[Peetwo]

LMH, yet again, catching up -   

Via OzF: http://www.australianflying.com.au/lates...am-at-casa

---

 

 

Minister appoints New Leadership Team at CASA

26 April 2021
Comments 0 Comments

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack announced a new leadership team for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority on Saturday.

Experienced government administrator Pip Spence will take on the role of CASA CEO and Director of Aviation Safety (DAS), whilst Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin AC (Retd) will join the board as Chair from August.

“These appointments are a critical part of shaping the make-up of the CASA Board and the culture of the organisation more broadly,” McCormack said.

“The depth and breadth of experience that Ms Spence and Air Chief Marshal Binskin bring to bear show the Government is serious about ensuring CASA performs its critical role effectively.

“Their combined skills and experience will be essential for leading this critical regulator in keeping Australians safe while flying, as well as supporting an efficient, effective and reliable aviation industry – which is economically crucial for communities right across the nation."

Spence held the role of Deputy Secretary at Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development, with responsibilities that included aviation and airports, transport policy and portfolio research. Previously, Spence worked for the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, was closely involved with the NBN roll-out and served as aviation advisor to the Minister for Transport.

ACM Binksin served as Chief of the Air Force from 2008-11, then as Chief of Defence Force from 2014-2018, after which he retired from the RAAF.

Binksin began his defence career in the Royal Australian Navy as a Skyhawk pilot and was qualified on Mirages via an exchange with the air force. After the Navy disbanded its fixed-wing capability, he transferred to the RAAF full time, later serving as CO 77 SQN at Williamtown and Air Commander Australia. Binskin also held senior command positions during operations in Iraq.

Binskin is a member of the Temora Historic Flight Club and owns an O-1 Birddog and an amateur-built F-1 Rocket.

Spence is expected to assume her new role as CASA DAS in the coming weeks and Binskin will take over as Chair in August when the term of current Chair Tony Mathews expires.

---

And Sandy's (yet to be moderated) comment in reply...

I’m sure its normal and polite to wish both new incumbents well in their new positions and on a personal level we will wish them well. 


Is there any hope of reform?

Unfortunately the General Aviation (GA) survivors of the CASASTROPHE have not one scintilla of evidence that the trajectory of CASA will change. We can hope that behind the scenes the Government and Minister McCormack have decided on reform but this is unlikely because had there been any willingness to listen to the GA industry we would have already seen at least some steps in the right direction.

A failed model of governance. 

The experiment of creating an independent Commonwealth corporate body (1988), which, unlike a Department, can be sued, has failed with disastrous consequences for GA, resulting in the loss of hundreds of flying schools and charter operators and aircraft maintenance businesses. Removing the administration of aviation from a Minister’s Department and creating what in effect is a monopoly provider of a host of new permissions, for which extortionate fees must be paid, inevitably has meant that CASA works for itself, pushing up salaries to the point where the upper echelon earns more than the Minister.

Apart from the Act, which has the extraordinary exhortation that safety has primacy (so all flying should stop?) CASA has no other particular direction other than the occasional ‘Statement of Expectations.’ These are written by or with advice from CASA. One essential element of the Westminster system is ministerial accountability for the administration of the portfolio, this concept has been virtually discarded with nothing put in it’s place. 

What reforms are imperative?

The Act must be changed to disband CASA and put the administration back into a Department, creating a Civil Aviation Agency. 
In the mean time some urgent actions should be implemented. Personnel changes at the top and an apology and compensation to Glen Buckley would be heading the list. Followed by advice to Government that a moratorium be placed on any further alienation of irreplaceable Commonwealth airport property. 

Independent instructors as in the USA, delete the Cessna special maintenance instructions (SIDS), allow private Pilot medical standards to car driver standard (similar to the USA and our own successful history in the low weight aircraft category). 

Recommend reform regarding holding the Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC, controlled by Home Affairs). 

Until and unless there are immediate reforms to at least some of the glaring problems and mistakes of CASA then it will soon be plain that hope will be misplaced as it has been many times in the past. Only by Parliament discharging it’s duty by recognising it’s responsibility and realising that here is a great opportunity for growth of jobs, businesses and services will we see real progress...

MTF...P2