CASA has appointed Group Executive Manager Aviation Graeme Crawford to the position of Acting Director of Aviation Safety (DAS) and CEO until the position can be filled permanently.
Former CEO Shane Carmody left CASA at the end of last year after electing not to renew his contract. The CASA board had not selected a successor before his departure.
"In 2021 Crawford will maintain the focus on the transition of the sectors within the aviation industry to the new flight operations regulations, CASA’s continued organisational transformation, the on-going effective consultation with the Aviation Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) and their Technical Work Groups (TWG) and the evolution of CASA’s culture to become more inclusive," a CASA statement says.
Crawford started his aviation career at Rolls-Royce in Scotland in 1979, and has since held management positions with Qantas, Pratt & Whitney, Goodrich Aerospace, Air Canada and General Electric. Prior to immigrating to Australia in 2007, he ran commercial aviation operations in Norway, USA, Canada and Scotland.
Crawford is thought to be one of only two people left on the short list to replace Shane Carmody, with some industry commentators believing his appointment as Acting DAS puts him in the box seat to take on the role permanently.