[Peetwo]

Submission 16 (Dr K & Dr Naweed) & 17 GFA - 

Via Twitter: https://twitter.com/K_Kourousis/status/1...8957789186

Our submission to the @Aust_Parliament
Inquiry on General Aviation with @DrAnjumNaweed
, on the basis of our recently published paper [https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/7/6/84], is now available at the Inquiry website (Submission #16): https://www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStore.ash...bId=685733

#aviation #airworthiness #safety

&/or via the APH website:

16 Appleton Institue, CQUniversity (PDF 84 KB)  Attachment 1 (PDF 2910 KB) 

Dear members of the committee,

We have recently completed an independent research study exploring the perspectives on
safety and regulation of aircraft maintenance technicians working in the Australian General
Aviation (GA) sector. In particular, this study, was focused on evaluating:

a. The changes in the role of the regulator and in regulation that have impacted the GA
sector and perceived to have diminished safe operations; and
b. Specific practical and operational challenges that the GA industry must deal with to
sustain safe operations going forward.

The methodology, results and findings of this research study have been published in:

Naweed, A.; Kourousis, K.I. Winging It: Key Issues and Perceptions around Regulation
and Practice of Aircraft Maintenance in Australian General Aviation. Aerospace 2020,
7, 84. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace7060084

We feel that this study is highly relevant to the scope and the terms of reference of the inquiry,
thus we formally submit this for the consideration of the committee.

Moreover, we would be more than happy to contribute further to the work on the committee
by offering independent assessment, analysis and evaluation on GA airworthiness practice and
regulation.

Sincerely,

Dr Anjum Naweed, BSc, MSc, PhD, CPE | Associate Professor in Human Factors, Central
Queensland University. Staff Profile: https://staff-profiles.cqu.edu.au/home/view/3160
Dr Kyriakos I. Kourousis, CEng, FRAeS | Senior Lecturer in Airworthiness, University
of Limerick. Staff Profile: https://www.ul.ie/research/dr-kyriakos-kourousis

---

Plus sub 17:

17 The Gliding Federation of Australia Inc (PDF 4034 KB) 
17.1 Supplementary to submission 17 (PDF 211 KB) 

Extract Sup submission:

Discussion


GFA’s misunderstanding of the status of the Act does not substantially change the
arguments and recommendations of the 8th July submission. The term “affordable safety”
does not appear in the Act, nor does any obligation to “foster aviation in Australia”, nor
“ensure the viability and sustainability of aviation whilst achieving both safety and economic
outcomes”.

GFA has not seen tangible evidence of any beneficial change in CASA focus, behaviour or

culture since the Act was amended. This increases the urgency of further changes,
including explicit directions to balance safety and economic impacts within a context of
both safe and economically viable aviation industry.

With respect to the Inquiry’s terms of reference, the legislation is still not fit for purpose,
does not balance safety and economic impacts, does not adequately assess relative risks,
does not balance immediate and long term social and economic impacts of CASA
decisions, does not foster the maintenance of an efficient and sustainable Australian
aviation industry including viable general aviation and training sectors, and does not foster
accessibility to regional aviation across Australia.

The total regulatory system remains cumbersome, impenetrable, legalistic, technocratic,
overly prescriptive, and costly to implement.

MTF...P2