[Peetwo]

Oversight of CASA: Ironsider catching up on the Oz - 

Via the Weekend Oz:

CASA ‘forcing pilots’ to group
ROBYN IRONSIDE

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has been accused of creat­ing a monopoly by forcing pilots who want to avoid rigorous medical tests to keep their licence­, to join a privately run organisa­tion.

Under the current aviation safety rules, only members of Recreational Aviation Australia can self-certify — or declare themselves fit to fly.

That level of certification carries­ a range of restrictions ­including the weight of the aircraft, number of passengers, and when and where they can fly.

In the case of CASA-regul­ated pilots, medical tests must be passed in order to maintain a licenc­e that allows them to carry more than one passenger and operate in controlled airspace, and at night.

The Aircraft Owners and ­Pilots Association is opposed to RAAus members being permitted to self-certify while other privat­e licence holders have to pay for a doctor’s certificate and any tests required.

Managing director Benjamin Morgan said it was almost a ­“corrupt” system where pilots were forced to join a private organisatio­n for a lower medical standard.

A Senate estimates hearing examined the situation this week, with co-chairman Glenn Sterle clashing with CASA offic­ials over the certification stand­ard.

“You’ve got old farmer Barry who’s got his plane, and if he gets to the stage where his medical testing gets too tough, why can’t CASA say you can self-certify but you won’t be able to fly at night (and so on)?” questioned Senator Sterle.

“Why does he have to go and join RAAus? You’re creating a monopoly, that’s what I can see.”

But CASA executive Graeme Crawford said there was nothing to say a third player could not come into the market.

“Essentially AOPA could duplicate what RAAus does,” Mr Crawford said, adding that they would need approval.

CASA chief executive Shane Carmody said the current ­system helped meet the different needs of pilots across Australia.

“If you’re a general aviation pilot in the northwest of Aust­ralia and you’ve got a station up there, basically it would be in your interest to leave the GA ­sector and move to RAAus,” Mr Carmody said.

“There’s a financial advantage.”

The cost of RAAus membership starts at $215 for three months, plus a $22 joining fee.

Two-year memberships are available for $460.

CASA also came under fire for the methodology used in a ­recent stakeholder survey which found satisfaction levels within the aviation industry had improve­d.

AOPA has accused CASA of cherrypicking survey respondents to avoid those sectors that had clashed with the regulator.

Under relentless questioning from Senate committee co-chairman Barry O’Sullivan, it was revealed that survey forms went to 11,000 people from CASA’s database of 50,000. Of those, 1168 forms were ­returned.

And a comment from Sandy...

Robyn, thank you for prising open the lid just a bit more. The Hansard video of these Senate Committee proceedings reveal the regulator CASA as arrogant, obfuscating and downright incapable of telling the truth. Senator Sterle was quite correct in stating that he was being led down the garden path. 

“If you’re a general aviation pilot in the northwest of Aust­ralia and you’ve got a station up there, basically it would be in your interest to leave the GA sector and move to RAAus,” Mr Carmody said. 
Really? Sell your comfortable 4/6 seat, a range and carrying capacity capable aircraft, fully certified, expensively maintained, a functional Cessna, Piper or Beechcraft that you’ve been flying for years for a tiny uncertified two seater. Lucky if you can squeeze in, certainly can’t carry parts, food and other necessities let alone tools or an esky like your old plane. An ultralight that attempts to make do with a government mandated maximum takeoff weight of only 600kg, after the engine, accessories, 2 crew and very short range fuel you are left with about 260 kg for the airframe. Like a leaf in the wind. Mr. Carmody hasn’t got a clue, and we pay him about $600,000 per annum. 

At $200 million pa CASA is being exposed as a purely self serving entity, it is causing the death of General Aviation, death by a thousand regulatory cuts. Divide and conquer, induce thousands of pesky private pilots into the low weight category.  Loss of hundreds of flying schools, charter operators and maintenance businesses due to ever increasing bureaucratic costs, fees for unnecessary permissions, masses of unworkable rules migrated inappropriately to the criminal code, strict liability, rule by fear The 30 year experiment of the independent regulator has failed, hence the losses and astonishing lack of Australian airline pilots, where we used to excel and provide the best... 

 - MTF...P2