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CASA Briefing Newsletter - November 2019


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CEO and Director of Aviation Safety Shane Carmody comments:

 

 

With 2019 rapidly drawing to a close it’s time to reflect on the achievements of the past 12 months and look ahead to the challenges of the near future. In a recent speech to the Regional Aviation Association of Australia I set out my current five priorities. They cover finalising the remaining civil aviation safety regulations, improving service delivery through digital enhancements, finalising the plain English guide to the new operating rules, the successful transition to new fatigue rules and remotely piloted aircraft systems.

 

Work on the three remaining civil aviation safety regulations - parachuting, sport and recreational aviation operations and balloons – is progressing well. Manuals of standards to support the package of operating regulations is also well advanced and will be completed next year. Longstanding concerns over the new fatigue rules have been addressed and there is now broad support for this approach. The new fatigue rules commenced on 2 September this year, with transition to be completed during 2020.

 

In addition we have a number of large initiatives underway to improve the way CASA does business. The first is known as service delivery transformation – best described as our big ‘client facing’ project. The intent is for you to get services from CASA much more quickly and simply than in the past. Significant improvements have already been made and we are working on others such as an on-line digital aircraft registration system and an electronic pilot licensing system. The second is our regulatory services and surveillance transformation initiative. This is our entry control and surveillance project which will see us improve the way we manage a wide range of tasks, utilising a more targeted and streamlined approach. A key outcome of this project will be greatly improved consistency in decision making. We will achieve this by creating one central area, which we are currently calling a guidance centre, through which all questions will come and from which all answers will flow. No longer will we have different interpretations from different inspectors or different regions.

 

A lot has been achieved during 2019 and with the initiatives we have in train there will be many more runs on the board during the year ahead. As always the goal is maintaining our strong aviation safety record and constantly focusing on the evolving nature of risk. Please read my speech to find out more about our priorities and current issues.

 

Best wishes

Shane Carmody

 

 

Updates

 

 

 

Service and surveillance improving

 

 

CASA is making important changes to the way it delivers regulatory services and surveillance functions for air operators, maintenance organisations, flight training organisations and other aviation organisations. A new operating model is being finalised to make a range of improvements in key areas. The goals are to deliver nationally consistent guidance to the aviation community, ensure the effective and efficient processing of applications and submissions and to better focus CASA surveillance on risk. One of the key features of the proposed new operating model is the segregation of CASA’s guidance, entry control and surveillance functions. By segregating these functions CASA will be able to better manage regulatory and service dealings with aviation organisations. The aim is for CASA to be fairer, quicker and consistent. Underpinning the new operating model will be the provision of centralised entry and exit points for doing business with CASA, national support services to improve consistency and enhanced processes and systems. These changes will represent a new way of working for CASA and will mean some changes for some aviation organisations. To make sure aviation organisations are aware of the coming changes and benefits, CASA will be talking to operators and holding local briefings.

 

 

Charter maintenance policy open for comment

 

 

Comment now on future requirements for maintenance and continuing airworthiness for the charter sector. A policy proposal is open for feedback until 22 December 2019. Under the new Civil Aviation Safety Regulations charter operations will be part of the air transport category and be covered by Parts 121, 135 or 133 - depending on the aircraft, weight and passenger capacity. Continuing airworthiness requirements need to be adjusted to be compatible with this new regulatory framework and to ensure they are appropriate for each sector of air transport operations. The proposed policy puts forward changes in areas such as continuing airworthiness management, who may carry out maintenance, maintenance performance rules and approved maintenance organisations. In developing the policy CASA has worked to ensure regulatory requirements are proportionate to the risk associated with the relevant operations and has considered the economic and cost impact on individuals, businesses and the community. The proposed changes will supersede the requirements in Parts 4, 4A and 4B of the Civil Aviation Regulations that currently apply to charter aircraft operations. Seven information sessions are being held around the nation during December 2019 to provide details of the proposals and to answer questions.

 

Have your say on the proposed maintenance and continuing airworthiness policy.

 

Book a place at an information session now.

 

 

Ballina broadcast area

 

 

Due to an increase in air traffic at Ballina a new radio broadcast area is being established. All aircraft operating within 10 nautical miles of the Ballina/Byron Gateway aerodrome, from the ground to 8,500 feet above mean sea level, will be required to make radio calls. The change will take effect on 5 December 2019. The broadcast area will enhance communication in the vicinity of Ballina and reduce the incidence of unknown visual flight rules aircraft conflicting with regular public transport aircraft. CASA has received safety occurrence data and formal feedback from operators about aircraft not making recommended radio broadcasts in the vicinity of Ballina/Byron Gateway aerodrome. The use of VHF radio in the broadcast area will now be compulsory. The Common Traffic Advisory Frequency at Ballina, Lismore, Casino and Evans Head remains unchanged at 124.2 MHz. Aeronautical publication charts will be updated as soon as possible. Pilots in the new broadcast area should still keep a look out for other aircraft as some pilots may not yet be aware of the radio requirements.

 

Brush up on radio procedures in non-controlled airspace.

