CASA Director of Aviation Safety Mark Skidmore has issued his staff with a directive demanding new regulations be risk-based and cost-effective.
The directive is dated 29 May and was made public earlier this month.
"Aviation safety regulations must be shown to be necessary. They are to be developed with a view to addressing known or likely safety risks that cannot be addressed effectively by non-regulatory means alone," the directive states.
"Consistent with CASA’s obligations under the Civil Aviation Act and other Commonwealth laws and Government policies, every proposed regulation must be assessed against the contribution it will make to aviation safety, having particular regard to the safety of passengers and other persons affected or likely to be affected by the activity involved.
"If a regulation can be justified on safety-risk grounds, it must be made in a form that provides for the most efficient allocation of industry and CASA resources. Regulations must not impose unnecessary costs or unnecessarily hinder levels of participation in aviation and its capacity for growth."
The directive also demands that CASA staff:
- Align safety regulations with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards
- Consult with industry in an open and transparent manner
- Strive to ensure regulations are drafted as clearly and concisely as possible
When it comes to applying the regulations, Skidmore makes it clear that he wants CASA people to take into account all relevant factors including burdens when it comes to exercising discretionary powers, and that CASA will adopt an alternative means of compliance where a person can demonstrate that the same outcome can be achieved in a less onerous way.
The full directive is on the CASA website.