[Gentle]

P7 - Tom

Thanks for the reply ( not sure my question answered ) but I agree there are multiple layers of issues / questions to tease out.  The sheer ego and exceptionalism and deviation from the norm beggars belief.  Even after 35 years in the aviation industry the implied arrogance gob-smacks me…chutzpah doesn’t cover it!

Perhaps the Dunning-Kruger effect…..whom knows? Or maybe just dumbf#&k self interest??

If a non ex cop was seen to threaten witnesses to sign false statements one presumes they would be sacked and charged with something akin to perverting the course of justice…what’s next,.verballing aka Askin and the Wood Royal Commission…whoops showing my age.

Who needs China when our own government provides a clear and present danger…

Past my bedtime I’ll just take a bex and have a lie down…

No worries, ScoMo’s version of a Crime and Corruption Commission will fix it…

Tempted to have a shandy, toss the walking stick and ROTFALMAO!

PS which Senate Estimates Committee oversees the ATSB?

[P7_TOM]

Dear Gentle -

Have the Shandy - you know you want to and there's definite health (mental and physical) benefits from ROTFLYFAO - a most restorative palliative. The CASA PR unit/ Top Cover specialists/ time travel wunderkind etc get hauled into the very same Estimates games of questions on notice with time allocated for obfuscation. The irrepressible P2 (and the rest) follow the ATSB sessions with great interest - See the sorry history of the ATSB in Estimates - HERE - @ ATSB Aberrations.

[Peetwo]

RRAT Estimates 14/02/22 - DIRDT&C (Aviation)

Here is the HANSARD or the PDF version: Download PDF

Ms Spence: I think I am aware of who you are talking about. I have had some background briefing on it, and, as with everything, there are two sides to this story, so I think—

Senator PATRICK: There are always two sides to these stories, but you are attacking our aviation industry and driving it into the ground. There will be no safety incidents because there will be no aircraft.

CHAIR: That's right.

Senator PATRICK: And this parliament has expressed a really clear view that you need to take into consideration our ability to grow our general aviation back, and you're not doing that.

Ms Spence: We're very committed to general aviation. We've been working—

Senator PATRICK: That's just a platitude! Let's see it grow.

Senator McKenzie: Chair, can I just intervene and remind everyone that respect—

Senator PATRICK: There are people who are really angry about this, Minister.

CHAIR: And this has been years.

Senator McKenzie: I understand anger, Senator Patrick, and probably a little more than you would actually appreciate. What I am asking for is a little civility and a little respect—irrespective of the substantive issue—for the officer that is here.

CHAIR: That's what's missing for these pilots and businesses who have just been destroyed. This pilot has admitted that he didn't get his medical done in time, and that started an avalanche.

---

Ms Spence : As I said, I would much rather give you a more detailed answer once I have all the facts in front of me. As for the point around pilots and LAMEs, that is something we're looking at very closely through the general aviation workplan that we're developing, which won't just be platitudes—we are identifying specific issues and working through the issues that have been raised with us. It will be a public document, and people can hold us to account and measure our performance against what we say we'll do.

Senator PATRICK: Make sure you name some of the people involved inside CASA, because we have a situation where this happens again and again and again, and there is an immunity that sits behind you as the CEO. If your officers are doing the right thing, they won't have any difficulty being named, and if they are doing the wrong thing they ought to be named as well. People need to understand who these people are that are basically attacking our general aviation industry.

Ms Spence : I appreciate what you're saying, but I also want to stand up for the organisation that I work for. There are many people who are incredibly passionate about aviation who work in CASA. I know people hear stories about people who aren't doing the right thing, but the vast majority of the people who work in CASA are committed to aviation. I just want to get that on the record.

Senator PATRICK: How do we get to the situation that we get to?

CHAIR: And why does nothing ever happen to the people who are doing the wrong thing?

Ms Spence : I would argue that's not the case.

Senator PATRICK: How many people has CASA fired for overreach? That's a reasonable question.

Ms Spence : We look to make sure that we operate consistently with what our regulations require.

Senator PATRICK: I am happy for you to take the question on notice. It's a genuine question.

Ms Spence : I'm very happy to take that on notice.

Senator PATRICK: Thank you. I suspect it's none.

Ms Spence : What I'm saying is that we do take action in relation to suggestions about people going beyond what the regulatory framework requires.

Senator PATRICK: Maybe you can also give us the number of people who have been subject to administrative action inside your organisation as well.

Ms Spence : Yes.

CHAIR: Thank you. I will pass this on to you, Ms Spence, and I wish you luck, because I think the culture in your organisation is rotten. If your investigators and the rest of the staff lived in the regions and worked with these pilots, and if they weren't all obsessed with focusing on Qantas and Virgin and the big end of town and they understood what it was like to operate a regional business in a regional place under the extraordinary pressures that we've put them through through regulation, you might have half a chance.

Plus Sandy via the UP:

Blueyonda “I may have interpreted this incorrectly, under a line of questioning that Ms Spence could not answer, she did say someone might be able to rush in and provide the answer (my words,) as in someone in her immeadiate vicinity. But alas, silence.”

I think your interpretation quite correct, more than that it’s common practice for the underlings to pass up helpful briefing papers or chime in with an offer of assistance without being asked.

Twice now we’ve been witness to the same extraordinary spectacle of the highly paid CEO of CASA coming to a public Senate hearing not being prepared. It truly beggars belief, imagine the US, NZ UK or Canadians looking at this disgraceful display of incompetence. And I’m sure they’d be thinking, as I do, your Parliament set up this corporate in the attempt to relinquish responsibility so what do you expect?

The fact that the CEO Ms Spence has failed to learn about the most pressing issues, and shies from responsibility by citing ‘that was before my time’ is exemplified by her treatment of Glen Buckley.

Instead of ascertaining the facts from her $500,000 pa Managers about Glen’s unjustifiable treatment and then making her own judgment Ms. Spence handballs to the Ombudsman, again.

Perfectly predictable; because this is how Government Industries works when Parliament reneges on its responsibility.

The aversion by Parliament, and many Members (2009 Albo rids his Ministry of the ATSB), to the responsibility conferred by our Constitution and the Westminster tradition is manifest in the arrogance of senior Public Sector managers. The current Estimates is such a good example and not just about CASA. The head of ASIO upbraids a Senator by accusing her of making an inappropriate question.

This whole trajectory, give all the tricky bits to ‘independent’ Ombudsman offices, Commissioners, ICACs and Commonwealth corporations like CASA, ATSB, ASA, Infrastructure Australia even Meat Australia, and many others, has become a major impediment to good governance and free enterprise.

The shift in power, the unseen revolving doors PS employment cross pollination and the many $billions in fat salaries and great working conditions are at stake and driving the body politic.

