save electricity! Go green yay!!

Addendum: On a less pleasant note Fort Fumble have again been discussing the option of doing what their brothers across the ditch do and charge a fee for the annual
AOC/COA audits they do. That's right, you get to pay for the privilege of being sodomised with a fistful of NCN's!!! Wonderful.

[Peetwo]

Dear Ken (FSF), Please take note??   

While the tensions were high in the lead up to, & at the RAAA convention - see The Emperor's new clothes - MKII & Skidmore's 'vision splendid' Part I-III - apparently this did not discourage the 'Flight Safety Foundation' from endorsing the FAA & Oliver's bunch for their embracing a 'Just Culture' approach to regulatory & enforcement policy:

FSF endorses changes to Aust/US enforcement

Tuesday, October 27, 2015
The Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) has confirmed its endorsement of the US Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) and Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA’s) recent changes in enforcement and regulatory philosophy focused on performance-based and ‘Just Culture’ approaches to compliance and enforcement.

Addressing the National Convention of the Regional Aviation Association of Australia in Hunter Valley, Australia, FSF's general counsel Kenneth Quinn praised FAA and CASA.

"These national civil aviation authorities are embarking on enlightened best practices to compliance and enforcement by emphasising the importance of proportionality, discretion, and remedial action to address safety issues. The vast majority of deviations from the rules are due to human factors, honest mistakes, or diminished skills, where training and education are appropriate corrective measures, not punishment or enforcement," Quinn said.

"All countries should closely examine CASA's and FAA's new, forward-thinking compliance and enforcement philosophies and get away from outdated 'cop-on-the-beat' mentality, where inspectors are looking to write up violations, instead of helping organisations and individuals become compliant and enhance safety."

The FAA’s new Compliance Philosophy Order, issued  03 September, 2015, Order 2150.3B, Change 9, recognises that the FAA’s goal is to use the most effective means to return an entity holding a certificate or approval to full compliance and prevent recurrence. If a person is willing and able to comply with regulatory standards, FAA is now willing to use non-punitive ‘compliance actions’ to address the underlying root cause through airman training, counselling, or education, with agreed-upon corrective actions.

When FAA determines that compliance actions are deemed insufficient, the new policy emphasises the use of ‘Warning Notices’ or ‘Letters of Correction’ to set forth the facts and circumstances of non compliance and a specific agreement to institute corrective actions within a specified time frame. Legal enforcement action with findings of violation remain appropriate for willful or flagrant violations, or a refusal to co-operate in remedial actions.

In the same spirit, CASA's new ‘Regulatory Philosophy’ issued 15 September, 2015 sets out ten key principles to guide their regulatory powers. The principles include embracing a ‘Just Culture’ approach, taking actions that are appropriate and in proportion to the circumstances, exercising discretion fairly, avoiding punitive measures, with a focus on encouragement of training and education, with a view to remedying identified shortcomings and correcting deficiencies.

“These modern safety management enforcement philosophies, which need extensive training and 'buy in' from front-line inspectors to senior management can rapidly re-establish trust between the regulator and the regulated, and encourage people to come forward to admit mistakes, turning them into teaching moments that can save lives," said Quinn.

The inaugural meeting of FSF’s Legal Advisory Committee, comprising aviation lawyers from around the world, will be held at FSF’s upcoming International Air Safety Summit in Miami Beach, USA ( 02-04 November, 2015).FSF endorses Oliver's ten commandments??

Can't comment on the veracity of the FAA initiative but perhaps the FSF should have asked around before endorsing Oliver's 10 commandments and associated rhetoric on 'Just Culture'.
 For old mate Ken's reference - 'Just culture' & incident reporting probity? & PelAir - 'Lest we forget' Part III

We were discussing the potential to reflect the intent of our new MoU that describes the 2 agencies as ‘independent but complementary’. We discussed the hole CASA might have got itself into by its interventions since the ditching, and how you might have identified an optimum path that will maximise the safety outcome without either agency planting egg on the other agency’s face.
Right now, I suspect that CASA is entrenching itself into a position that would be hard to support. If we were to contemplate an exit strategy, or an ‘out’, then CASA would need to recognise that it is ‘in’ something in the first place. This is my take on how I see their position at the moment.

When the aircraft ditched, both the flight crew and the operator stopped their Westwind Aeromedical operations. CASA coached and guided the operator very well as they collaborated to develop a much safer process to avoid a repetition of this accident. This has happened, and Pel-Air are now operating again. The same thing hasn’t happened to the flight crew. While they may not have been the ‘Aces of the base’ they were following the relevant procedure provided by both CASA and the operator. This is an opportunity for CASA to follow the same approach with the flight crew as they have done with the operator.
...
As we discussed yesterday, following the ditching, everything went (metaphorically) ‘up in the air’. CASA has done a good job in realigning Pel-Air while it was still in the air so that it returning to earth with a much better take on how to manage this risk. Unfortunately, they took action on the flight crew without first contemplating their end-game. If they re‑frame their pre-emptive action with the flight crew to show that they had managed all the levels of safety management simply by putting the pilots’ permissions to fly on hold until they had found the problem and remedied it, then they would look far better than if they tried to prosecute the probably indefensible and hardly relevant.

