[Peetwo]

KC on a mission? -

Although it is still firmly in slumber holiday time in Sleepy Hollow, it would seem some of the Alphabets are already burning the midnight wick in contemplation of 2016 being a year of pro-action & reformation; or go down swinging.

Go - Here - for the first AMROBA newsletter for 2016; & fresh off Ken's keyboard these are fighting words  :

1. Will the CASA Board be responsible to the public or just another ‘puppet’ Board?

The future of aviation in Australia is now the responsibility of the Board of CASA. The DPM Statement of Expectations clearly places the responsibility on the Board to produce objectives, strategies, policies and directions to the DAS on how the DAS manages CASA.

The Department of Infrastructure is responsible for keeping aviation Acts valid. Accordingly, industry will need to wait till after the next Federal election for the Department to consider recommending changes to hopefully more stable Parliament. Act changes to enable the Forsyth recommendations to be permanently implemented as suggested in the ASRR Report will therefore be post the election.

However, will this CASA Board be accountable to the public? Will this Board promulgate all objectives, strategies, policies and directions determined by the Board that the DAS is obliged to follow when managing CASA?

This Board controls your future, therefore they should be answerable to the public.

Talking to many of our members about what they thought of previous CASA Boards and their expectations of this CASA Board resulted in some interesting answers.

For instance, many never knew of some past Boards and those that did had no confidence that previous Boards have had any influence over the CEO/DAS of CASA. CASA middle management, including their legal sector, have dictated the direction of aviation reform. Irrespective of which CEO/DAS, their policies are still being applied in CASRs & MoS.

When explained that the Act and Minister’s Statement of Expectation empowers the Board to set aviation objectives, strategies, policies and to provide directions to the DASA on how the DAS manages CASA, most believed it will be CASA producing the objectives, strategies, policies and directions for Board endorsement.

Only a Board that promulgates the objectives, strategies, policies & directions publically will gain public trust and confidence.

Though most want this Board and DAS to make a major change to the directions that CASA/CAA have taken over the last decade, they are also realistic and accept that little change in direction is currently happening or will possibly happen.

AMROBA has proposed to the Minister that the Board’s objectives, strategies, policies and directions should be promulgated under the signature of the Board so the public, including industry, can see how their sectors of aviation will be enhanced.

The CAA(UK) Board promulgates such decisions, including Board minutes.

    
Memo to Boyd, the Board and Oliver Skidmore-twist - TICK..TOCK goes the IOS clock!

Oh and KC, the monthly key for the Tim Tam cupboard is in the mail..


MTF...P2