Finally, it is we the voters who elect representatives. If we sit back, don’t engage with them, don’t go to meetings, don’t write critiques, don’t talk to media but only throw brickbats and epithets then who is to blame?

As an aside, with relation to the competence of the CEO Su_Spence, I may be missing something but I note that from page 189 of the CASA 2020-21 Annual Report that Su_Spence's 'base salary', for the period of 17 May 2021 to 30 June 2021, is listed as $105,246. This equates to PS being paid $17,541 per week or $912,132 PA. Given the Su_Spence performance at Estimates on Monday and at her previous appearance in the GA Inquiry on the 7th December 2021, plus the ongoing weasel words in the latest and previous bollocks CASA briefings, I have to say industry and taxpayers seriously deserve a refund?? - 

MTF...P2 

[thorn bird]

"Ms Spence : As I said, I would much rather give you a more detailed answer once I have all the facts in front of me. As for the point around pilots and LAMEs, that is something we're looking at very closely through the general aviation workplan that we're developing, which won't just be platitudes—we are identifying specific issues and working through the issues that have been raised with us. It will be a public document, and people can hold us to account and measure our performance against what we say we'll do."

Workplan?? Developing?? Identifying specific issue?? measure our performance??

Ms Spence you have been developing a workplan for the past thirty years at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars, they are called regulations.

The specific issue is your thirty year and half a billion dollar workplan has been an abject failure.

Based on the repercussions of your thirty year workplan why should anyone imagine your next workplan will be anymore successful?

The measure of your performance will be when you realise CAsA is incapable of developing any form of workable regulation, accept that as fact, and get on with adopting either US FAR's or better still the New Zealand version along with a rewritten ACT to support it.

[Peetwo]

Dear Senator McDonald...L&Ks WJR

Via the AP email chains:

Dear Senator McDonald,

I watched the whole CASA performance, particularly , in my opinion, the obfuscating rubbish talked by Monahan. I feel sorry for the CASA CEO, whom I have known since she joined the Commonwealth Public Service.

The CASA evidence was largely hogwash.

In 1998, the way the CASR rules were put in place, firefighters travelling in a Restricted Cat (CASR 21) aircraft were NOT PASSENGERS.

They were classified as "informed participants", just as persons having a "warbirds" flight are NOT travelling as passengers, but informed participants.

A "passenger" is somebody travelling as a passenger in an aircraft operating under a Charter or RPT (to use old but well understood terminology) AOC covering the carriage of said passengers.

An informed participant is a person over 18 who has been briefed in advance of the fact that the aircraft involved does not meet civil Certificate of Airworthiness standards, and is still prepared to voluntarily travel on the Blackhawk or whatever.

Monahan was further talking bulldust about FAA rules, firefighters and similar do travel in Restricted Cat. aircraft, we established the same operational result here by a different and far more simple legal route -- namely, the concept of an "informed participant".

This situation has been entirely created by CASA, by insisting firefighters are "passengers".

In short, the reformed regulations put in place by the Howard Government, under Ministers John Sharp and Mark Vaile in 1997-1998, (the policy doc. was "Soaring into Tomorrow) enable the use of ex-military aircraft for a wide range of purposes.

Including carrying firefighters in then ex-US army UH-1 helos, Hueys.

CASA and the manufacturers hated the idea, of course buying a Huey for $1.00 from the US Army, instead of fundamentally the same aircraft, but with a civil Certificate of Airworthiness, from Bell for (then) $4.5m was not popular with Bell.

Bottom line --- the present situation has been deliberately created by CASA knowingly subverting Cth. Government policy.

The immediate solution, enforce Liberal/National policy as reflected in CASR 21 and related legislative documents in 1998, and fire any CASA person who tries to prevent same.

And brook no confected legal obfuscation from CASA.

Yours sincerely,

William J Hamilton, FRAeS, MAIAA.

MTF...P2 

[Peetwo]

McDolittle/Sterlo aviation inquiries - one week till final report tabling?? - 

Except for the filing of a 'confidential' submission, which according to Lead Balloon was momentarily able to be downloaded...

Lead Balloon

Interesting that submission 73 to the GA inquiry was initially available for download (I downloaded a copy early this morning) but it is now named 'Confidential' with no download available. Some strange things have been going on with a couple of submissions to this inquiry.

...otherwise not much activity in the McDolittle GA inquiry, nor is there mention about the promised CASA estimates spillover hearing? I also note that to this point in time that there is no QON index for all the Departmental/agency QON asked at Supplementary Estimates? This says to me that the Government has already 'racked the cue' an gone into an unofficial 'caretaker' mode...

However there was activity in Sterlo's 'Aviation Sector Post-COVID inquiry' with a public hearing held last week at Mascot - Hansard link: https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/sea...%2F0000%22         

McDolittle was present at that hearing:

Senator McDONALD: This inquiry is about the impact of COVID and the recovery and ongoing success of the aviation industry in Australia. We now have the benefit of being two years into COVID, and I think this is the fourth time you've appeared in front of this particular inquiry. You're now starting to have seen the impacts play out, and your advice to this committee has matured. Is there anything in particular that you see as a priority to assist the aviation industry return? I'm thinking both domestically and internationally. We've had some real challenges domestically around the cost of flights. We've just mentioned the additional security requirements. We've also had the airfield access cards and core cards. We did some work on that during COVID. But what do you think we could next be turning our attention to to assist the aviation industry to flourish in Australia? I should flag that I'm speaking, too, of general aviation in this space and the supply chain of pilots, engineers and other necessary staff.

Ms Quigley : I think the framework that's come out was intending to try to highlight the areas that we felt needed particular focus, and it's important to note that the framework is intended to capture not all the government aviation policy activity but the six areas of priorities that we want to work very closely on with government. I think it also recognises that there are other things happening across government to support things, and the tourism agenda is one example of where we need to make sure that departments are working together to achieve that benefit for the economy.

I'm sure Mr Wood can contribute to this, in terms of general aviation and technology, but I think key areas for us are making sure that, where we've got government roles and responsibilities, they are working as effectively as possible so that our regulatory frameworks are fit for purpose going forward, and there's a range of work that we've started in reviewing our airport regulatory frameworks. They haven't been reviewed for some time, so it's timely for us to have a look at that. We're also looking at things around the environment, particularly in relation to airport activity, and we have a range of programs to make sure that we're managing the environmental impacts on airport. I wonder whether Richard wanted to talk about general aviation and technology.

Mr Wood : Yes. I might touch on a couple of things, perhaps starting from the international side. I think demand is going to be the critical thing, which means having the confidence of travellers—in particular, tourists—to return to the Australian market. Both Commonwealth and state tourism entities are going to play an important role in that and, indeed, are doing so. In terms of general aviation, the government, as part of the framework, announced the development of a GA road map over the next 12 months, which we are commencing work on. I note, and I note, Senator, your particularly strong interest in, flight instruction and related issues. Something that the Deputy Prime Minister included in his recent statement of expectations was for CASA to explore mechanisms to ensure that flight instruction and related services are more widely, readily and efficiently available. They are doing work in relation to that as well.

