[P7_TOM]

Well, it’s been a ‘Bugger me’ week all around.  Thought the Gobbledock might enjoy this one: posted without comment.

Link

Media Contact:

Greg Russell                Chair         E: grerussell@yahoo.com      PH :  0427 707 733

The Australian Aviation Associations Forum (TAAAF) has announced that a new Honorary Chair of the 
Forum has been appointed. Mr Greg Russell was unanimously endorsed by Forum members and brings a  strong background in management, aviation services and knowledge of the agencies involved in the regulation of aviation in Australia.

The Forum moved a vote of thanks and deep gratitude to the inaugural Chairman of the Forum, Mr Chris Manning, for the guidance and wise counsel he provided to the Forum members since 2008.

The Forum, meeting in Canberra, also met with the new Chair of CASA Mr Jeff Boyd and the Director of Air Safety Mr Mark Skidmore to discuss current aviation safety and regulatory issues.

The Forum strongly supported the new direction of CASA and especially the new focus from the Board 
and the DAS on risk management and cost impacts of regulation in accordance with the Government’s 
red tape reduction principles.

The Forum encouraged the CASA executive to continue its drive towards improved industry 
consultation and cooperation and offered whatever assistance and support CASA needed to make this clearly difficult cultural transition.

However, the time for action has arrived and the Forum highlighted a range of areas
in desperate need of urgent decisions that would create win-win scenarios for industry and safety, 
including:

    Deferral of the implementation date for CAO 48.1 – Flight and Duty Times

    Addressing the significant new costs being imposed by new Parts 141/142 – Flight Training Organisations

    Simplifying Part 61 – Pilot Licencing transition requirements, including for firefighting 
pilots for the coming fire season

    Simplifying requirements for maintenance of small aircraft and repairing the damage to 
Australia’s aviation maintenance training capability

    Remove high cost requirements such as the need for CASA to access aircraft types already approved by overseas agencies acceptable to CASA

In addition, the Forum decided to create a General Aviation Reform Agenda to support Government initiatives to stimulate this critical sector.

In addition, the Forum encouraged CASA executive to ensure the excellent principles identified by the Executive to be uniformly implemented across CASA at all levels.
AVIATION ASSOCIATIONS FORUM MEETING

TAAAF Communiqué  23 July 2015