[Peetwo]

CASA & ASA Estimates sessions - It's all about the SOE??

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Hansard out:  PDF or HERE

Senator PATRICK: I might go to a small issue first and then move to a slightly bigger issue. At one stage I happened to be in Arkaroola, in the middle of the sticks in South Australia, and I bumped into a pilot who suggested that CASA were considering changing the regulations in relation to SAR aircraft. Basically, in South Australia the SAR aircraft that do a lot of stuff around Adelaide are single engine. The proposed rule change was to be that those single engine aircraft could fly with crew, but the moment they got a passenger on board they would be outside of a requirement, which was then to have two engines. I want to explore whether or not that is actually being considered by CASA?

Ms Spence : At that level of detail, I'm not too sure whether Mr Monahan has any background on that in relation to our new flight operations regulations, and whether it's related to that or not. Otherwise we can take it on notice.

Mr Monahan : If I understand your question, it's around search and rescue helicopters. I would perhaps need some more detail. There is a question of the dwell time you have in the area where you're hovering, your inability to recover if there's an engine failure or have enough power to recover the aircraft. It would depend on the circumstances and the aircraft itself. With more detail I could provide more.

Senator PATRICK: The aircraft that I've seen look like an Iroquois style aircraft—single engine, red and white, and fly regularly out of the RRA.

Mr Monahan : I'd be happy to look into it. I don't know the specifications of the aircraft or the loading.

Senator PATRICK: If you could take that on notice in the context of South Australian aircraft. They have clearly been operating safely for some period of time. If you are going to change a regulation that in some way would require them to upgrade to a twin-engine aircraft, that is a costly proposition. I'd like to know the rationale behind the change and how you have come to the conclusion that operations that have been occurring quite safely are no longer safe. I only know that in the context of South Australia. I think most SAR aircraft, Westpac and so forth, are all twin-engine.

IMO the part in bold from former US Military Spook Monahan provides an excellent example of how entrenched the Iron Ring attitude is towards industry concerns of draconic, excessive, criminal code  regulations ie. they don't give a rat's arse...

Another comment from KC...   "Monahan out of his depth.."

Ms Spence : It's a really good question. I was actually in the department, as the relevant deputy secretary, when that piece of legislation went through, so I'm well aware of the changes. Essentially, we now require anyone who is taking forward a standard, as required in the legislation, to demonstrate how they've taken into account cost impacts and ensuring risk proportionality, which is what's required in the legislation. I could bore you with templates, but basically we do have arrangements to make sure that everyone does take those factors into account.

Senator PATRICK: In some sense, the low-level question I've asked might be a test of how you're approaching these sorts of things—

Ms Spence : Although, Senator, the flight operations regulations would have been made prior to that amendment to the legislation, but it's a good test to make sure that we're taking actions that relate to safety but not having a disproportionate impact on the industry.

Senator PATRICK: Sure. The general view of many members of the committee— I know Senator Sterle shares this view—is that pilots are now so focused on meeting CASA requirements that they are not focusing on flying. They just about need to double the size of the aircraft in order to carry all the documentation. That is an exaggeration—

CHAIR: Not a small one!

Senator PATRICK: but, it goes to Airservices Australia's annual report that says there's been an eight per cent decrease in general aviation over the last financial year. Indeed, I know Senator McDonald, the chair, has great concerns in this area, because we thought it was as low as it could go.

Ms Spence : We take the concerns very seriously. I've spoken to quite a few representatives from the GA sector since I started, and we are looking at what is within our regulations so that we can provide some support or relief for the GA sector. There are already some activities underway which will go some way to providing some relief for the GA sector.

Senator PATRICK: Where are we at with Angel Flight Australia?

Ms Spence : The instrument has got an expiry date of March next year, I think. We're currently working through what the appropriate options would be. Whichever way we go, if it's a renew, the instrument would certainly be making sure we do that in consultation more broadly but also by talking to Angel Flight and, obviously, Little Wings as well.

Senator PATRICK: Alright. So it's a case of watch this space.

"..I could bore you with templates, but basically we do have arrangements to make sure that everyone does take those factors into account..." - Yes please, bore me with templates - could we have those templates tabled please...

MTF...P2