We will be telling this story in our final report (if not earlier so why not make the most of this opportunity for both agencies to publicly work harmoniously, in a parallel direction?[1]

& from Nick Xenophon..

1.11      Without distracting from the excellent work of the committee's report, I believe it is important to draw attention to two issues that the committee, due to time restraints, was not able to examine more closely.


1.12      Firstly, I believe relationship between CASA's Bankstown Office (responsible for the oversight of Pel-Air and run at the time in an acting capacity by the author of the "Chambers Report") and Pel-Air's management in terms of probity, transparency and impartiality deserves further scrutiny.

1.13      Secondly, I believe it would have been beneficial to publicly examine whether the "demonstrably safety-related" actions taken by CASA against the pilot by CASA were appropriate, reasonable and consistent with other such enforcement. I believe these two issues deserve further consideration.

1.14      Both of these issues could have cast some light on why the ATSB's focus shifted from systemic and human factors to the behaviour of the pilot.

1.15      Beyond the ATSB report itself, the committee also considered the regulatory environment in which such flights operate. As discussed in the committee report, there are significant industry concerns about the low safety standards for aeromedical operations, which come under the category of 'aerial work'. This category includes activities such as crop dusting and aerial surveys.

1.16      One of the significant issues in relation to the ditching was whether or not the pilot should have chosen to divert to an alternate destination due to the weather at Norfolk Island. The committee report discusses Mr McCormick's response to whether CASA should provide guidance in these circumstances, and whether the drafting of a new Civil Aviation Safety Regulation would address this...

..1.23      It is my view that CASA, under Mr McCormick, has become a regulatory bully that appears to take any action available to ensure its own shortcomings are not made public. This poses great risks to aviation safety, and the safety of the travelling public. Equally, the ATSB—which should fearlessly expose any shortcomings on the part of CASA and other organisations to improve aviation safety—has become institutionally timid and appears to lack the strength to perform its role adequately. Both agencies require a complete overhaul, and I believe it is only luck that their ineptness has not resulted in further deaths so far. There is an urgent need for an Inspector-General of Aviation Safety, entirely independent of the Minister and his department, to be a watchdog for these agencies.


1.24      In the end, this report raises many questions. But if we wish to bring about change and improve aviation safety, we will clearly need to look beyond our inept regulators and ask: who will guard the guards themselves?

With all due respect Ken some of the players may have changed but it will take a lot more than written spin'n'bulldust from Oliver before the IOS will be warmly embracing the big 'R' regulator...


MTF..P2

[Gobbledock]

Wow, Skid'Mark really is a 70's porn star. All these loyal lapdogs coming out of the woods - Ken, Creepy, Dougy! I wonder which one carries his briefcase for him?

Kiss-arses

[Kharon]

Scurrilous rumour department.

From Willyleaks:

Any mention of the Forsyth report, Senate recommendations or industry demands for reform will be punished.  Part 61 is a masterpiece, Weeks is the golden doyen of all Casamites and woe betide any who dare to challenge the Slydmore vision splendid of matters aeronautical.

A new poster is being developed, it is a strict liability offence not have one hanging on your walls, in a prominent position.  Tea room dartboards will carry pictures of selected, non uniformed board members, the KPI will be the destruction of at least five pictures per week.

That’s it from Willyleaks . Someone get a rope on the porn star – before Willy waving become mandatory and weekly measuring in the mess a tradition.  FFS – which hell spewed up this grotesque.  Certainly not one I am familiar with.

[thorn bird]

Now I heard all CAsA frontline staff are to be awarded a rank. FOI's and AWI's will be referred to as "Pilot Officer"...team leaders as "Squadron Leader" and so on up to "Air Vice Marshall" All CAsA staff will be required to wear uniforms made in China of course, but very distinctive, made out of High Vis material with matching ties and steel capped boots. Strict liability offences will be created for not saluting them or referring to them by their rank.

And if you believe this, you can believe anything that erupts from the halls of sleepy hollow.

[Peetwo]

Hot off the Yaffa today??

