[Peetwo]

Hot off the Yaffa today??

First there was a 'passing strange' message, almost plea from Dougy in his weekly wrap... :

Here’s a message from CASA chief Mark Skidmore:


“The need for CASA to engage more effectively with the aviation community has been one of my top priorities from the day I took over as Director of Aviation Safety.  A key part of effective engagement is maintaining a meaningful, collaborative and mutually respectful relationship with everyone who makes up the aviation community.  To achieve this CASA must ensure we have open conversations with the people and organisations we regulate, providing the information needed to explain what we are doing and why…
  
“This fresh approach is already paying dividends as I see a change in attitude by many CASA staff towards the organisations and people we regulate.  I promise to continue to work hard to firmly entrench this approach across CASA through strong and effective leadership, staff education, training and support.”

Now I’m not in a position to judge how accurate this is in relation to CASA personnel out there on the front line, but I can acknowledge that the DAS himself is certainly engaging with industry in a big way. He may have been slow to start the process but he’s certainly out there now - and looking decidedly comfortable doing it.

Over the last few weeks he has attended Safeskies, the AAA Conference, the Qantas Safety Day and the RAAA Convention (and possibly more). But the notable thing has been that he hasn’t just dropped in for an hour or two, he’s stayed for the duration, participating fully and making himself available to one and all. 

Yes, for real change to take effect CASA as a whole has to deliver according tot the message above; but it’s got to be encouraging to see the DAS out there walking the talk.

 

Next Hitch on today's communique from TAAAF:

The Australian Aviation Associations Forum (TAAAF) is a collective of aviation bodies working together to present industry views to Canberra under the guidance of chair Greg Russell. (composite image Steve Hitchen)


TAAAF Communique urges Reform Speed from CASA
29 Oct 2015

The Australian Aviation Associations Forum (TAAAF) has expressed concern at what they say is the slow pace of reform at CASA and costs imposed by new regulations.

TAAAF members highlighted their issues in a communique to industry released today.

"Recently introduced CASA regulations are threatening the viability of industry and especially general aviation operations, with millions of dollars required to be invested for no commensurate safety gains," the communique stated.

Although supporting CASA Director Mark Skidmore's directive on developing risk-based regulation, TAAAF members said they believed the directive would become effective only after cultural change happened at CASA, and called for immediate actions on legacy regulation now coming into force.

Specifically, TAAAF called for:

• CAO 48.1 on flight and duty times to be withdrawn due to lack of hard supporting evidence
  
• An industry task force to propose urgent amendments and exemptions from CASRs 61, 141 and 142
  
• Manufacturing regulations to be brought in line with the US FAR system
  
• New maintenance training regulations to be reviewed in order to repair the damage to industry caused by the loss of three TAFE training colleges.
  
  

"While there is some good work being undertaken by CASA, it is being hindered by the massive problems caused by legacy regulations only now coming into force.

"TAAAF believes that now is the time for definitive action before the new regulations cause irreparable long-term damage and the loss of jobs and businesses."

Kind of gets undone a little by the pic of Russell..."Would you trust this man??" 
MTF...P2