CASA Briefing Newsletter - August 2012

[Admin]

August 2012

 

From the Director of Aviation Safety

 

John McCormick

 

Recently there has been some disturbingly misinformed debate within sections of the general aviation community about proposed new maintenance regulations. It is clear some people believe all of the new maintenance regulations currently covering the regular public transport sector are to be directly applied to general aviation. Let me make it very clear: this is not the case. The new suite of maintenance regulations that came into effect in late June 2011 only applies to operators and maintainers of regular public transport aircraft. At the time CASA clearly and publicly stated: “Revised maintenance regulations for other sectors of aviation such as charter, aerial work and private operations will be developed at a later date, after wide consultation with these sectors.” This position and CASA’s commitment to it have not changed.

 

What has changed over the last year is that CASA has been working, in conjunction with representatives from the aviation industry, on proposals for new maintenance regulations for the general aviation sector. When these proposals are adequately developed, everyone will get an ample opportunity to have their say. The consultation process will include the release of discussion papers, notices of proposed rulemaking and draft regulations. Importantly this process begins with a discussion paper, the specific purpose of which is to inform and open a wide ranging conversation with the aviation industry and other stakeholders about the proposed direction of the new regulations. All this means, contrary to some of the ill-informed statements now being made by some people, that the anticipated new maintenance rules for the non-regular public transport sectors have not been determined, and will not be pre-determined. CASA will carefully consider the views of all interested and affected members of the industry and the wider aviation community, and we will take all reasonable comments and submissions into account before any rules are finalised. We fully recognise the regular public transport maintenance regulations cannot simply be applied across the board. Each operational sector of aviation is different and the new regulations will reflect those important differences. If aspects of the regular public transport maintenance regulations are relevant and appropriate to general aviation, then subject to the outcome of the consultation process those provisions may be incorporated into the proposed new rules. But let me state again, clearly and unequivocally, nothing is final at this time.

 

Best regards

 

John F McCormick

 

Comment now on electronic flight bag rules

 

Proposed new rules and guidance material on the use of electronic flight bags have been released by CASA. The proposed rules would require the holders of air operator’s certificates to introduce procedures and processes to minimise any risks associated with the use of electronic flight bags, as well as to provide ongoing support for the technology. The guidance material covers in detail the airworthiness, operational and management issues relating to electronic flight bags. This guidance material will also be very useful for private and recreational pilots who wish to use electronic flight bags. CASA has issued a notice of proposed rule making foreshadowing changes to the Civil Aviation Orders to cover electronic flight bag safety issues. Operators who want their pilots to use electronic flight bags will need to amend their operations manual to include processes and procedures covering hardware, software and data management, as well as operator training. They will also be required to complete an operational risk analysis and appoint an electronic flight bag administrator.

 

A draft civil aviation advisory publication states electronic versions of documentation that are required by regulation are acceptable. It says: “Documents that have already been approved in accordance with the relevant regulations do not need additional approval if they have been stored in the electronic flight bag in essentially the same form as the original document”. This means electronic flight bags can be used to store and retrieve documents such as maps, charts, flight crew operations manuals, minimum equipment lists and other control documents. Under the proposed rules electronic flight bags are classified in two categories. These relate to the particular functions the electronic flight bag is intended to perform and the hardware type. The type of hardware will determine whether an airworthiness approval is required for the installation of a device in an aircraft.

 

Read the proposed electronic flight bag rules and guidance material and comment by 14 September 2012.

 

CASA safety sweep targets WA

 