 

 

ADS-B final deadlines loom

 

 

Two temporary instruments to allow some aircraft operators longer to fit automatic surveillance dependent-broadcast equipment will expire in 2020. This means anyone relying on these instruments to continue to fly their aircraft under the instrument flight rules needs to act soon. The instruments will not be extended, so any aircraft not fitted with ADS-B will have to fly by visual flight rules only. The two instruments - CASA 114/16 for Australian registered aircraft and CASA 113/16 for foreign registered aircraft - expire at midnight 1 January 2020 and midnight 6 June 2020 respectively. ADS-B transmitting equipment mandates have been progressively implemented in Australia since 2007. The final mandate, requiring all aircraft operating under the instrument flight rules to be equipped with 1090 MHz extended squitter ADS-B, took effect on 2 February 2017. Aircraft in breach of the mandate that are not operating under an exemption may incur a fine for non-compliance.

 

Find out more about ADS-B.

 

 

Civil Aviation Act changed

 

 

Amendments to the Civil Aviation Act were passed by Federal Parliament in October 2019 and came into effect November 2019. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Michael McCormack, said the amendments will ensure economic and cost impacts on aircraft operators are considered when CASA develops aviation safety standards. Mr McCormack said the changes are designed to support a regulatory environment that continues to maintain safety as the highest priority without unnecessarily restricting innovation and growth. “This amendment is one element of the Liberal and National Government’s support of aviation which also includes the new Regional Airports Program, the Women in Aviation initiative, continuation of the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program and the increase to the student Higher Education Loan Program loan limit,” Mr McCormack said. “Aviation continues to evolve but remains an essential ingredient to the economic success of this nation, and the Liberal and National Government is committed to ensuring its aviation policies continue to help sustain a strong and viable Australian aviation industry. I also acknowledge the bipartisan support on the amendment by the Labor party and its ongoing support on aviation safety matters.”

 

 

Changes to publications

 

 

Airservices Australia is no longer providing a number of CASA document services. This affects the Civil Aviation Order amendment service, Civil Aviation Advisory Publication Complete and Civil Aviation Advisory Publication Operational Complete publications and subscriptions services. From mid October 2019, the CAO and CAAP subscription service ceased being available for purchase or renewal. All current CAO and CAAP amendment subscriptions will run until they have expired. From November 2020, the paper-based version of the CAAP Complete, CAAP Operational Complete and amendments will no longer be available for purchase. Airservices, through its agent CanPrint, will continue to sell the CAO complete publication, which will be updated twice per year commencing in 2021. The changes to the way the publications are available has been driven by the fact that many people in the Australian aviation community have moved away from paper-based products and they are now easily accessed electronically. Civil Aviation Orders and Civil Aviation Advisory Publications are available for free from the CASA website.

 

Find out more about Airservices publications.

 

Get Civil Aviation Orders and Civil Aviation Advisory Publications for free.

 

 

In brief

 

 

  • All CASA offices will be shut from 25 December 2019 to 1 January 2020. Normal services will resume on Thursday 2 January 2020. Please get in early if services are needed around the holiday period as applications lodged at the last minute are unlikely to be processed before the shutdown. CASA staff will be on call for urgent aviation safety matters over the Christmas-New Year period – simply call 131 757 and follow the prompts.
     
  • Give the gift of safety this Christmas. An annual subscription to the Flight Safety Australia magazine print edition is the perfect present for everyone in aviation. Or pick up some back issues in stock now for your holiday reading. Available at the CASA online store.
     
  • Remember, CASA’s Brisbane office has moved to a new CBD address at 180 Ann Street, Brisbane. Telephone numbers remain the same.
     
  • New forms are available for operations involving the carriage of firearms or the carriage and discharge of firearms from an aircraft. The forms help to make the firearms application process simpler as they more clearly outline requirements. Guidance material is also provided. Full information on CASA’s website.
     

 

 

Be safer – get to an AvSafety seminar

 

 

More than 95 per cent of pilots who take part in an AvSafety seminar consider it makes them a safer pilot or changes their safety behaviour. That means it is important to attend an AvSafety seminar in your area. The theme of the current seminars is ‘expect the unexpected’. Topics covered include pre-flight planning, aeronautical decision making and checklists. Several case studies are examined covering weather, fuel, weight and balance and airspace infringements. The importance of in-flight decision making is also covered, including some of the traps in decision making. Checklists are discussed, with several safety occurrences examined where the correct use of a checklist may have stopped an incident or accident occurring.

 

In December 2019 AvSafety seminars are being held at:

 

  • Warnervale
     
  • Bankstown
     
  • Bunbury.
     

 

Book a place at a pilot safety seminar now.

 

 

Horsham engineers seminar

 

 

An AvSafety seminar for engineers is being held in Horsham in December 2019. The theme of the seminar is ‘the human component’. Three key topics will be covered - engineering errors and the lessons learnt, the human component of engineering and proposed new general aviation maintenance and continued airworthiness regulations. The focus will be on exploring the human component of engineering and the cost factors involved in maintenance errors. Importantly there will also be discussion about the proposed Part 43 general aviation maintenance regulations for private and air work operations. CASA’s aviation safety advisors welcome discussions and questions. The Horsham seminar is being held on Wednesday 11 December at the Horsham Aero Club.

 

Book a place now for the Horsham seminar.

 

 

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