First there was a 'passing strange' message, almost plea from Dougy in his weekly wrap... :

Here’s a message from CASA chief Mark Skidmore:


“The need for CASA to engage more effectively with the aviation community has been one of my top priorities from the day I took over as Director of Aviation Safety.  A key part of effective engagement is maintaining a meaningful, collaborative and mutually respectful relationship with everyone who makes up the aviation community.  To achieve this CASA must ensure we have open conversations with the people and organisations we regulate, providing the information needed to explain what we are doing and why…
  
“This fresh approach is already paying dividends as I see a change in attitude by many CASA staff towards the organisations and people we regulate.  I promise to continue to work hard to firmly entrench this approach across CASA through strong and effective leadership, staff education, training and support.”

Now I’m not in a position to judge how accurate this is in relation to CASA personnel out there on the front line, but I can acknowledge that the DAS himself is certainly engaging with industry in a big way. He may have been slow to start the process but he’s certainly out there now - and looking decidedly comfortable doing it.

Over the last few weeks he has attended Safeskies, the AAA Conference, the Qantas Safety Day and the RAAA Convention (and possibly more). But the notable thing has been that he hasn’t just dropped in for an hour or two, he’s stayed for the duration, participating fully and making himself available to one and all. 

Yes, for real change to take effect CASA as a whole has to deliver according tot the message above; but it’s got to be encouraging to see the DAS out there walking the talk.

 

Next Hitch on today's communique from TAAAF:

The Australian Aviation Associations Forum (TAAAF) is a collective of aviation bodies working together to present industry views to Canberra under the guidance of chair Greg Russell. (composite image Steve Hitchen)


TAAAF Communique urges Reform Speed from CASA
29 Oct 2015

The Australian Aviation Associations Forum (TAAAF) has expressed concern at what they say is the slow pace of reform at CASA and costs imposed by new regulations.

TAAAF members highlighted their issues in a communique to industry released today.

"Recently introduced CASA regulations are threatening the viability of industry and especially general aviation operations, with millions of dollars required to be invested for no commensurate safety gains," the communique stated.

Although supporting CASA Director Mark Skidmore's directive on developing risk-based regulation, TAAAF members said they believed the directive would become effective only after cultural change happened at CASA, and called for immediate actions on legacy regulation now coming into force.

Specifically, TAAAF called for:

• CAO 48.1 on flight and duty times to be withdrawn due to lack of hard supporting evidence
  
• An industry task force to propose urgent amendments and exemptions from CASRs 61, 141 and 142
  
• Manufacturing regulations to be brought in line with the US FAR system
  
• New maintenance training regulations to be reviewed in order to repair the damage to industry caused by the loss of three TAFE training colleges.
  
  

"While there is some good work being undertaken by CASA, it is being hindered by the massive problems caused by legacy regulations only now coming into force.

"TAAAF believes that now is the time for definitive action before the new regulations cause irreparable long-term damage and the loss of jobs and businesses."

Kind of gets undone a little by the pic of Russell..."Would you trust this man??" 
MTF...P2

[Sandy Reith]

Dear Taaaf,

While your heart and recommendations are in the right place, your requests are mild, to say the least. To ask  for yet another 'task force' to look at amendments and exemptions will have the inhabitants of fortress CASA gleefully preparing more meetings in cooler parts of Australia this summer moving to northern parts for winter seminars. They will book their usual salubrious accommodations;  all the while 'user pays' and the Part 61 steamroller will kill off more hundreds of GA jobs.

The only hope for GA is action. These demands to be met before any cooperation:-

1. Suspend and replace Part 61 with simple rules immediately (you say propose urgent amendments, that will take years).
2. Take immediate steps to repeal criminal sanctions on the majority of the rules, and remove the strict liability provisions.
3. Allow individual instructors to teach, as in USA, without our super expensive AOC system.
4. Reduce the Private Pilot medical to the fitness level to drive a car, like US legislation and good enough for RAAus good enough for the rest of us. There is no safety case for AVMED examinations or to micro manage our health.
5. Everywhere in the regs substitute "rights" where now it says "privileges". We need to progress from the patronising medieval notion that government confers legitimacy to any activity only if allowed by the elite. Is it a privilege to drive your car, tractor or bicycle?

It should be made crystal clear that no amount of talking, engaging, being available, or discussions is acceptable before some action.

Action is demanded now and realise that CASA and Mr. Skidmore have given us nothing except more grief and we do not accept platitudes like "that was the previous administrators" or we are working on "cultural change". Working on change? Don't we pay these people to do as asked and what is good for Australia? No more pussy footing.

CAA (before name change) wrote to me in April 1989....."CAA..objectives...more business-like procedures in its regulation of the industry, with a view to reducing requirements, and their associated costs, to a minimum."

That lie is still standing twenty-six years later with no apology forthcoming. There's no "engaging" and no quarter given unless and until CASA accedes to our reasonable demands, and that's just the start.

[Gobbledock]

Get me a bucket.....quick.

