[Peetwo]

KC has been busy - AMROBA's latest newsletter a week early:
　
Volume 13 Issue 5 May — 2016  

　
1. Making the CASA Board Responsible for Aviation.

At the Tamworth Aviation Rally on May 6, it was highlighted that the CASA Board does not have full responsibility for aviation safety, progress and harmonisation with global standards so industry can provide many jobs. Until the Board has the power, Ministers will be held responsible for the state of this industry.  

2. Adoption of the USA GA Aviation Regulatory System.

The Rally left no doubt in the minds of DPM Barnaby Joyce, Minister Darren Chester and CASA Chairman Jeff Boyd that the GA community wants the whole GA regulatory system repealed and replaced by the US GA aviation regulatory system. Industry unanimously made it known to the Ministers that CASA cannot provide a sensible regulatory system that encourages growth in GA.

3. Harmonisation with the USA Aviation System for GA.

CASA will argue that you cannot adopt the FARs into the CASRs but that is not what is required. Industry wants the FARs to be promulgated, with minimum change agreed with industry, as Civil Aviation Act Sec. 9(1)© AVIATION SAFETY STANDARDS. Regulations can come later to require the use of those standards. There is no excuse, after 20 years, not to comply with the Act.

4. Simplified Process to Finish Regulatory Reform in 2 years

The Morris Report changed the Civil Aviation Act in 1995, the Act provided a simplified process to deliver a rule of law three tier systems under the Civil Aviation Act. No Manual of Standards are required, they should all be repealed once the FARs are adopted as Aviation Safety Standards.

Number 1. is typical KC with a clear, unadulterated, common-sense message directly aimed at CASA Chairman Jeff Boyd:

1. Making the CASA Board Responsible for Aviation.

At the Tamworth Aviation Rally on May 6, it was highlighted that the CASA Board does not have full responsibility for aviation safety, progress and harmonisation with international standards so industry can provide jobs. Until the Board has the power, Ministers will be held responsible for the state of this industry.

Why would Ministers not empower the CASA Board to be fully responsible? It is so politically sensible that any smart politician will support an Act change to enable CASA’s Board to meet the conditions of the Corporation Act.

A properly constituted Board would take over the responsibilities of the Director of Safety and the DAS would become the CEO with responsibilities determined by the Board.

Therefore, the answer for the politicians is simple, shift the DAS responsibilities to the Board and retitle the DAS as CEO. The responsibilities of CASA’s CEO would then be set by the CASA’s board of directors.

If this is done, the Minister will hold the Board accountable and the Board would hold the CEO accountable. An industry benefit is that this Board is aware what needs to be done. Adoption of the USA GA aviation regulatory system, as Aviation Safety Standards, would be a Board determination, not individuals within CASA, some that have recently departed.

Department of Infrastructure definitions: General aviation commonly refers to that part of the aviation industry that engages in activity other than scheduled commercial airline activity. This may include charter operators, aeromedical operators, agricultural aviation businesses, aviation-based fire-fighting services, training and aerial work such as aerial photography and surveying. It also includes private, business, recreational and sports aviation activity and supporting businesses such as maintenance providers.

US GAMA Definition: General Aviation includes fixed-wing airplanes, helicopters (rotorcraft), balloons, dirigibles, and gliders. GA activities include the manufacture and operation of aircraft equipped with turbine engines (turbojet, turbofan, or turboprop) or piston engines, and of non-powered aircraft. GA includes flights related to business or corporate transportation of people or cargo, personal transportation (e.g., visiting family), air ambulance, flight training, and many purposes such as fire spotting and suppression and pipeline patrol. GA operations are not determined by the ownership of the aircraft; GA aircraft may be wholly-owned, jointly-owned, rented, chartered, or leased. GA operations are not defined by the airman certificate of the pilot operating the aircraft. The pilot of a GA aircraft may hold a student, private, commercial, or air transport pilot certificate, depending on the purpose of the flight and the number of pilots required to operate it by the manufacturer.

In other words, all operations but large air transport operators. US GAMA Quote: "General Aviation is an important element of economic growth in part because it fulfils transportation needs which cannot otherwise be met. Only about 350 U.S. communities have scheduled air service; for the remainder, GA is the only option for the movement of persons or cargo by air. Moreover, GA provides specialized air services, such as air ambulance and traffic patrol, to communities that do have scheduled air service."

Even a current or wannabe MP (well maybe with the exception of Darren Chester) should be able to grasp the simple message in the above text and see the political advantages of supporting amendments to the Act when they are put forward to the Parliament.
"..Why would Ministers not empower the CASA Board to be fully responsible? It is so politically sensible that any smart politician will support an Act change to enable CASA’s Board to meet the conditions of the Corporation Act.."
This would ultimately stop the 'rogue DAS' factor, which unfortunately seems to be continuing under the Skidmore regime. While we have individuals in the DAS position who believe they are law unto themselves the hope for proper cultural & regulatory reform at CASA will continue to be obfuscated till the GA industry is completely destroyed.

MTF...P2