Ms Quigley : We've got a particular interest in regional aviation. We know that they're traditionally quite thin markets, so recovery for regional aviation is something that we'll be watching very closely. We've got a range of regional aviation programs that have been around for some time that support infrastructure investment in regional Australia. I think those programs need to be reviewed to make sure, again, that what we were doing pre-COVID is going to be fit for purpose in terms of recovery, and we're watching how regional aviation comes through to see whether there are any market changes or any gaps that arise. That is a particular focus of this framework and of the department going forward.

Senator McDONALD: With the movement of pilots around the world, particularly internationally, as the aviation industry has closed down, reopened and so forth, do you think it's now timely to readdress the issues of harmonisation of regulation in Australia? I've been contacted by a number of organisations asking for us to genuinely harmonise with the bigger aviation regulatory sectors, like the FAA and New Zealand and our near neighbours, in a more genuine way than just numbering regulations. Is that something that we could turn our attention to now?

Mr Wood : It's something that we are looking at, particularly in relation to lowering export barriers for GA related goods and services. That's one of the things that we'll be doing as part of the GA framework that I touched on. I think harmonisation of regulatory systems is complex, because we are talking about different legal systems. Mutual recognition and those sorts of opportunities are there, and there is an obligation on us, CASA and others to harmonise with the ICAO standard operating practices et cetera. That's something that we do. It's not a straightforward process, but there are always opportunities to do that. Certainly, if there are specific issues that are identified by industry, that's something that we can take up and look into.

Senator McDONALD: Thank you. I will follow up on that, particularly the changes to air operator certificates. The upcoming changes that I think have been flagged may well have a real impact on company structures of smaller airlines.

Finally, I will ask you about the Qantas air academy and the government's support for that and the pipeline of pilots, which I assume has come about because of the failure of flying schools under the pressure of hassle, regulation and other challenges. We now have almost no flying schools left in regional Australia, and I just wonder if you could tell me how the Qantas academy is going to fill that hole.

Mr Dymowski : I think a number of our larger airlines—Rex and Qantas spring to mind—have flight training academies situated across the country to seek to manage their own skills needs going forward. To some extent, given the size of those academies, they will have impacts on broader aviation skills as well.

We are looking at the settings that are in place around flight training. I think something that we need to look at is what has been the impact of COVID and what that looks like in terms of supporting the next level of growth or the next expansion back in the aviation market. That's definitely something on our radar.

Senator McDONALD: Yes. I'm hearing from airports like Moorabbin, Essendon, Sunshine Coast and Canberra—a whole range of airports—that have been, in effect, privatised through the leasing arrangements. They are pushing aviation businesses off site or making it impossible to meet the costs of leases. That's one of the factors that are forcing flying through top airports, which just seems to me to be extraordinary for this nation. When we consider the future of aviation in this country, I would have thought the training of flight crew would be a core element, and we haven't touched on that at all. But we will continue to see more pressure on those businesses, and I guess that's why we start seeing academies being set up by Qantas and Virgin to fill that gap. That is a real tragedy, to my mind.

I will leave it there. I'm conscious that I've probably taken a lot of your time. Thank you to the department for your evidence today. I appreciate it.

MTF...P2 

[Peetwo]

Last Budget Estimates for 46th Parliament - 


Program:  

---

Want to watch? - Click on RRAT link here: https://www.aph.gov.au/News_and_Events/Watch_Parliament

MTF...P2 

[Peetwo]

Budget Estimates in pictures - 

Via Youtube:

True to her word (AOPA Oz on Saturday) the Chair took up the cause on Airports...    

P2 comment: Totally flabbergasted how completely disconnected the DARD bureaucrats (underneath the Can'tberra bubble) are with all reality, when it comes to real life hardships the GA tenants are facing at our secondary airports...  

Hmm...where is Senator Fawcett when you need him?

Next CASA and ASA are soft cocked by the RRAT committee; plus the Popinjay's ('look at me') ATSB don't even have to turn up - FDS? 

Tabled doc:  Senator Greg Mirabella/Air Attack article: The Black Hawk - Perfect for Carrying Fire-Fighters/ 4 April 2022 - PDF 11,530KB

Link: Hansard 

MTF...P2 

[Peetwo]

Senator Rex Patrick - "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY!"

Via Facebook and/or email:

MAY DAY EVENT - SENATOR REX PATRICK
THE FUTURE OF AUSTRALIAN GENERAL AVIATION

Hosted by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia
Sunday, 1st May 2022:  Commencing 11:00am

Attention Australian Aviation Industry Participants,

I warmly invite you all to attend my MAY DAY EVENT hosted by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia, kicking off from 11am on Sunday 1st May 2022, at:

AOPA Australia Headquarters
Hangar 120, 10 Stinson Crescent
Bankstown Airport NSW 2200
Australia.

General aviation is in crisis and is but a shadow of the aviation industry it once was.  The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is largely responsible for what has been a death by a thousand cuts.
Over the past 20 years the Parliament has held inquiry after inquiry, with the feedback from industry remaining consistent throughout.  Despite the unified pleas for change, CASA have wrought havoc on the aviation industry, forcing a never-ending parade of regulatory change that has destroyed businesses, reduced industry competitiveness, and dramatically undermined the sustainability of small to medium sized aviation.

The Parliament reacted to the decline when it passed the Civil Aviation Amendment Bill 2019.  This Bill sought to ensure that in developing and promulgating aviation safety standards, CASA must consider the economic and cost impacts on individuals, businesses, and the community.
Sadly, little seems to have changed.

The Parliamentary ‘nutcracker’ doesn’t seem to have cracked the over-regulation walnut, so it is now time to reach for the Sledgehammer.

Having worked tirelessly with industry and having watched things go from a cautionary PAN PAN to an outright emergency MAYDAY,  I am ready to answer the call on Sunday 1st May, where I will propose a powerful sledgehammer that can be used to finally sort things out so that general aviation may recover and thrive.

Come take part on Sunday 1st May (from 11am).  I am very much looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible, with a lunch-time BBQ and refreshments for participants.