Dougy, you've had a spell put on you mate. And you've tongue cleaned Skid'Marks chocolate button so well that you can see your own reflection in it!! Puke

TAAAF, my ears are closed. Any organisation that hires Russell has lost all credibility. And what's with that cheesy pic, it looks like he has just inherited a fat bloated salary, or sat on an upside down barstool! Puke

Skid'Mark, yuk yuk yak. More fluffy words, more hand holding, more borderline gay rhetoric!! Puke

WTF is going on? What's next - we all trade in aviation for ballet dancing, designing girls clothes or making broaches out of pressed leaves?

[Peetwo]

Dear Taaaf,

While your heart and recommendations are in the right place, your requests are mild, to say the least. To ask  for yet another 'task force' to look at amendments and exemptions will have the inhabitants of fortress CASA gleefully preparing more meetings in cooler parts of Australia this summer moving to northern parts for winter seminars. They will book their usual salubrious accommodations;  all the while 'user pays' and the Part 61 steamroller will kill off more hundreds of GA jobs.

The only hope for GA is action. These demands to be met before any cooperation:-

1. Suspend and replace Part 61 with simple rules immediately (you say propose urgent amendments, that will take years).
2. Take immediate steps to repeal criminal sanctions on the majority of the rules, and remove the strict liability provisions.
3. Allow individual instructors to teach, as in USA, without our super expensive AOC system.

It should be made crystal clear that no amount of talking, engaging, being available, or discussions is acceptable before some action.

Action is demanded now and realise that CASA and Mr. Skidmore have given us nothing except more grief and we do not accept platitudes like "that was the previous administrators" or we are working on "cultural change". Working on change? Don't we pay these people to do as asked and what is good for Australia? No more pussy footing.

CAA (before name change) wrote to me in April 1989....."CAA..objectives...more business-like procedures in its regulation of the industry, with a view to reducing requirements, and their associated costs, to a minimum."

That lie is still standing twenty-six years later with no apology forthcoming. There's no "engaging" and no quarter given unless and until CASA accedes to our reasonable demands, and that's just the start.

Second that motion Sandy & I totally agree we should not broker any compromise, not an inch or even a millimetre...

Naughty Gobbles...   One thing I thought when it comes to Herr Russell, is he would certainly know where most of the skeletons & pots of gold are buried in Cant'berra...  

Anyway Gobbles better grab your ankles & that bucket again 'cause here is the latest from GT's mob :

Industry expresses concern with slow pace of change at CASA


October 29, 2015 by australianaviation.com.au
(Photo credit: CASA)

The peak bodies representing the aviation sector in Australia say they are concerned with the slow pace of change at the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and cost of compliance with new regulations.

The Australian Aviation Associations’ Forum (TAAAF), which comprise the peak representative bodies in the local industry, says although there is some good work being done at CASA, the organisation “is being swamped by the damage being caused by legacy regulations only now coming into force”.

“New CASA regulations are threatening the viability of industry and especially general aviation operations, with millions of dollars required to be invested for no commensurate safety gains,” TAAAF said in a statement on Thursday.

“TAAAF encouraged the CASA Board to persevere with their clear, Government- mandated cultural change agenda.”

TAAAF has called on CASA to abolish Civil Aviation Order (CAO) 48.1, which covers fatigue risk management, arguing that “industry rejects the limited science it is based on, the ignoring of decades of safe operations, the massive costs it will impose and the complexity that will inevitably lead to non-compliance”.

Also, it called for an industry task force to be established to look at “urgent exemptions and amendments” to Part 61, 141 and 142. Moreover, there was a need for “revised transitional arrangements to allow the industry to function , especially for firefighting operations and ATPL licences”, TAAAF said.

Finally, TAAAF said Australian aviation manufacturing regulations needed to “copy the modernised US FAR system and undo the damage caused by the loss of three TAFE skill providers”.

“At a meeting of peak aviation representative bodies, the TAAAF expressed considerable concern at the a slow pace of reform of CASA and the ongoing cost impositions from new regulations,” TAAAF said.

CASA Director of Aviation Safety Mark Skidmore told the Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA) national convention in the NSW Hunter Valley on Friday he has been working to set “fresh tone” across the activities of CASA to face the demands of what was a “complex and ever changing aviation environment within which we operate”.

“Open communication with mutual respect would provide a breath of fresh air to all of us,” Skidmore said.

“I do want to lead CASA to be a trusted regulator.

“In any relationship trust must be earned and if it is to be maintained the basis on which it rests must be respected and protected and I am going to work hard in regards to doing that.”

Skidmore said the Aviation Safety Regulatory Review, and the government’s response to the 37 recommendations, had set a clear agenda for CASA to follow in 2015 and the years ahead and was a key priority.

