The Australian Aviation Associations Forum (TAAAF) has expressed concern at what they say is the slow pace of reform at CASA and costs imposed by new regulations.
TAAAF members highlighted their issues in a communique to industry released today.
"Recently introduced CASA regulations are threatening the viability of industry and especially general aviation operations, with millions of dollars required to be invested for no commensurate safety gains," the communique stated.
Although supporting CASA Director Mark Skidmore's directive on developing risk-based regulation, TAAAF members said they believed the directive would become effective only after cultural change happened at CASA, and called for immediate actions on legacy regulation now coming into force.
Specifically, TAAAF called for:
- CAO 48.1 on flight and duty times to be withdrawn due to lack of hard supporting evidence
- An industry task force to propose urgent amendments and exemptions from CASRs 61, 141 and 142
- Manufacturing regulations to be brought in line with the US FAR system
- New maintenance training regulations to be reviewed in order to repair the damage to industry caused by the loss of three TAFE training colleges.
"While there is some good work being undertaken by CASA, it is being hindered by the massive problems caused by legacy regulations only now coming into force.
"TAAAF believes that now is the time for definitive action before the new regulations cause irreparable long-term damage and the loss of jobs and businesses."
CASA Responds
CASA later issued the following response to the TAAAF communique.
"As TAAAF members would be aware CASA is currently actively consulting the aviation community on a range of issues including proposed new aerial work regulations, proposed new operating rules, the best ways to implement future regulations and the development of Flight Plan 2030. Extensive consultation with the aviation community on a range of key issues will continue. CASA welcomes feedback from all sectors of the aviation community and will look carefully at all constructive suggestions.
"Earlier this year the Director of Aviation Safety wrote to all pilots asking for feedback on the new licensing suite of regulations, with more than 100 people responding. CASA has been working methodically through the issues raised and has been addressing unintended consequences. Changes have been made to address specific issues such as firefighting operations.
"Because the ATPL flight test is a new requirement, CASA Flight Training Examiners are available to facilitate the conduct of these tests while industry delegates transition to gaining the required privileges and the tests are built in to industry training and checking programs.
"Also, a special CASA forum is being held in November for aviation organisations developing or planning to develop a fatigue risk management system. The aim of the forum is to ensure there is a mutual understanding between CASA and aviation organisations of the requirements and expected outcomes of a fatigue risk management system.
"CASA is committed to listening to the legitimate concerns of the aviation community and we will look carefully at the suggestions being made by the TAAAF."