Last month CASA completed a five day surveillance sweep through a large part of regional Western Australia. A team of CASA staff made up of airworthiness and flying operations inspectors, an aviation safety advisor and a drug and alcohol inspector conducted the surveillance sweep. The team visited aerodromes at Geraldton, Shark Bay, Exmouth, Learmonth, Karratha, Port Hedland, David Forrest Mine, Paraburdoo, Newman, Wiluna and Meekatharra. At each location CASA conducted ramp checks and visited air operators and maintainers. The CASA team carried out ramp checks on large and small air operators including Qantas, Qantaslink, Skywest, Skippers, Network and many charter organisations. A number of regulatory service tasks were also undertaken. CASA issued a small number of Aircraft Survey Reports for aircraft with notable defects and a number of pilots were found not to be carrying their licence or medical. There were also a couple of instances where navigational documents were not at the correct amendment status. Random drug and alcohol testing was conducted at both large and small aerodromes. CASA’s aviation safety adviser on the sweep obtained good constructive feedback about aviation safety seminars and the need for more targeted information for larger charter organisations. People and organisations were shown CASA’s latest safety education and information products and tools that provide practical safety support for day-to-day operations. The safety adviser reported all the organisations visited were using safety management procedures and had very obvious continuous improvement values in their corporate cultures.

 

Safety management systems made easy

 

Setting up and maintaining safety management systems in medium and small aviation organisations is now much easier. CASA has released a comprehensive and easy to use kit covering everything aviation organisations need to know about safety management systems. The kit is made up of six booklets and a DVD. The first booklet sets out the basics of aviation safety management systems, while the other five follow the International Civil Aviation Organization framework for safety management systems. Each booklet provides practical and jargon-busting information on the key issues, with templates and checks lists which can be used in developing and implementing safety management systems. The DVD supports the booklets with more practical information and guidance. The kit is aimed at medium and small regular public transport operators and maintenance organisations, however it will be a valuable resource for other aviation organisations.

 

Poor or ineffective safety management can be disastrous and lead to public outrage, exhaustive inquiries and drawn out legal action, the kit states. It goes on to say safety management is not a dark art and the central concepts are simple. Amongst the benefits of having an effective safety management system are a reduction in costs due to fewer incidents and less aircraft damage when incidents occur, less time lost due to injuries, lower insurance costs, better protection of business reputation, as well as safer operations. While setting up a safety management system will cost money, this must be weighed against the cost of accidents or aircraft damage. A propeller strike in a twin light aircraft can cost between $15,000 and $20,000 for repairs and engine strips. History tells that aviation organisations that have fatal accidents often do not survive.

 

Find out more about the safety management systems kit and order your copy now.

 

Posters help maintenance organisations keep safe

 

A suite of eight new posters targeting key safety issues in the aviation maintenance industry has been released. The high-impact posters draw attention to issues such as fatigue, unapproved parts, defect reporting, knowledge and training, tool control and data. There are three posters on fatigue in maintenance organisations, highlighting the dangers of long shifts, insufficient breaks, the increased risk of error during night shifts and accumulated fatigue. The key message of each poster is "fatigue in maintenance – do you know your limits?" The poster on suspected unapproved parts reminds engineers they must check to make sure they have authentic paper work, the current part number and the correct parts for the correct location. In the poster on reporting defects, everyone is told to send service difficulty reports to CASA as soon as possible. The poster "up to the task?" asks maintenance workers if they understand their responsibilities or if they need more training. Avoiding risks caused by misplaced tools is the message of the tool control poster, with the tag line “put your tools back where they belong…not in the aircraft”. Every maintenance organisation will benefit from displaying these posters prominently. The posters are free, although there is a $15 delivery fee.

 

Order your maintenance safety posters now from the CASA online store.

 

New ageing aircraft tools on the way

 

Aircraft owners are being urged to get ready to undertake special online training about ageing aircraft issues. CASA is about to launch a comprehensive e-learning course to help owners better understand the effects and consequences of age on their aircraft. The e-learning will provide an overview of how the ageing process affects all aircraft systems and structures, as well as the importance of adapting an aircraft’s maintenance systems as it gets older. CASA’s Director of Aviation Safety, John McCormick, told a recent Airworthiness and Sustainment conference there is no “silver bullet” to the issues relating to ageing aircraft. Mr McCormick said it is vital owners understand the regulatory, economic and safety implications of the decisions they are required to take about the continuing airworthiness of their aircraft. He said awareness and education are the keys to addressing ageing aircraft issues.