“Our implementation schedule to the government’s response is fully embedded within out corporate plan for 2015/16 to 2018/19 and it articulates what we will do to deliver the government’s aviation safety objectives, how we intend to do that and the associated performance measures,” Skidmore said.

CASA is currently conducting a tour of Australia seeking feedback from the aviation community on its Flight Plan 2030, a statement of the organisation’s long term strategic intent that is due to be published by the end of the 2015/16 financial year.

Skidmore said 43 of CASA’s 55 parts that cover civil aviation safety regulations have been made, with 12 outstanding and eight parts currently going through drafting. He said Part 129 was currently being finalised.

Meanwhile, Parts 119, 133 and 135 had been finalised, but we currently being revised to simplify and remove some requirements not considered necessary “and hopefully reduce the cost”, Skidmore said.

On Part 61, which covers pilot ratings, licences and endorsements, Skidmore told the RAAA national convention he was “conscious of the impact of the change and your concerns about the new rules”.

“I am working hard to address and rectify these problems as expeditiously as possible and I acknowledge we could have managed the implementation of the flight crew licensing regulations better,” Skidmore said.

“I am listening to your feedback.”

Skidmore said he had established a “cross-divisional team” to review the development and implementation of the flight crew licensing suite of regulations and CASA was currently drafting instructions to address problem issues and amendments to Part 61.

“I need the Australian aviation community’s support to manage today’s safety issues and to plan effectively for the future,” Skidmore said.

“I firmly believe that by collaborating we will get the right safety outcomes from our regulations and regulatory practices and support a vibrant and strong Australian aviation community.

“It doesn’t mean you are always going to be happy with what we say and do but it does mean that our regulatory considerations must be, and must be seen to be, open and transparent, appropriately responsive to demonstrable safety concerns, fairly executed and consistently applied with a view to the achievement of legitimate safety-related objectives.”

CASA published its new regulatory philosophy, which sets out 10 key principles that guid and direct its approach to regulation, in September.

To quote from the ventus post - "..Fade to black .."

I parked, got out, and stood, and looked around. I saw nothing, and I heard nothing, aviation. No aircraft, no engine sounds, nothing, just the wind.


And then, suddenly, the sound, of …… I presume, a V8 screaming it’s head off, on the dyno.

Not a Gypsy major or minor, or anything that could ever turn a prop. It may sound spooky, but it reminded me of a movie I once saw.  I can not remember the name of it, but it was a war movie. It opened with an old man, standing in a English field, with the remnants of an old control tower to one side, and as the credits rolled up the screen, the camera slowly panned vertically up to the clouds, and as it panned back down slowly, the music and the credits ended, and the scene was now of a vibrant WW2 bomber base – and the movie went on.

At the end, the reverse occurred the credits rolled by, the scence went to the clouds, and then back to the old man in the field.

He then slowly walked away, off camera, stage right, and fadeout to black – “The End” – in white. As I looked around, all I saw, was what is now a toxic aviation wasteland.

Toxic in every way, chemically, commercially, financially, politically, legally, ethically, …….. lots of “lly’s”.

Too many “lly’s”.YSBK is indeed now riddled with those zillion ailments, but unlike years past, they are now real, not imaginary, and, tragically, they are incureable.Just like the ailments once beatable by antibiotics, like rampant staff infections in our hospitals, that now easily defeat the antibiotics, a situation brought about by the inappropriate and gross overuse of same by an all knowing self richeous and unaccountable medical clique, YSBK as the hospital, and GA as the patients, are being decimated by aviation’s plague of inappropriate, illogical, unreasonable, nonsensical regulations, and worse, the gross, purile, and zealously vindictive overuse of same, by another unaccountable “aviation clique” – CASA.The prognosis is grave.

GA is at death’s door.

YSBK will soon be “condemned” as an empty graveyard, ripe for redevelopment.

One must ask.

Was that not the “game plan” from the beginning ?

Schofields, Hoxton, done and dusted.

YSBK soon ? YSCN next ?

Perfect political subterfuge ?
Who remembers ?
Who sees ?
Who knows ?
Who cares ?
Who will write the epitaph?
Will anyone bother ?
Will anyone read it, even if anyone does bother to write it ?


Senator Fawcett, Heff, or Zeno ?

Perhaps, it should really rank a Ministerial ?

The Miniscule could ask Mrdak to get Beaker to draft it for him……. perhaps….. ?



Was it not he, before he entered the ATSB, who gleefully wielded the syringe, by his own hand, that injected the infection – (sic) correction – the toxic immunisation inoculation, that is so successfully, slowly but surely destroying the hospital and turning it into a graveyard ?

Is it not also he, who as head of the ATSB, has been shown to willingly and deceptively assist the prime “aviation clique” in it’s selective and vindictive prosecution and persecution of certain GA targets, by ensuring that his supposedly ICAO compliant “independent” reports have been “spiced” with a certain flavour, most paletable to the “aviation clique” ?

