[Peetwo]

Mandarin Atkinson releases SSP and white washes Industry input? - 

Via the Airports thread:

Second the City of Kingston call for a proper inquiry into Federally leased Airports - 

Finally in reference to the recently released "Aviation State Safety Programme (SSP)
and National Aviation Safety Plan (NASP) consultation – Stakeholder issues and responses" document, I note the following AAA concern:

(NASP) a key airport-related issue is mitigation of risk to air safety through inappropriate development around airports. Government should strengthen linkages between National Airports Safeguarding Advisory Group (NASAG) and aviation safety bodies, and improve links from NASAG and National Airports Safeguarding Framework (NASF) into state and territory planning systems to control inappropriate development around airports.

And the Dept/CASA (Dr Aleck) typical weasel worded response:

Noted, no change to NASP required. Government aviation agencies will continue to use NASAG and NASF to promote safety risk mitigations in land use planning around airports. While the Australian Government can continue to encourage uptake, State and Territory Governments decide the extent to which and how specific elements of NASF are adopted in their respective planning controls and legislation.

There are also individual airport committees that can be used to address local safety issues including airport, Government agency and industry representatives. Any serious safety issues can also be raised with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority in terms of compliance with the relevant airport regulations.

 
That's my second...

Read it and weep...

Which brings me to the totally unannounced, zero fan-fair release by Dept Secretary Atkinson of the tick-a-box ICAO Annex 19 SSP: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/...signed.pdf

AUSTRALIA’S STATE SAFETY POLICY STATEMENT

Australia’s aviation safety system plays a vital role in ensuring that we have a safe, efficient and competitive aviation industry. Australia will continue to seek closer alignment with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices and adopt international best practices in its aviation safety system.

The Australian Government has endorsed the following safety principles that underpin the future aviation safety system.

1. Safety is the primary consideration of Australia’s aviation agencies and industry in the performance of their functions.
2. The highest safety priority should be afforded to passenger transport operations.
3. Australia’s regulatory approach and responses are based on sector-based risk assessments.
4. Aviation agencies and industry collaborate to identify aviation safety risks and ensure that the most appropriate methods, practices and technologies are adopted to address and reduce these risks.
5. A strong ‘just culture’ approach underpins information sharing between industry and safety agencies to assist in preventing future safety events.
6. Recognition that Australia’s safety regulatory system plays an important role in ensuring that Australia has a safe, efficient and competitive aviation industry.
7. Australia’s aviation regulatory procedures, processes and approach to regulation is fair, transparent and promotes nationally consistent outcomes.
8. Active and ongoing engagement by industry and safety agencies will help inform future regulatory priorities and the development of simpler regulations, standards and orders.
9.The safety performance of our aviation safety system will be continuously monitored and measured through the State’s aggregate safely performance indicators as well as service providers safety performance indicators.
10. Sufficient financial and human resources for safety management and oversight will be allocated; and staff will be equipped with the proper skills, knowledge and expertise to discharge their safety oversight and management responsibilities competently.

Simon Atkinson
Secretary
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications

Hmm...why is the Dept Mandarin signing off on this bollocks document? Isn't that the responsibility of the oversighting Crown Minister?

Here is the Foreword from the 2016 SSP:

Foreword

Aviation is an essential part of Australia’s economy and community.

Australia has an enviable record in aviation safety, among the best in the world, which has been
built on a strong safety governance system, forged over many years.

Australia was a signatory to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) in
1944, and has been a member of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) since its
establishment.

From the beginning Australia has been an active participant in, and a strong supporter of ICAO’s
activities. The availability of safe, regular and efficient air services within Australia and between
Australia and the rest of the world is critical to our national interest.

Australia was one of the first countries in the world to have a State Safety Programme (SSP)
consistent with ICAO requirements and has worked hard to develop one of the most respected
aviation safety systems globally.

However even a mature safety system must look for continuous improvements to ensure the
system reflects growing diversity within the aviation industry which increasingly sees new types of
aircraft and operations emerging.

Australia’s SSP plays an important part in identifying, monitoring and maintaining the effectiveness
of the various elements of our safety performance.

The SSP sets out our key safety principles that will continue to underpin our future aviation safety
system as well as establishing short, medium and long term safety objectives. This approach is
consistent with that established by ICAO’s Global Aviation Safety Plan.

Australia’s aviation agencies and the aviation industry have significant roles to play in delivering
quality safety outcomes.

Australia’s SSP recognises it is important for everyone in aviation to work closely and cooperatively
to identify safety risks and ensure that the most appropriate practices and technologies are
adopted to address and reduce these risks.

It is essential Australia remains flexible and adaptable in responding to the challenges created by
rapidly changing domestic and international aviation markets, and our aviation safety system will
continue to play an integral part in meeting these challenges.

Darren Chester
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
May 2016

Hmm...I wonder if the Mandarin gave Barnaby a 'heads up' that he was going to release the SSP, while effectively (with a few exceptions) giving industry consultation on the SSP the Royal Bird - 



MTF...P2