Australia’s maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) industry is angry over proposed changes to the regulations that they say threatens the viability of their industry and some charter operators.
The focus of their ire is the proposed CASR Part 145 regulations that will require all passenger-carrying aircraft to be maintained to the same standards. This means a charter-category Piper Navajo would need to be maintained using the same safety management systems as a Qantas A380.
CASA’s GA Task Force and its boss Peter John were told at a meeting in Horsham, Vic, on 18 July that many MROs would not be able to conform to the new regulations, and would likely restrict themselves to working on private and airwork category aircraft under Part 66 than try to comply with Part 145.
Several issues with the impact of Part 145 were raised in Horsham, including:
- MROs don’t believe the consultation is real and the industry is fatigued with the barrage of regulations and notices of proposed rule making (NPRMs) that they need to deal with
- Part 145 is change for the sake of change and does not bring about an increase in safety
- More staff will be needed to comply, but there is already an industry shortage of qualified people and apprentice TAFE costs are rising
- Lack of feedback from MROs is a sign of industry fatigue over regulation changes, not approval of the NPRMs
- Charter category aircraft such as Cessna 402s and Piper Chieftains were not designed for RPT and can’t be operated like a B737, and so shouldn’t be subject to the same safety management systems
- High-level regulation such as Part 145 is OK for Qantas, but at the charter/GA end it is overload and actually results in a decrease in safety
- Over-regulation has destroyed the soul and culture of General Aviation, meaning the respect for the rules has declined
CASA representatives pointed out to the Horsham gathering that the regulation is not intended to force smaller MROs out of the industry, and that they are trying to ensure there are no unintended consequences from the implementation of Part 145.