Sincerely,

REX PATRICK
South Australian Senator

BENJAMIN MORGAN
Chief Executive, AOPA Australia
Mobile:  0415 577 724
Email:  ben.morgan@aopa.com.au
--------------------------------
REGISTER YOUR ATTENDANCE
To assist with event catering and equipment hire, participants are encouraged to register their attendance, by emailing:  ben.morgan@aopa.com.au
--------------------------------
EVENT DATE AND LOCATION
Commencing 11am, Sunday 1st May 2022 - AOPA Australia Headquarters (FalconAir Hangar)
Hangar 120, 10 Stinson Crescent, Bankstown Airport NSW 22200, Australia.
--------------------------------
WHO SHOULD ATTEND THIS EVENT
• Recreational, Sport, General Aviation and Commercial Aircraft Owners
• Recreational, Private and Commercial Pilots
• Flight Training Businesses, Charter Operators, Maintenance Businesses
• Aviation Industry Associations, Peak Bodies, AeroClubs & Flying Groups
• Aviation Industry Supporters
--------------------------------
INVITED INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia
• Aircraft Maintenance Repair Overhaul Business Association
• Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association of Australia
• Australian Federation of Air Pilots
• Sport Aircraft Association of Australia
• Australian Beechcraft Society
• Cessna 182 Association
• Australian Mooney Pilots Association
• Australian Piper Society
• Lancair Owner Builders Organisation
• Australian RV Aircraft Association
• AngelFlight Australia
• Wagga City Aero Club
• Central Coast Aero Club
• NSW Sport Aircraft Club
--------------------------------
INVITED MEDIA
• ABC Television
• ABC Radio National
• Channel 9 News
• Channel 7 News
• The Australian
• The Australian Financial Review
• Australian Flying Magazine
• Australian Aviation
--------------------------------

MTF...P2 

[Peetwo]

Sen Rex Patrick - "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY!" - Part II

Via Facebook and/or email:

MAY DAY EVENT - SENATOR REX PATRICK
THE FUTURE OF AUSTRALIAN GENERAL AVIATION

Hosted by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia
Sunday, 1st May 2022:  Commencing 11:00am

Attention Australian Aviation Industry Participants,

I warmly invite you all to attend my MAY DAY EVENT hosted by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia, kicking off from 11am on Sunday 1st May 2022, at:

AOPA Australia Headquarters
Hangar 120, 10 Stinson Crescent
Bankstown Airport NSW 2200
Australia.

General aviation is in crisis and is but a shadow of the aviation industry it once was.  The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is largely responsible for what has been a death by a thousand cuts.
Over the past 20 years the Parliament has held inquiry after inquiry, with the feedback from industry remaining consistent throughout.  Despite the unified pleas for change, CASA have wrought havoc on the aviation industry, forcing a never-ending parade of regulatory change that has destroyed businesses, reduced industry competitiveness, and dramatically undermined the sustainability of small to medium sized aviation.

The Parliament reacted to the decline when it passed the Civil Aviation Amendment Bill 2019.  This Bill sought to ensure that in developing and promulgating aviation safety standards, CASA must consider the economic and cost impacts on individuals, businesses, and the community.
Sadly, little seems to have changed.

The Parliamentary ‘nutcracker’ doesn’t seem to have cracked the over-regulation walnut, so it is now time to reach for the Sledgehammer.

Having worked tirelessly with industry and having watched things go from a cautionary PAN PAN to an outright emergency MAYDAY,  I am ready to answer the call on Sunday 1st May, where I will propose a powerful sledgehammer that can be used to finally sort things out so that general aviation may recover and thrive.

Come take part on Sunday 1st May (from 11am).  I am very much looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible, with a lunch-time BBQ and refreshments for participants.

Sincerely,

REX PATRICK
South Australian Senator

BENJAMIN MORGAN
Chief Executive, AOPA Australia
Mobile:  0415 577 724
Email:  ben.morgan@aopa.com.au
--------------------------------
REGISTER YOUR ATTENDANCE
To assist with event catering and equipment hire, participants are encouraged to register their attendance, by emailing:  ben.morgan@aopa.com.au
--------------------------------
EVENT DATE AND LOCATION
Commencing 11am, Sunday 1st May 2022 - AOPA Australia Headquarters (FalconAir Hangar)
Hangar 120, 10 Stinson Crescent, Bankstown Airport NSW 22200, Australia.
--------------------------------
WHO SHOULD ATTEND THIS EVENT
• Recreational, Sport, General Aviation and Commercial Aircraft Owners
• Recreational, Private and Commercial Pilots
• Flight Training Businesses, Charter Operators, Maintenance Businesses
• Aviation Industry Associations, Peak Bodies, AeroClubs & Flying Groups
• Aviation Industry Supporters
--------------------------------
INVITED INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia
• Aircraft Maintenance Repair Overhaul Business Association
• Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association of Australia
• Australian Federation of Air Pilots
• Sport Aircraft Association of Australia
• Australian Beechcraft Society
• Cessna 182 Association
• Australian Mooney Pilots Association
• Australian Piper Society
• Lancair Owner Builders Organisation
• Australian RV Aircraft Association
• AngelFlight Australia
• Wagga City Aero Club
• Central Coast Aero Club
• NSW Sport Aircraft Club
--------------------------------
INVITED MEDIA
• ABC Television
• ABC Radio National
• Channel 9 News
• Channel 7 News
• The Australian
• The Australian Financial Review
• Australian Flying Magazine
• Australian Aviation
--------------------------------

Facebook comments so far:

Keith Page

That is very good plan however if it is just another talkfest guess what, same result as all the previous. The attendees can make policies and motions and every other movement they can dream up the result will be the same. The fix is not another regulation.

The government of the day they are the managers of aviation not CASA. CASA is only the overseer who follows up on the managers directives, till that one is sorted well well still the same rot.
Quite simple the transport minister has to start lopping the tree from the top.

---

Sandy Reith

Keith Page couldn’t agree more, it’s always Parliament’s responsibility and 34 years of disaster for Australia’s General Aviation prove beyond doubt that the model of an independent monopoly corporate regulator cannot work.

The only proven model is the Westminster system which has a responsible Minister in charge of a Department. Without the element of political oversight we will never achieve reform and regrowth of GA.

Unfortunately in Australia we seem to have a naive belief that the independent body, a taxpayer funded government body will altruistically govern in its area in some perfected manner, a type of government with no political input. In other words why vote at all? The problem being that human nature isn’t that perfect. CASA has become a self serving make work salary factory.

New CEO Pip Spence commenced 17th May ‘21, CASA’s ‘20-‘21 annual report shows her total remuneration for the six weeks to (presumably) 30th June to be some $230,000. Extrapolating this will be a base salary of $1 million plus, yet not one real reform after 11 months.

Until and unless aviation is put into a regular department little progress or halt to GA decline will occur.

---

Keith Page

Sandy Reith I think our crop of pollies want to not own the blame for a poor decision. Their only concern voted back in next time.