 

CASA has already conducted ageing aircraft presentations around Australia under its Ageing Aircraft Management Plan, with about 800 owners and operators attending. Positive feedback to these presentations encouraged CASA to develop more educational material, including the e-learning. Mr McCormick said CASA had also developed an educational feedback mechanism for owners to help them determine if their aircraft might be affected by ageing issues. "This educational feedback is provided in the form of an on-line, prototype Matrix Tool. Owners of VH registered aircraft are able to enter into the tool specific details about how their aircraft is operated, maintained and stored and are then provided with an indication as to the likelihood of having an ageing aircraft problem. While the prototype ‘Matrix Tool’ is deliberately generic by nature, it is by no means a substitute for a physical assessment of an aircraft by an engineering professional. The tool is designed to provide a snapshot assessment of ageing aircraft issues to the average aircraft owner who is not necessarily an aviation professional. Both the e-learning course and the prototype Matrix Tool form part of a wider awareness initiative that is explained further in a CASA discussion paper on ageing aircraft which is due for release shortly."

 

Read John McCormick's ageing aircraft speech in full.

 

Flight Safety Australia's bright online future

 

A print version of CASA’s flagship publication, Flight Safety Australia, is no longer being produced. From the next edition onwards Flight Safety Australia will only be published online. CASA believes this will bring many advantages to readers, to aviation safety and to the delivery of aviation safety information, with more resources to improve and enhance the online magazine. Stories and information will be presented in more flexible formats, with greater use of pictures, video and animation. This will give stories more impact and allow a deeper explanation of safety issues. CASA will be developing a version of Flight Safety Australia for iPads and other tablets, so people will be able to read the publication easily when they are away from their laptop or desktop computer. With the increasing use of tablets by pilots and many other people involved in aviation this move will fit closely with the future of communication in aviation.

 

To make sure everyone knows when a new edition of Flight Safety Australia is published, CASA will be sending subscribers an email. This means it is vital that everyone checks now to make sure CASA has their correct email address.

 

If you have an aviation reference number please ensure all your contact details are up to date by going to the change page.

 

If you do not have an aviation reference number, and you wish to subscribe to Flight Safety Australia go to Register to view Flight Safety Australia.

 

If you have any general questions regarding Flight Safety Australia, email [email protected].

 

Corrosion risk in R44 rotor gear box

 

Operators and maintainers of R44 helicopters have been warned to be aware of the risk of corrosion and metal fatigue in the main rotor gear box. Evidence of gear carrier corrosion has been found in a number of aircraft, with one suffering an in-flight main rotor drive failure. An investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau of the rotor drive failure revealed the gear carrier had cracked due to corrosion. The owner of this aircraft had a second R44 in their fleet inspected and the gear carrier on this aircraft also showed evidence of corrosion. A third R44, with a different owner, has been found with a fractured gear carrier assembly. All three helicopters were based and operated in northern Australia and not stored in hangars. CASA is recommending the operators and maintainers of all R44s carry out inspections of the oil in the main rotor gear box for any contamination such as water, rust or paint. Pilots should land immediately in the event of a main rotor gear box chip warning indication. CASA also recommends the helicopters be stored under cover or the main rotor mast be covered. Where an R44 is stored for more than seven days in tropical conditions operators should contact the manufacturer for advice on taking action to minimise the risk of internal corrosion in the main rotor gear box. Any contamination of the oil in the main rotor gear box must be reported to CASA using the service difficulty reporting system.

 

Read the R44 main rotor gear box airworthiness bulletin.

 

Geraldton and Devonport airspace gets a tick

 

Studies of the airspace around Geraldton in Western Australia and Devonport in Tasmania have been completed. Both studies were carried out for CASA’s Office of Airspace Regulation and looked at airspace within 20 nautical miles of the aerodromes. The Geraldton study concluded the current G airspace classification is satisfactory, although a recommendation was made to collect more accurate aircraft movement data, particularly for visual flight rules traffic. CASA has acted on this recommendation. The Geraldton study also recommended fly-in and fly-out operations are monitored to identify any increase in this traffic. It added that pilots need to be reminded of the requirement to monitor and broadcast on the local common traffic advisory radio frequency.

