Ken Cannane, Executive Director of the Aviation Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Business Association (AMROBA), has recommended CASA adopt the new European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) maintenance rules.
EASA laid down new Part 66/147 rules in August, and Cannane believes Australia would benefit from copying the new regulations.
"EASA has just promulgated its latest revision to Part 66/147 and it is now more compatible to our industry," Cannane said in an AMROBA communique on Monday.
"When CASA partially adapted the EASA parts 66/147 over a decade ago, its impact has been well documented. The CASR Part 66 Review recognised that it was a major concern to the MRO industry.
"[EASA Part 66] is workable in Australia and needs to be adopted now so the Aerospace IRC can develop appropriate training packages for each licence. It has created a B2 light and split some of the modules to support a GA B3 and 'L' licences. New B3 and 'L' AME licences will work in Australia.
"For those old enough to remember the AME licencing system pre CASA Canberra HO days, they will recognise what was covered under licence ratings and airworthiness authorities.
"AMROBA has recommended that this revision of the EASA Parts 66/147 be adopted as part of the CASR Part 66 review."
CASR Part 66 was scheduled to be implemented in July 2016, but was postponed due to unresolved issues and unintended consequences of the rules surrounding small aircraft maintenance engineers.
A post-implementation review revealed the industry thought the new CASR was too complex, confusing and simply didn't work, with many calling for a return to the older CAR 31 rules.
In July this year, CASA agreed to draft maintenance rules specifically for general aviation, a path that has drawn applause from the GA community at large.
"AMROBA supports CASA's direction in the engineering fields," Cannane said this week.
"We just need it to come to fruition for the benefit of the industry overall."