---

Lorraine MacGillivray

Keith Page and Sandy Reith I agree however I also believe or need to believe that we can continue to be cynical and negative, which is easy and warranted, or we can fight back. I am trying my hardest to be there because we need to take this opportunity to show our force as an industry. The CEO for a start if she cares about the industry, drain the swamp. I have been exerting pressure for over 2 years and I will not quit until the power mongering, abusive, over reaching individuals are held to account for what they did with the Bristell. CAsA pick and choose who they want to persecute. Play judge jury and executioner. Are protected by CAsA Legal who facilitate running the employees agendas. The flying public in this country should be afraid. Because as I say this is the same organization that governs our airlines. It is time to stop it and them and let the media know what is going on.

---

Keith Page

Lorraine MacGillivray you mentioned the line “the organisation that governs” here we are the government should be governing not CASA, CASA is the overseer not the manager. We have to get the government to manage that will be a big job. Look at all the enquiries in last number of years regarding CASA and their shenanigans. Simply put these functions were only talkfests as nothing has happen.

The government of the day has to get out and manage instead of being popular with no mistakes just to cadge votes.

---

Lorraine MacGillivray

Keith Page I agree

---

Keith Page

Lorraine MacGillivray the big question, “How do we get the transport minister excited??”

---

Lorraine MacGillivray

Keith Page I think we are slowly. I think May Day with AOPA will help facilitate that interest. And if the right information gets to the media then they might run with it. I am going to give it my best shot.

MTF...P2 

[Peetwo]

AMROBA - "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY!" - Part III

Via amroba.org.au :

MAYDAY – MAYDAY

Senator Patrick has called a Mayday meeting on Sunday, May 1, to propose a rescue program for the survivors of the crash caused by the creation of the Civil Aviation Act and continual regulatory changes that have increased costs and the survivors from 1988 continue to struggle to recuperate. The current, and proposed regulatory system, is not fit for purpose – every inquiry into civil aviation since CAA was created have made similar recommendations but nothing changes. Why? Is it government or is it CAA/CASA that has caused general aviation to crash? Civil aviation just hopes this RRAT Interim Report creates change to benefit industry growth.

• Have you looked at Section 98 of the Civil Aviation Act lately.
• Compare that with New Zealand’s Section 28 of the New Zealand Act
• or look at the US Aviation Act §44701. General requirements.

Without doubt, the FAA has the safest approach that we should align our Act with. See Item 2 where we discuss the effect of an election and what we should have in accordance with the Act.

“Title 49 §106. Federal Aviation Administration
(a) The Federal Aviation Administration is an administration in the Department of Transportation.”

Maybe CASA should be an “administration in the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communication” similar to the FAA. Regulatory development would be done by the Minister’s portfolio department, in conjunction with other government departments and agencies, because of inadvertent damage that can happen when not done properly. Great example is CASA trying to be an ‘educator’ and approve Education Department’s Recognised Training Organisations..

1. Government experiment has failed for 32 years.

Civil Aviation Act © for the purpose of carrying out and giving effect to the provisions of the
Chicago Convention relating to safety;

All provisions of the Convention are related to global aviation safety standards and they are not
as confusing as general aviation and engineering CASRs that haven’t even been copied correctly
from other nations regulations.

2. Time has run out – an election at wrong time

Over two decades back, it was recognised that general aviation and engineering design,
maintenance, manufacture and technical training was not producing growth in general aviation
and engineering fields. Once again, the industry has had another inquiry make recommendations
to address the crash of general aviation and a Statement of Expectations that heads reform in the
right direction and an election is called. This means all government departments are in ‘stop
mode for 6 – 9 months.

3. Selecting a LAME, FBO MRO or a Repair Station (NATA)

The National Air Transportation Association provides a good insight to the FBO/MRO
system. We had this system with one difference, the directly supervised maintenance
organisation was approved to operate to requirements specified in Civil Aviation Orders.

MTF...P2 

[Kharon]

It is a curiosity. 

Doing a bit of rummaging about in 'history' - back about a decade, trying to find some half remembered odds and sods from Estimates and Inquiry, tracking a line of questioning.  When you run through three or four 'sessions' it becomes very clear that both sides of politics and the independents are all basically singing from the same hymnal. Well phrased, intelligent question from all, pointed argument and very few punches pulled; remarkable really. Questions, even those 'on notice' eventually answered (after a fashion)...And, there it all ends - I cannot find any 'resolution' or action taken after the answers have been provided, let alone any semblance of positive change or rectification.

But, it is a curiosity when up to eight Senators - from both sides - at any one sitting can elucidate their concern over the matter on hand, ask insightful questions and toddle off, satisfied with the answers provided. You could be forgiven for wondering why, after a decade or more of 'questions' from politicians of all stripes, reflecting some fairly serious concerns relating to matters aeronautical that nothing has improved the lot of industry.

When you pile up the questions on a topic, (any topic discussed) asked over a ten year period, it is an easy matter to see the concerns expressed. What you cannot find is any tangible evidence of follow through and rectification. All concern terminates with the provided answers to those questions.

It begs the question - can Rex Patrick and his nutcracker resolve the equation? The Tote is open; even money on the AMROBA entry -

Toot - toot.

[Peetwo]

Sic'em Rex MAYDAY event - 

Via auspol.com...

Senator Rex Patrick: ‘MAYDAY’ EVENT AT BANKSTOWN AIRPORT TODAY…



Today I travelled to Bankstown airport in Sydney where pilots from around the country converged to discuss the crushing of General Aviation by the regulator, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

Regulations have been issued by CASA without safety cases to justify changes and without regard to cost. They don’t appreciate there is a big difference between QANTAS, Virgin, REX airlines and the small operators that are, amongst other things, the breeding ground for airline pilots.

This disproportionate regulatory burden is being imposed in circumstances where costs in the aviation industry are skyrocketing; training, fuel, insurance, aircraft maintenance and security costs have all risen, along with airport access charges.

CASA has not listened to industry and they have not listened to concerns raised in the Parliament. Consequentially, today I announced that, if re-elected, I’ll introduce a Civil Aviation (Regulation Transition Review) Bill into the Senate to set Australia on a transition pathway to transition fro the existing CASA regulations to the much more simplistic and very safe US Federal Aviation Authority regulations.

No more mucking around with a Government organisation that is destroying an essential Australian industry.

---

PLEDGE TO FORCE A SWITCH TO US REGULATIONS IN RESPONSE TO GENERAL AVIATION 'MAYDAY' CALL
1 May 2022

Independent Senator Rex Patrick has today pledged to introduce a Bill into the 47th Parliament that would require the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to abandon its complicated, overly duplicated and burdensome home-grown General Aviation regulations and, instead, switch to US Federal Aviation Authority regulations.

"CASA has crushed General Aviation in this country. It has taken the view that the best way to make sure there are no accidents in the skies over Australia is to ensure that it's overly burdensome and too costly to ever have an aircraft take off from a runway," Senator Patrick said.

"CASA has not listened to industry and they have not listened to the Parliament. Regulation of General Aviation should not equal destruction of General Aviation, and it’s now abundantly clear a broom needs to be put through the Authority. They have become a self-serving and destructive force in aviation in Australia".

