[Sandy Reith]

Sandy, I think you might be just a tad cynical. I expect very great things from DAS and the Board.

I hope your optimism is justified but, firstly we never hear from the Board on the declining state of General Aviation nor has the Board, to my knowledge, ever made any definitive and particular directions to the CASA CEO to correct this glaringly wrong situation. Why would a new Board change direction (or indeed does it have the power?) in light of three decades of nothing? Burning desire?

The new CEO is another question, I can’t bring myself to use that ridiculous title of ‘Director of Air Safety,’ after all there’s not been one CEO of CASA that’s had a clue about the practicalities of safe commercial flying which is far and away the most important consideration for the Australian public.

Ms. Spence, presumably @ $600,000+ p. a. has been in position since 17th of May but has not generated one reform that could halt the decline which would give some heart to GA or stem the loss of flying schools and maintenance facilities. In the same time CASA has done nothing to alleviate or stop AVMED from causing costly and unnecessary medical impositions on pilots. There is no safety case or basis in fact for maintaining AVMED’s excruciating strictures. CASA ignores the successful car driver standard that applies in the low weight category, and ignores the reforms of other countries. CASA has belatedly leaked (Steve Hitchen Aus. Flying “you heard it here first”) that it is considering a new, can you believe it, medical Class 5! Another Australian first! Is it because they couldn’t bring themselves, too embarrassing, to amend the existing Clayton’s Basic Class 2? We can only guess if the leak was approved by Ms. Spence or if it has substance at all.

But worst of all is the lack of action from Minister Joyce, unless and until he issues some detailed instructions, like independent instructors and medical reforms, we will not see the Board or the CEO make the big moves that are necessary. In other words the structure of an independent corporate like CASA cannot work without Ministerial direction, without reverting to the Westminster system, we can’t expect real and lasting reform and the administration of aviation in a form fit for purpose.

Note that Senator McDonald’s time wasting two year (!) inquiry has put off it’s conclusions until March 2022. It might just as easily reviewed the 2014 Forsyth report and concluded in a few short days that those government approved recommendations had not been implemented.
Note that the reform rumours via CASA have timelines about then too.
Note that the federal election is being touted for around that time. Join the dots.

I took a deputation to Minister Truss in 2006 with view to stemming the bureaucratic taxing and regulatory overkill of GA.
The current state of affairs is far worse today. I’m sorry to say there may be announcements but nothing real this side of next year. Christmas will come and go, Can’tberrans will go to the beach for as long as possible, and then election frenzy will block any thought of reform. CASA will heave a sigh of relief, kicking the can further down the drain. Ring write email MPs and State Senators and the media, this might help.