[Peetwo]

This is more like it unlike the happy, clappy, bulldust CASA propaganda piece by the other Steve (above), Hitch at least has taken the time to get in touch with a significant industry group in the RAAA for a bit of real feedback.. :

Aviation House: CASA's headquarters in the Canberra suburb of Woden. (Bidgee)

CASA and Industry at Odds over Feedback[url=http://www.australianflying.com.au/news/casa-and-industry-at-odds-over-feedback][/url]
22 May 2015

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has said it is happy with positive nature of aviation community feedback relating to the new CASR Part 61 regulations, but the industry is crying "enough".

Feedback was called for in a letter sent out to all pilots by Director of Aviation Safety Mark Skidmore in April.

"There has been a really positive response to the letter from CASA on the new licensing regulations with 76 feedback e-mails or letters received to date," a CASA spokesperson said.

"We are happy that the responses have been constructive, even though it is fair to say a small number of people have expressed a desire for no changes to the regulations.

"The area attracting most comment is air transport pilot licences – with ten responses. Various issues have been raised including the effect of the regulations on costs, multi crew training and the effect on people part way through working towards an ATPL.

"The next issue attracting most comment is the format of licences with a number of people wanting credit card style licences. Other issues raised include flight reviews, delays in getting a new licence and type ratings.

"CASA is responding to everyone who submits feedback and we are now analysing the issues raised and looking at what may need to be done next."

However, some parts of the aviation community have expressed dismay that CASA is calling for more feedback, saying that now is the time for action, not more consultation.

"CASA has had plenty of feedback, but I think the new DAS may always want more," says Paul Tyrrell, CEO of the Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA).

"The RAAA is happy to provide [feedback] but there is plenty of low hanging fruit that we want to see action on now. Part 61 received over 70 change recommendations directly from industry in December 2014.

"There must be no more delay on the implementation of the ASRR agreed recommendations.
"The RAAA sees action as CASA’s first priority. The feedback is already there in spades. It is good to see that the DAS and the new Board have begun to turn the ship around, but the momentum must be maintained."

Much of the push-back from the aviation industry is grounded in frustration over the time it has taken CASA to progress regulatory reform to this point, approximately 25 years. Many want to see an end to calls for industry input now and action taken to bring the reforms to completion, blaming a "jobs-for-the-boys" culture for much of the delay.

"You are probably well aware of the many new and under development regs that are still causing trouble, and that ‘reg reform’ has now been going for 25 years (some people have spent their whole careers in reg reform)," Tyrrell told Australian Flying.

"CASA staffing has increased considerably since 2009 with little or no safety benefit. In the meantime GA has been in steady decline.

"While CASA now has new DAS and Board leadership, the senior management levels need refreshing urgently.

"To be frank, it’s useless to have a happy sheltered workshop at CASA while GA (commercial and private), and GA manufacturing in particular, is in serious trouble."

  
Hoorah! And guess who used to be the Chair of the RAAA?- yep Jeff Boyd. And do you reckon Tyrell's opinion would be in anyway greatly different to Boyd's? Finally a sign of sanity in the chook house...

MTF...P2