After all, he knows best…… does he not ?
Surely he must ?
He is always telling the good Senators he does, does he not ?
Remember his retort to Heff’s remark about him climbing his own water tower ?

I am not a patch on Yoda. I am more of an elephant type.

But reality is, I am now Just an old man, standing on a rise, looking down on an old control tower.

Fade to black.

The End.

IMO 'fade to black' is exactly what will happen if we allow Skidmore & co to continue with gabfests, taskforces & tiger teams - led by a NFI Muppet called Wodger, who was largely responsible for dreaming up Part61 - FFS!   

Nope Sandy's motion gets my nod..


MTF...P2  

[Peetwo]

Dear Taaaf,

While your heart and recommendations are in the right place, your requests are mild, to say the least. To ask  for yet another 'task force' to look at amendments and exemptions will have the inhabitants of fortress CASA gleefully preparing more meetings in cooler parts of Australia this summer moving to northern parts for winter seminars. They will book their usual salubrious accommodations;  all the while 'user pays' and the Part 61 steamroller will kill off more hundreds of GA jobs.

The only hope for GA is action. These demands to be met before any cooperation:-

1. Suspend and replace Part 61 with simple rules immediately (you say propose urgent amendments, that will take years).
2. Take immediate steps to repeal criminal sanctions on the majority of the rules, and remove the strict liability provisions.
3. Allow individual instructors to teach, as in USA, without our super expensive AOC system.

It should be made crystal clear that no amount of talking, engaging, being available, or discussions is acceptable before some action.

Action is demanded now and realise that CASA and Mr. Skidmore have given us nothing except more grief and we do not accept platitudes like "that was the previous administrators" or we are working on "cultural change". Working on change? Don't we pay these people to do as asked and what is good for Australia? No more pussy footing.

CAA (before name change) wrote to me in April 1989....."CAA..objectives...more business-like procedures in its regulation of the industry, with a view to reducing requirements, and their associated costs, to a minimum."

That lie is still standing twenty-six years later with no apology forthcoming. There's no "engaging" and no quarter given unless and until CASA accedes to our reasonable demands, and that's just the start.

Second that motion Sandy & I totally agree we should not broker any compromise, not an inch or even a millimetre...

Naughty Gobbles...   One thing I thought when it comes to Herr Russell, is he would certainly know where most of the skeletons & pots of gold are buried in Cant'berra...   
Anyway Gobbles better grab your ankles & that bucket again 'cause here is the latest from GT's mob : Industry expresses concern with slow pace of change at CASA

To quote from the ventus post - "..Fade to black .."

I parked, got out, and stood, and looked around. I saw nothing, and I heard nothing, aviation. No aircraft, no engine sounds, nothing, just the wind.

And then, suddenly, the sound, of …… I presume, a V8 screaming it’s head off, on the dyno.

Not a Gypsy major or minor, or anything that could ever turn a prop. It may sound spooky, but it reminded me of a movie I once saw.  I can not remember the name of it, but it was a war movie. It opened with an old man, standing in a English field, with the remnants of an old control tower to one side, and as the credits rolled up the screen, the camera slowly panned vertically up to the clouds, and as it panned back down slowly, the music and the credits ended, and the scene was now of a vibrant WW2 bomber base – and the movie went on.

At the end, the reverse occurred the credits rolled by, the scence went to the clouds, and then back to the old man in the field.

He then slowly walked away, off camera, stage right, and fadeout to black – “The End” – in white. As I looked around, all I saw, was what is now a toxic aviation wasteland.

Toxic in every way, chemically, commercially, financially, politically, legally, ethically, …….. lots of “lly’s”.

Too many “lly’s”.YSBK is indeed now riddled with those zillion ailments, but unlike years past, they are now real, not imaginary, and, tragically, they are incureable.Just like the ailments once beatable by antibiotics, like rampant staff infections in our hospitals, that now easily defeat the antibiotics, a situation brought about by the inappropriate and gross overuse of same by an all knowing self richeous and unaccountable medical clique, YSBK as the hospital, and GA as the patients, are being decimated by aviation’s plague of inappropriate, illogical, unreasonable, nonsensical regulations, and worse, the gross, purile, and zealously vindictive overuse of same, by another unaccountable “aviation clique” – CASA.The prognosis is grave.

GA is at death’s door.

YSBK will soon be “condemned” as an empty graveyard, ripe for redevelopment.

One must ask.

Was that not the “game plan” from the beginning ?

Schofields, Hoxton, done and dusted.

YSBK soon ? YSCN next ?

Perfect political subterfuge ?
Who remembers ?
Who sees ?
Who knows ?
Who cares ?
Who will write the epitaph?
Will anyone bother ?
Will anyone read it, even if anyone does bother to write it ?