 

The Devonport airspace study found there are some concerns about radio congestion and over transmission because nearby Wynyard aerodrome shares the same common traffic advisory frequency. It has been recommended that Airservices Australia allocate a separate frequency to Devonport. Pilots should also be advised to monitor and broadcast on the common traffic advisory frequency for extended distances to minimise frequency changes and the potential for error. Overall, the report says the existing class G airspace at Devonport should be maintained.

 

Read the Devonport airspace report.

 

Read the Geraldton airspace report.

 

Forums and seminars for pilots

 

Melbourne and Adelaide pilots should mark their September diaries now. These two cities will be the location for special aviation information forums being run jointly by CASA, Airservices Australia, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the Bureau of Meteorology and the RAAF. The forums are open to all pilots and everyone will benefit from attending. The Melbourne aviation information forum is being held at Swinburne University on Monday 17 September 2012, while Adelaide is happening at the University of South Australia on Friday 28 September. These safety education forums are a chance to access a wide range of important information across a number of topics, with a special focus on human factors issues. The all day events feature presentations from each aviation body involved and a light lunch and refreshments will be provided. There is no charge and forums are open to everyone involved in aviation – not just university students and staff.

 

Please book your place for the Melbourne and Adelaide forums now.

 

During September 2012 there will also be six AvSafety seminars for pilots. These seminars are being held in the ACT, NSW, Queensland and Victoria. Topics to be covered at each location include human factors in aviation and aviation resources on the internet. CASA wants all pilots to attend an AvSafety seminar in their area as it is a great chance to learn, discuss safety with colleagues and talk with CASA's aviation safety advisers. The seminars are free but everyone is asked to book online at the CASA web site.

 

Find the AvSafety seminar in your area now.

 

 

[Guernsey]

Keep it rolling.

 

Alan.

 

 

[dazza 38]

Alot of people are going to hate me saying this. Anyway here goes. I honestly reckon that CASA has come along way since John Cormick took over the role of the head of CASA. Things seem to happen at a alot faster rate than in the old days.Things like the news briefing letters, also keep people in the loop of whats going on.He appears to be a bloke who likes to gets things done. Rightly or wrongly.

 

 

[Guernsey]

I agree..

 

 

[Gnarly Gnu]

"Last month CASA completed a five day surveillance sweep.... People and organisations were shown CASA’s latest safety education and information products and tools"

 

Get swept into the re-education camp also Dazza?

 

PS: agree with you that it would be easier for J McC to do nothing.

 

 

[cazza]

Does this mean we can use Oz Runways legally?

 

cazza

 

[Comment now on electronic flight bag rules

 

Proposed new rules and guidance material on the use of electronic flight bags have been released by CASA. The proposed rules would require the holders of air operator’s certificates to introduce procedures and processes to minimise any risks associated with the use of electronic flight bags, as well as to provide ongoing support for the technology. The guidance material covers in detail the airworthiness, operational and management issues relating to electronic flight bags. This guidance material will also be very useful for private and recreational pilots who wish to use electronic flight bags. CASA has issued a notice of proposed rule making foreshadowing changes to the Civil Aviation Orders to cover electronic flight bag safety issues. Operators who want their pilots to use electronic flight bags will need to amend their operations manual to include processes and procedures covering hardware, software and data management, as well as operator training. They will also be required to complete an operational risk analysis and appoint an electronic flight bag administrator.

 

A draft civil aviation advisory publication states electronic versions of documentation that are required by regulation are acceptable. It says: “Documents that have already been approved in accordance with the relevant regulations do not need additional approval if they have been stored in the electronic flight bag in essentially the same form as the original document”. This means electronic flight bags can be used to store and retrieve documents such as maps, charts, flight crew operations manuals, minimum equipment lists and other control documents. Under the proposed rules electronic flight bags are classified in two categories. These relate to the particular functions the electronic flight bag is intended to perform and the hardware type. The type of hardware will determine whether an airworthiness approval is required for the installation of a device in an aircraft.

 

Read the proposed electronic flight bag rules and guidance material and comment by 14 September 2012.]