Since 1995, when CASA was first established, there has been significant shrinkage in General Aviation across Australia. Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics statistics on flying hours show massive declines as recently 2019 to 2020; Own use business flying down 24.3%, Instructional flying down 9.4%, Sports/pleasure flying down 25.8% and other flying down 28.1%.

"The industry has faced an unreasonable regulatory burden quite disproportionate to any benefit in safety outcomes. CASA basically treats small aircraft operators as though they are regular public transport operators like Qantas, Virgin and REX."

Areas of CASA over-regulation include:

• Pilot Licensing and Category Rating (Civil Aviation Safety Regulation Part 61) - regulatory overreach which has decimated industry training.
  
• Maintenance licensing (CASR Part 66) - duplicated and excessive regulations that have contributed to the downturn in the number of Licenced Aircraft Maintenance Engineers.
  
• Flight medical examination (CASR Part 67) - regulatory overkill costing pilots $480 with bureaucrats, never having met the pilots, overturning doctors' recommendations.
  
• Air Transport rules for smaller aeroplanes (CASR Part 135) - limits on number of seats.
  
• Training organisation requirements (CASR Part 141 and 142) - A staggering amount of new regulations that have killed off flying schools.
  

"Regulations have been issued by CASA without safety cases to justify changes, without regard to cost and without proper regard to risk, noting the smaller sized aircraft found in General Aviation and fewer people being involved in accidents. Regulation in Australia has also failed to align with regulations in other jurisdictions, making it difficult for Australian pilots to operate overseas."

Senator Patrick said, "This disproportionate regulatory burden is being imposed in circumstances where costs in the industry are skyrocketing. Training, fuel, insurance, aircraft maintenance and security costs have all risen, along with airport access charges. It's a crushing load for the industry".

“Numerous reviews and inquiries have found CASA regulations to be over-the-top. A 2013 Aviation Safety Regulation Review found them to be overly legalistic, difficult to understand and too focused on punitive outcome. A 2018 study by Deloitte Access Economics found that the regulatory burdens have driven people away from the sector. A recent Senate Inquiry into General Aviation, chaired by Nationals senator Susan McDonald, was scathing of CASA and its over-regulation".

Senator Patrick said, "After the overzealous grounding of a transplant air service by CASA in 2018 and a full scale and completely unnecessary attack on Angel Flight the Parliament acted with a 2019 Civil Aviation Amendment Bill that sought to ensure that, in developing and promulgating aviation safety standards, CASA considers the economic and cost impact on individuals, businesses and the community and to take into account the differing risks associated with different industry sectors, such as General Aviation."

"Since that Bill passed, CASA has basically done nothing. I accept that the recently appointed CEO, Ms Pip Spence, has started to move things a little, but sadly she's flying around in the bureaucratic equivalent of a Tiger Moth when she needs to be in a strike-fighter jet fully armed with regulatory smashing bombs."

"Her nutcracker approach doesn’t seem to have cracked the over-regulation walnut so it’s time to reach for the sledgehammer."

If re-elected Senator Patrick will introduce the necessary sledgehammer in the form of the Civil Aviation (Regulation Transition Review). This Bill will require the Minister to conduct an independent review to examine how US Federal Aviation Authority regulations can be translated into the Australian context. The FAA regulatory regime offers a thorough but less burdensome regime to ensure safe and economically viable General Aviation operations. The review would not be tasked to re-invent the wheel, rather it would examine how the US wheel fits in the Australian context. The review would need to take submissions from stakeholders and its reports, including any interim reports, would have to be tabled in the Parliament."

"The outcome of the independent review would be the basis for a further Civil Aviation (Adaptation of FAA Regulations) Bill that will kill off CASA's General Aviation killing regulations and see a broom put through the Authority."

"CASA's regulatory impositions has been a systemic death by a thousand cuts for General Aviation. The industry has sent out a Mayday call and I'm going to respond to it.

MTF...P2 

[Kharon]

If, But- and However.

All entries in this years running of the Reform CASA Cup, are independently sponsored by a South Australian consortium of nervous backers. The 'Cup' itself is noteworthy; an antique chamber pot, it's provenance and history is beyond doubt, that it is old and well used is self evident. For many decades it has graced the garderobe in the executive office of the incumbent head of the Civil Aviation administrator; although since the advent of indoor plumbing, 'the Auld Pot' has mostly functioned as a receptacle for discarded recommendations from the many 'inquiries' into why aviation is in such a bloody mess. The solemn, ritual burning of annoying 'paper-work' and the cocktail parties following eclipse any small celebration held in 10 Downing St. (Disclaimer) any ritual burning conducted indoors is controlled by a volume of 'rules. procedures and protocols; the acolytes charged with pissing on the flames are fully tanked up using the proven (ISO compliant) fire retarder from the Kook-Aid fountain.

Nevertheless; our punters will expect a form guide and SP odds:-so, from the top of the listed entries:-

'IF' - Patrick - "If re-elected" -  Senator Patrick will introduce the necessary sledgehammer in the form of the Civil Aviation (Regulation Transition Review). This Bill will require the Minister to conduct an independent review to examine how US Federal Aviation Authority regulations can be translated into the Australian context.

The 'sledgehammer' tactic comes without the horsepower to actually deliver the mighty blow (slaegan) that the implement was designed to deliver. To actually use this hammer, will require several elements to coalesce into one. Support for the Bill from other like minded folk of differing 'party' politics, the legal grunt to 'require' the incumbent 'minister' to oblige, another unbiased 'review' (see ASRR history) and the political support to actually bring the thing into law and have it applied 'as-writ' rather than as 'translated' by the 'administration' (see original intent of the Act re Chicago Convention). 

Aside - for those who have never used a real Sledgehammer in the real world, in anger, they are heavy, demand strength, stamina, accuracy and a sense of self preservation, for once the blow begins, without fine control, the damage that can be done is serious.

BUT - Patrick - "The review would not be tasked to re-invent the wheel, rather it would examine how the US wheel fits in the Australian context. The review would need to take submissions from stakeholders and its reports, including any interim reports, would have to be tabled in the Parliament."

'BUT' has never, ever run a place in any event entered. Notorious for bring up the rear  and creating havoc in the post race analysis. Last over the line but first into the protest meeting. Stable mate to 'All well and Good' - and the infamous 'However', this trio have overturned many a fine win from the front runners. You can almost script the protest - "Yes minister; it is a superb notion, yes, indeed it is, BUT....."Yes minister, we understand - HOWEVER"....

Rex Patrick is a first class man; heart in the right place and no doubt he 'gets it'. Even less doubt that if he could wave his magic wand, or owned a sledgehammer' it would be used to maximum effect. However.................

Toot- toot..