Senator Fawcett, Heff, or Zeno ?

Perhaps, it should really rank a Ministerial ?

The Miniscule could ask Mrdak to get Beaker to draft it for him……. perhaps….. ?



Was it not he, before he entered the ATSB, who gleefully wielded the syringe, by his own hand, that injected the infection – (sic) correction – the toxic immunisation inoculation, that is so successfully, slowly but surely destroying the hospital and turning it into a graveyard ?

Is it not also he, who as head of the ATSB, has been shown to willingly and deceptively assist the prime “aviation clique” in it’s selective and vindictive prosecution and persecution of certain GA targets, by ensuring that his supposedly ICAO compliant “independent” reports have been “spiced” with a certain flavour, most paletable to the “aviation clique” ?

After all, he knows best…… does he not ?
Surely he must ?
He is always telling the good Senators he does, does he not ?
Remember his retort to Heff’s remark about him climbing his own water tower ?

I am not a patch on Yoda. I am more of an elephant type.

But reality is, I am now Just an old man, standing on a rise, looking down on an old control tower.

Fade to black.

The End.

IMO 'fade to black' is exactly what will happen if we allow Skidmore & co to continue with gabfests, taskforces & tiger teams - led by a NFI Muppet called Wodger, who was largely responsible for dreaming up Part61 - FFS!    

More on this, 1st from the regurgitator Creepy: Urgent call for task force on aviation regulations

“TAAAF believes that now is the time for definitive action before the new regulations cause irreparable long-term damage and the loss of jobs and businesses.’’

Mr Russell said the communique underpinned real concern within the industry about the pace of reform within CASA and the consistency of its actions.

He said regulatory changes already made and those coming into effect were creating major costs and seriously disrupting the industry. “And I’m not sure that message is well understood in government,’’ he said. “Yes, it’s been going on for a while but … I’ve never seen such angst.’’

...But he said this was not being matched by the actions of some CASA line staff and the industry believed this pointed to major cultural issues within the organisation.

“We’ll be writing to the board chair and the aim is to work closely with the board and management to address is what we think is this serious and ongoing cultural issue, which is effectively creating this regulatory impasse in terms of the relationship between industry and CASA,’’ he said.

Regional Aviation Association of Australia chief executive Paul Tyrell said opposition to the CAO 48.1 had been a major issue at last week’s RAAA convention.

Next from our resident IOS 'Editor at large' Octogenarian...  - Aviation forum’s manifesto seeks urgent action

..The group’s sentiments are a haunting reminder of the findings and recommendations of the Aviation Safety Regulation Review Panel led by industry veteran David Forsyth, which delivered its damning report in May 2014.

The ASRR warned that:

Although opinions differ, the Panel estimates that the [Regulatory Reform Program] will take at least another five years to complete. Furthermore, the final product of regulatory reform will not meet the aviation community’s needs and will not be consistent with the ICAO [International Civil Aviation Organisation] principles for plain language, easily understood, safety rules. Nor will the final regulations be harmonised with those of any foreign jurisdiction.

The 25-plus year history of regulatory reform has been consuming the industry, and distracting the aviation community from the objective of managing safety in its operations. On this basis, the Panel concludes that continuing along the current path is not in the interests of aviation safety in Australia and that a new approach must be developed for regulatory reform.

The ASRR Panel had also warned that “While trusted by many in government, the industry’s trust in CASA is failing, compromising CASA’s Stewardship, and industry perceives CASA’s Accountability as being compromised.”(The Panel’s highlighting.)

Elsewhere in the report the Panel also observed:

“CASA and industry need to build an effective collaborative relationship on a foundation of mutual trust and respect. Therefore, CASA needs to set a new strategic direction.”

CASA has more recently begun engaging with alarmed industry groups and these contacts appear to have alerted Mr Skidmore and others that the trust issue was becoming more and more central to developing a lasting solution.

 
Soothsayer Sandy? - "..To ask for yet another 'task force' to look at amendments and exemptions will have the inhabitants of fortress CASA gleefully preparing more meetings in cooler parts of Australia this summer moving to northern parts for winter seminars. They will book their usual salubrious accommodations;  all the while 'user pays' and the Part 61 steamroller will kill off more hundreds of GA jobs.."

Finally the Oz Flying article was updated with a response from CASA that IMO already shows the contempt Skidmore's mob have for the AAAF communique:

CASA Responds

CASA later issued the following response to the TAAAF communique.

"As TAAAF members would be aware CASA is currently actively consulting the aviation community on a range of issues including proposed new aerial work regulations, proposed new operating rules, the best ways to implement future regulations and the development of Flight Plan 2030. Extensive consultation with the aviation community on a range of key issues will continue. CASA welcomes feedback from all sectors of the aviation community and will look carefully at all constructive suggestions.

