Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King last week issued CASA with a new Statement of Expectations (SoE).
The SoE will ensure CASA understands what the minister expects of them for the next two years. They are legislative documents that the regulator must abide by.
"From licensing pilots and registering aircraft, to overseeing aviation safety and awareness, CASA help ensure we share the skies safely – whether for travel, freight or recreation," Minister King said.
"Ensuring aviation safety remains the highest priority is strongly reflected in the new statement, which also outlines expectations surrounding transparency, engaging stakeholders and communities, and supporting the delivery of 18 important initiatives."
The 18 initiatives laid out in the SoE are:
- release public exposure drafts of regulations before submitting them to the minister for signing
- present a forward regulatory program each year
- consider the impact of regulation on the aviation community and regions
- work with Airservices and Defence to develop OneSKY
- support the new flight information system for uncrewed aerial vehicles
- provide oversight for major aerodrome projects
- provide sufficient resources to Western Sydney Airport, noting the opening target of late 2026
- work with the department and Airservices on modernising airspace management
- work with Geoscience Australia and Airservices on implementing SBAS
- work with the Australian Space Agency to advance space policy and industries
- work with government agencies on long-term funding models, whilst minimising regulatory cost
- work with the department on mutual recognition of Australian designs, innovation and certification internationally, and the automatic recognition of licences and approvals
- identify ways to promote flight instruction in regions and as an export industry
- support the department in preparing the Federal Government's Aviation White Paper
- allocate sufficient resources to the Industry Complaints Commissioner and consider all findings and recommendations
- conduct regular surveillance activities as defined in the Civil Aviation Act.
"These aviation safety-bolstering initiatives include measures to modernise airspace management, implement satellite-based augmentation systems in the aviation environment, share safety information, and advance Australia’s space policies and industries," Minister King said.
The SoE also requires CASA to exercise good corporate governance and to collaborate and consult with the aviation community, the department and other agencies such as the ATSB.
The full 2023 Statement of Expectations can be downloaded from the Federal Register of Legislation.