[Peetwo]

Sic'em Rex gone but does his legislative concept still have legs??

via the Yaffa:

GA Stalwart Rex Patrick falls in Senate Race

23 May 2022



One of general aviation's most ardent advocates, independent senator Rex Patrick, has very little chance of being re-elected in South Australia as state swings towards The Greens.

Patrick and team-mate Leonie McMahon gathered only 2.1% of the votes as of Monday morning, trailing well behind the ALP (32%), Liberal (32%) and the Greens (13%). They received only 62 above-the-line votes and 11,899 unapportioned votes.

Senator Patrick, who recently promised to introduce legislation compelling CASA to adopt FARs, described his political career to the ABC as being on "life support." Although there at the time of writing there is still a mathematical chance, it is very unlikely Patrick will be able to scrape back into the senate..

Rex Patrick took a great interest in the plight of general aviation, and has been an active and involved member of the Senate Estimates Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport (RRAT) and the senate inquiry into the GA industry.

Another great voice for GA in parliament, Senator Glenn Sterle from WA, looks to have retained his seat with the ALP ticket reaping 34% of the vote in that state.

Hmm...presumably Sterlo will be the new Chair of the RRAT Legislative Committee and senator McDonald the deputy?? Does this mean the GA inquiry will continue or be abandoned?

Dots'n'dashes on the ANAO audit??:
Was the ANAO audit of CASA an initiative of the RRAT committee? If so will the committee examine those findings as part of the inquiry? 

Via the Mandarin...

ANAO audit flags issues in CASA’s surveillance



The pandemic saw 230 of 306 planned surveillance events not being conducted in 2019/20. (Pakpoom/Adobe)

An audit from the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) has found issues with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) surveillance approach, although ANAO acknowledges CASA has appropriate policies and largely carries out its surveillance functions.

‘Surveillance’ in the report includes operational checks of equipment, inspections of premises and assessments of safety performance.

The pandemic saw 230 of 306 planned surveillance events not being conducted in 2019/20. COVID-19 has had a lasting impact on the aviation industry, with border shutdowns impacting both international and domestic travel.

The lack of risk-likelihood in prioritising surveillance projects was named as an issue in the audit, diminishing CASA’s approach to surveillance. The audit further found a lack of consistency in the application of surveillance across sectors, with delays in identifying key areas of focus for surveillance.

The report found that although CASA’s National Oversight Plan (NOP) contained high-level principles, it was not supported by a more detailed and specific project plan. In response, CASA aims to have formally implemented the NOP by end of 2022-23.

A reduction in the level of detail in surveillance reporting was highlighted in the audit, with recent reporting found not to accurately reflect issues identified by CASA. Reports to the board contained the percentage of planned surveillance projects completed, not the efficacy of its surveillance.

Another area flagged by the report was CASA’s management of staff’s conflicts of interest. In May 2021, an internal report found that 30% of staff who had declared a conflict of interest when they applied for the job had not made a declaration within the week of commencing the job, as is required.

In response to the finding, CASA has said it will update its online system for staff to update their conflicts of interest.

CASA has accepted all seven of the recommendations made by the ANAO. The last time CASA was subject to an audit by ANAO was 2010.

Ref: On Crossbenches and Boards & SBG - Of talking Bollocks and testiculation. 

New approach to scheduled surveillance commences

CASA’s National Surveillance Selection Process (NSSP) came into effect on 1 July 2018.

A key element of the National Oversight Plan, the NSSP is a CASA-wide, annual schedule based on a standardised approach to prioritising, classifying and scheduling authorisation holders for surveillance.

The NSSP incorporates a systematic approach to classifying and ranking authorisation holders based on a combination of centralised data and local knowledge.

The NSSP allows CASA to apply a significant national focus to surveillance. It also provides some operational flexibility to accommodate changing priorities or safety concerns, or to gain efficiencies by combining like activities for multiple operators in a single location.

Similarly, if an authorisation holder is scheduled for three surveillance events in a year it might make sense to do them all at once. Alternatively, if there is an operational rationale, surveillance might be spread out so that more regular contact can be maintained over each 12-month period. The NSSP has the flexibility to allow either approach.

The NSSP schedule will help CASA to maintain a more integrated oversight picture, and to better monitor where effort is focused and ensure that resources are directed to where they are needed most. This will become a cyclic process whereby what is observed each year will inform and continuously improve how surveillance is approached in the following year.

Scheduled surveillance is just one of the ways CASA interacts with authorisation holders and gains a holistic picture of their operations. In changing the way in which CASA approaches oversight, we are also looking at the history and data obtained when providing regulatory services.

The CASA Aviation Safety Committee meets monthly and reviews information from sources such as scheduled surveillance, sector risk profiles, regulatory services information, accident/incident trend data and reports on significant accidents, in order to build an aviation safety view of a given aviation sector, sub-sector or specific organisation.

The committee analyses the information to identify any emerging safety risks and subsequently determines whether there is a need to conduct a national, sector-focused campaign of surveillance activity or an organisation-specific surveillance activity in addition to the ongoing NSSP scheduled surveillance.

Which proves IMO that the CASA executive continue to take the piss when it comes to oversight by the Board and  obfuscation of transparency to both the minister and indeed the department -    

Solid factual evidence that left to their own devices CASA simply cannot change/reform itself; which means that a serious  legislative amendment of the Act that brings CASA back under the control of the Minister's dept, combined with an appointment of a proper reform DAS are the only solutions to properly reforming the regulator. That initiative could be driven by a Senate RRAT committee with the testicular fortitude to see it through to the ultimate conclusion.    

MTF? - Yes much!...P2 

[Wombat]

It is simple quality control to design a random sampling system to give you the desired accuracy of the result. it is a question of computing the sample size as a proportion of the population and the frequency of sampling.

The NSSP contains human interference that ensures that the result is never statistically accurate.

Similarly risk management computations can indicate if the cost of regulation to prevent accidents is greater or lesser than the expected cost of an accident.

These statistical techniques were developed during WWI for armament quality control. They are recommended and used by ICAO everywhere but Australia. We prefer to ignore maths in favor of personal conviction.

[Peetwo]

Labor/Green War on Aviation (noise) begins -    


Ref: Albo's historical culpability on destroying an industry? & Downunder - the Land of Wonder.


Via the Oz (note my bold -   ):

Pilots oppose flight noise reduction plan for Brisbane



Airline pilots could sink attempts to reduce aircraft noise over Brisbane, after raising safety concerns over a plan to send more flights over Moreton Bay away from residential areas.

Airservices Australia has applied to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to increase the tailwind landing limit for incoming planes from 5 to 7 knots to allow more flights to come in over the bay.

The move is in response to intensive lobbying from inner-city residents who have been subjected to increased aircraft noise since the opening of Brisbane Airport’s second runway in mid-2020.