"Earlier this year the Director of Aviation Safety wrote to all pilots asking for feedback on the new licensing suite of regulations, with more than 100 people responding. CASA has been working methodically through the issues raised and has been addressing unintended consequences. Changes have been made to address specific issues such as firefighting operations.

"Because the ATPL flight test is a new requirement, CASA Flight Training Examiners are available to facilitate the conduct of these tests while industry delegates transition to gaining the required privileges and the tests are built in to industry training and checking programs.

"Also, a special CASA forum is being held in November for aviation organisations developing or planning to develop a fatigue risk management system. The aim of the forum is to ensure there is a mutual understanding between CASA and aviation organisations of the requirements and expected outcomes of a fatigue risk management system.

"CASA is committed to listening to the legitimate concerns of the aviation community and we will look carefully at the suggestions being made by the TAAAF."

 
UFB...
 
Nope still underwhelmed, Sandy's motion still gets my nod..


MTF...P2   

[Sandy Reith]

"Skidmore said the Aviation Safety Regulatory Review, and the government’s response to the 37 recommendations, had set a clear agenda for CASA to follow in 2015 and the years ahead and was a key priority."

It really is hard to believe, they are asking for responses and having yet more meetings all over and talking as above "clear agenda....and the years ahead".

There is no real action, no reprieve, LAMES leaving the industry in droves, pilots not renewing their medicals, aircraft values have sunk to half or worse, airport encroachment proceeds unchecked. This is not "in years ahead ", this is now. The Board of CASA should take control now, not asking its bureaucrats nicely "please change your culture", but should instruct them to implement our reforms immediately. 

I've added a couple of extra demands and they should be coupled with reforms for maintenance personnel. 
If the picture was clouded before it is certainly plain now, CASA has been getting away with bloody minded murder since they became 'independent'. 

No more chit chat, glad handing or submissions from us. Do not turn up to meetings with CASA, why waste your time and give them any legitimacy? We need to bombard our MPs and demand action. 

[Peetwo]

"Skidmore said the Aviation Safety Regulatory Review, and the government’s response to the 37 recommendations, had set a clear agenda for CASA to follow in 2015 and the years ahead and was a key priority."

It really is hard to believe, they are asking for responses and having yet more meetings all over and talking as above "clear agenda....and the years ahead".

There is no real action, no reprieve, LAMES leaving the industry in droves, pilots not renewing their medicals, aircraft values have sunk to half or worse, airport encroachment proceeds unchecked. This is not "in years ahead ", this is now. The Board of CASA should take control now, not asking its bureaucrats nicely "please change your culture", but should instruct them to implement our reforms immediately. 

I've added a couple of extra demands and they should be coupled with reforms for maintenance personnel. 

The only hope for GA is action. These demands to be met before any cooperation:-

1. Suspend and replace Part 61 with simple rules immediately (you say propose urgent amendments, that will take years).
2. Take immediate steps to repeal criminal sanctions on the majority of the rules, and remove the strict liability provisions.
3. Allow individual instructors to teach, as in USA, without our super expensive AOC system.
4. Reduce the Private Pilot medical to the fitness level to drive a car, like US legislation and good enough for RAAus good enough for the rest of us. There is no safety case for AVMED examinations or to micro manage our health.
5. Everywhere in the regs substitute "rights" where now it says "privileges". We need to progress from the patronising medieval notion that government confers legitimacy to any activity only if allowed by the elite. Is it a privilege to drive your car, tractor or bicycle?

If the picture was clouded before it is certainly plain now, CASA has been getting away with bloody minded murder since they became 'independent'. 

No more chit chat, glad handing or submissions from us. Do not turn up to meetings with CASA, why waste your time and give them any legitimacy? We need to bombard our MPs and demand action. 

Hitchen - back from OS - is somewhat in agreement but not entirely - The Last Minute Hitch: 30 October 2015:

..More calls from TAAAF this week to speed up reforms at CASA. In my last editorial in the November-December print issue, I hinted that slow change was better than no change, and I am standing by that position. However, that doesn't mean we should be painting the lifeboats first before launching them. CASA does need to get some exemptions in place soonest to relieve the industry of some soul-crushing burdens, and DAS Skidmore did point out in his response to TAAAF that he hasn't exactly been sitting on his hands. I applaud TAAAF's call to amend and exempt parts of CASR Part 61 rather than scream for total execution as some industry groups are doing. CASRs are legislation enacted by parliament and the DAS can't reverse them without the consent of the very same parliament. Proverbially, that will take some time, which the industry is pointing out it doesn't have an abundance of. Exemptions are our lifeboats, after that Part 61 should be beaten into a new shape until it starts to look more reasonable...

MTF...P2