[Peetwo]

AQON 181 - Don't mention ICAO??

Ref Mount NCN thread:

QON answered - QON unanswered?? -   

Via RRAT Estimates page: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Bus...mates/rrat

IMO the bigger QON here is why QON 181 remains unanswered and is now overdue? 

1. In response to Committee Question Number 112, Airservices Australia said that it is regulated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). a. As its regulator, has Airservices informed CASA about (i) any internally raised safety concerns with regards to ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) safety standards not having been applied correctly to the Brisbane airspace design, and; (ii) any Airservices' internal investigation into such safety concerns employing their in-house operational integrity and standards specialists? What has Airservices reported to CASA? b. As the regulatory authority overseeing Airservices, what has been CASA's response? c. In response to Committee Question Number 101, Airservices confirmed that, "Airservices did not engage another air navigation service provider to review the closed STAR option [at Brisbane Airport]." And further in response to Committee Question Number 105, Airservices stated, "No consultants were used by Airservices Australia in the Flight Path Design work for the parallel runway airspace [at Brisbane Airport]." - Considering the common practice by Airservices to engage external and independent "air navigation service providers on parallel runway systems and parallel runway operations from a number of countries including the Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom, France, United States of America and Canada" (Airservices' answer to Committee Question Number 103), why was Brisbane's airspace designed without independent review from external experts when others have been? As the regulatory body overseeing Airservices, why did CASA not insist on Airservices engaging external and independent peer reviewers considering the calibre and scale of this project and its long-term impact on Australia's third largest city? d. Did CASA conduct any of its own reviews of Airservices' design for Brisbane's airspace before it was finalised and launched? And if so, were any issues or flaws identified - either with regards to ICAO safety standards, or with regards to the stark imbalance between maximising capacity whilst minimising noise abatement outcomes for local communities?  

Finally, some 3 months overdue, AQON 181??

Answer:
a (i) No safety concerns have been raised.
(ii) As no safety concerns have been raised, no reports to CASA were required.
b. Not applicable.
c. CASA assesses an airspace proposal in accordance with the Airspace Act 2007 and is not required to
recommend an independent review, nor considered it necessary.
d. CASA was regularly engaged during the airspace design process to ensure the outcome was fit for purpose, safe and compliant with airspace regulations. CASA was satisfied with the aviation safety aspects of the proposed change. CASA was not involved in approvals or conditions related to flight path noise. Airservices Australia is responsible for considering noise outcomes from flight path designs

"..The ONLY reason the Commonwealth is able to regulate aviation is because Parliament DOES have a 'Treaty Power'. The Chicago Convention 1944 is effectively a 'Treaty' so the Federal Government uses it's 'foreign affairs power' as the front from which it is able to make laws to give effect to the Articles of the Convention..."

Now refer back to this post: Mount NCN shrinking but Airports still loom as biggest risk??

"..with regards to ICAO safety standards" - So were the ICAO standards (again) O&O'd and simply not considered? 

MTF...P2