CASA last year rejected an application to lift the tailwind landing limit to 10 knots and the 7100-member Australian Airline Pilots Association (AusALPA) said even 7 knots was too much.

AusALPA President Tony Lucas said 5kts was the international standard for a reason.

“Ideally, aircraft takeoff and land with a headwind as it is safer and more efficient,” said Captain Lucas.

“What pilots and passengers don’t need is to be landing with higher ground speed and increased risk. Normalising tailwind operations reduces the capacity of our members to operate as safely as international standards require.”

He said numerous studies highlighted the fact almost half of all runway overruns or runway incidents occurred with tailwinds in excess of 5kts.

And although a 2kt increase did not seem like much, Captain Lucas said combined with a stiff crosswind it could change the landing environment very quickly and for the worse.

“We do have to accept some degree of tailwind with our operation and we acknowledge that’s the reality of aviation and the environmental conditions we face,” Captain Lucas said.

“But to increase the risk to crew and passengers so we can make less noise over a particular suburb, is something I don't think pilots should have to accept.”

Captain Lucas said there were other ways to reduce aircraft noise over inner Brisbane, with current flight paths for the parallel runway “dragging them in quite low and slow early”.

“To be honest I don’t think some of (the flight paths) are very efficient,” he said.

“Ultimately for us, we essentially align with the runway on a 10-mile (18km) final approach and we can fly aeroplanes quite smoothly and relatively quietly until we get to about 4-miles (7km) and from then on we’re at the normal approach speed. The design of the approaches doesn’t allow us to be as quiet as we would like to be.”

The issue of aircraft noise in inner Brisbane was expected to intensify as international flights returned to the city, and newly elected Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather pushed for a curfew on the airport.

Brisbane Airport Corporation was adamant a curfew would prove economically and socially disastrous and supported moves to send more flights over Moreton Bay.

“We believe we can improve aircraft impacts without constraining the operations of the airport,” said BAC head of public affairs Stephen Beckett.

“If we can get more planes flying and out over the bay, it helps the community, protects jobs and keeps Queensland moving.”

And via the RRAT Budget Estimates 2022-23 Greens QON to CASA/Airservices: 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 

72 - Question
Under the Airspace Regulations 2007, s15 CASA is obliged to review any designations of air routes and airways under s11 at least once in each period of five years.
Are flight path designations that are a result of CASA approved ACPs considered an instrument under section 15?
Does the five year period commence with the ACP approval date?
Has CASA already scheduled these reviews for the Brisbane ACPs that were approved on 31/10/2018 and 26/08/2019?
How are these reviews conducted, that is, what noise minimisation criteria are being considered by these reviews as required by the Australian Airspace Policy Statement?
How can the public provide input into these reviews?

---

73 - Question
In response to the answer received to QoN #121 (Additional Estimates 2021 / 2022 - see attached), CASA states that it ''conducted its own consultation on the three ACPs mentioned above in accordance with CASA's standard ACP processes.'' For each of the Brisbane ACPs approved on 29/10/2018, 26/08/2019, 24/10/2019, and 04/12/2020:
Who did CASA consult? When?
What noise minimisation was factored into these consultations as required by the Civil Aviation Act 1988, s9A(2) and the Australian Airspace Policy Statement? What were the outcomes of these consultations?

MTF...P2 

[Peetwo]

Sandy pitch for disbanding CASA GBE -   

Via the UP:

The trouble with CASA

Time for a private member’s Bill to have CASA disbanded and its functions carried out in a Department of Government with a Minister in charge. This is the proven Westminster system which has responsibility for governance firmly with our elected representatives, the foundation of democracy

Until MPs face the facts that the current system, the independent Commonwealth corporate (an entity that can be sued) is a failed experimental form of governance, General Aviation will continue to languish.

Senator McDonald initiated the current drawn out two and a half years (!) ‘inquiry’ into GA, we should ask the Senators would you give over the Department of Defence to an unelected corporation like CASA?

The General Aviation (GA) sector cannot grow and strengthen in the National interest until our representatives in Parliament force change.

The ASRR inquiry (Forsyth) of 2014 produced some 35 government accepted recommendations, the Senate should demand action on those, the current RRAT Senate inquiry is a rehash, 74 submissions only, nearly all from the same cohort that contributed to the 269 ASRR Forsyth submissions.

Eight years after Forsyth all we have is a worsening situation with CASA’s relentless complexities and piling on of unnecessary and expensive procedures. These problems cannot be solved properly within the present structure which is not fit for purpose.

With respect, and acknowledging the efforts of individuals like Senator McDonald, sadly the previous government did not make the necessary decisions that only Parliament can deliver.

Those of us that have lived the great boom of GA, when one was hard pressed to find a parking spot at Moorabbin, and the skies were constantly plied with GA aircraft, know only too well the destruction that’s occurred in GA. For those that don’t have that experience we have the BITRE statistics that clearly show the decline of GA, and if plotted against population growth would look much worse.
We’ve lost hundreds of flying schools and charter operators even as Senator McDonald’s RRAT hearings have stretched out over more than two years.

Some exemplary reforms are desperately needed now, take the rules out of the criminal code, should be misdemeanours, remove the ASIC, reform medical certification, independent instructors outside Part 141/142, reform the aircraft maintenance regime and the alienation of irreplaceable airport land in favour of property developers must be halted.

All of this goes not only to our prosperity but also to our security and strength as a Nation where the mobility of aviation (and airports are crucial infrastructure) is an obvious necessity in a land mass with low population such as ours.

Ring, write contact your MP regularly and press for reform with USA rules for GA.

MTF...P2 

[Peetwo]

Nampijinpa Price, Senator Jacinta - Perhaps a Senate legend in the making??

Not aviation related but as a breath of fresh air in the Australian Parliament I could not go past the 1st speech of Senator Jacinta price...

Hansard reference:  https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Bus.../&sid=0000

"..Australian wati yungurlipa mapirri warrki-jarrimi—in other words, for all Australians..."

Hmm...I wonder if Senator NAMPIJINPA PRICE would be a good advocate for General Aviation, after all GA is very important to the many isolated communities in the NT??   

MTF...P2 

[Peetwo]

Senate RRAT (finally) constituted; and the winners are?? -      

Via the RRAT committee webpages: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Bus...Membership & https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Bus...Membership

Legislation Committee Membership
Committee Members
Chair
Senator Glenn Sterle

Australian Labor Party, WA

Deputy Chair
Senator the Hon Matthew Canavan

The Nationals, QLD

Member
Senator Raff Ciccone

Australian Labor Party, VIC

Member
Senator Gerard Rennick

Liberal National Party of Queensland, QLD

Member
Senator Peter Whish-Wilson

Australian Greens, TAS

Member
Senator Linda White

Australian Labor Party, VIC

Hoorah Senator Sterle!...Hoorah Senator Canavan! - 

MTF...P2