The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) said today that it would introduce modular LAME licences based on exclusions after industry feedback to a discussion paper showed significant support for the concept.
Modular licencing would permit engineers to be licenced under CASR Part 66 without having to study a wide range of aircraft systems that may not be required for their intended careers.
It is thought that modular licences would get more engineers qualified to work on basic aircraft sooner, helping relieve ongoing engineer shortages in the industry.
Of the 60 submissions to the discussion paper (DP), 90% supported the idea either wholly or with some changes.
"Consistent with the feedback from industry and the [Technical Working Group], CASA will seek to expedite the delivery of the core beneficial outcomes of this proposal," CASA said today.
"To achieve this, CASA will develop a legislative proposal that will facilitate modular licensing outcomes using exclusions. This approach will also provide more flexible pathways in other cases, including Australian trainees, that cannot access certain systems to gain practical experience, as well as recognition of foreign licences and defence authorisations.
"In order to expedite these outcomes, the status quo will be maintained on some requirements, such as minimum experience requirements and propeller exclusions. These requirements will be considered in more detail in later phases of this initiative after the core outcomes are achieved."
Exclusions were designed to help engineers move between CAR 31 and Part 66 licences. They have the potential to be used to facilitate licensing, particularly in cases where an applicant can't achieve the necessary experience in particular systems, as is common in regional areas.
CASA also believes that exclusions may help with accepting foreign engineer qualifications.
One of the key criticisms of the original proposals was that not enough exclusions were proposed. The Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA) initially said the exclusions meant the proposal was "watered down".
"Seven respondents [to the DP] called for expanded use of the full range of exclusions, to maximise flexibility and licensing outcomes," CASA said. "In particular, reference was made to providing for a licence to be obtained without needing practical experience on systems that are not accessible or not applicable to a person's employment, such as air conditioning, pressurisation and retractable undercarriage.
"The proposal in the DP is framed around the use of exclusions, in the first instance, in order to expedite delivery of the intended benefits and outcomes.
"However, CASA acknowledges that some industry stakeholders do not agree with the use of exclusions in any context."
The full response to the feedback including public submissions is on the CASA Consultation Hub.