CASA Briefing Newsletter - March 2013

[Admin]

From the Director of Aviation Safety

 

John McCormick

 

At CASA we devote considerable resources into providing everyone in aviation with information and tools to help them operate safely. There is a wealth of information on our web site, DVDs, multi-media such as OnTrack, booklets and Flight Safety Australia. Recently we also launched a YouTube channel so our videos can be viewed online at any time. Plus we have aviation safety advisers whose job is visiting and talking to people in all sectors of Australian aviation about safety and regulatory issues. This month we have launched yet another tool to help aviation people reach the highest possible safety standards. It is a powerful new online package of safety and operational information about visual flight rules flying in regional and remote Australia. Called Out-N-Back, it is a six part multimedia package showcasing a 6000 kilometre round trip operating to the visual flight rules across four states.

 

The package focuses on each leg of the trip, which was undertaken in a Cessna 172 flown by an experienced chief flying instructor with a non-aviation passenger. The journey starts at Bathurst in NSW and continues through outback South Australia, across Bass Strait to Tasmania and back through Victoria to end in Bathurst. The whole trip is filmed from inside and outside the aircraft, with stunning shots of scenery interlaced with vital aviation safety messages. At each location local aviation experts are interviewed about practical safety and operational issues such as aircraft maintenance, safety culture, outback survival and weather. The video is supported by web site information on a range of safety topics relevant to the operations being undertaken. These include daily inspections, fuel management, GPS use, planning routes, fatigue management, flight notification, navigation over featureless terrain and operations in controlled airspace. Supporting episode five is a section on the use of iphones and ipads in the cockpit.

 

I believe the Out-N-Back multimedia package is now an essential tool for all visual flight rules pilots. While the video mainly follows a trip through regional and remote Australia, it also covers operations in controlled airspace and at major regional aerodromes. There is a wealth of practical safety and operational information for all pilots flying in all parts of Australia. I urge everyone to have a look at Out-N-Back now. All pilots, not just those operating to the visual flight rules, will enjoy watching the video and the safety messages are vital to everyone.

 

Watch Out-N-Back now.

 

Best regards

 

John F McCormick

 

Don't be caught napping – find out about fatigue now

 

Everyone involved in aviation must have an understanding of fatigue. Given the 24/7 nature of aviation operations fatigue is a risk which must be effectively managed. Changes to the current rules covering the management of fatigue for flight crew are being made in 2013 and work to develop fatigue management rules for cabin crew and air traffic controllers is in the pipeline. To help everyone better understand fatigue management a new booklet has been produced which provides essential information on the issue and sets out the flight crew rule changes. The booklet looks at the causes and effects of fatigue, warning signs, fatigue-fighting tips and case studies.

 

While the booklet is important reading for pilots, the information will be valuable for all aviation people. Civil Aviation Order 48 has been revised to create the new rules for flight crew fatigue management. Under the new rules air operators and flight crew have a shared responsibility to manage fatigue. There is a tiered system under which operators can choose how they manage fatigue based on their operating environment and needs, while taking into account current fatigue science. The new rules are needed because the current regulations have been in place for more than 50 years, without significant review. This means the existing rules are out of step with the latest scientific understanding of human performance limitations and sleep. The current rules are also not in line with International Civil Aviation Organization standards.

 

Get your copy of the fatigue booklet or read it online.

 

Rules to address remotely piloted aircraft realities

 

New regulations covering remotely piloted aircraft will be developed over time to make it less onerous for commercial operators to use smaller machines. The new rules will be part of a package of changes to the safety regulation of remotely piloted aircraft aimed at ensuring current realities are addressed while safety remains the first priority. Regulations will be proposed with weight limits that will define the complexity of regulatory requirements for various categories of remotely piloted aircraft. In addition, consideration is being given to simplifying the process of obtaining a certificate to operate a remotely piloted aircraft by better matching the regulatory requirements with the complexity and risk of proposed operations.

 

CASA's Director of Aviation Safety, John McCormick, recently told an Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems Australia conference 90 per cent of the remotely piloted aircraft operating in Australia today weigh less than seven kilograms, are relatively inexpensive and easily accessible to individuals through the open market. He said: “We have to address the current reality. There is no point in CASA writing regulations that can't be enforced. The principal objective of a fresh aviation regulatory framework is to achieve and maintain the highest possible uniform level of safety. In the case of remotely piloted aircraft, this means ensuring the safety of any other airspace user as well as the safety of persons and property on the ground. Development of the complete regulatory framework for remotely piloted aircraft will be a lengthy effort. This is not a knee-jerk reaction, it is an evolutionary process, with regulations being added or amended gradually. In the first instance, non-binding guidance material will be provided in advance of the regulations for use by the industry. Close adherence to the guidance material will facilitate later adoption of the revised or new regulations and will ensure harmonisation across the industry and with the rest of the world.”

 

Read the Director's remotely piloted aircraft speech.

 

Check Velcro mounts for emergency locator transmitters now

 

A warning has been issued about the potential failure of Velcro fasteners used as mounts for emergency locator transmitters. This follows several recent aircraft accidents where emergency locator transmitters on a Velcro mount have detached, causing the antenna connection to break and making the transmitter ineffective. The problem was identified by the United States Federal Aviation Administration, which has issued a special airworthiness information bulletin. CASA has supported the US bulletin with its own airworthiness bulletin, drawing attention to the Velcro fastener issue and warning of the potential for transmitters to break during accidents. Aircraft owners, operators and maintenance organisations are urged to read the US bulletin and review any instructions for continued airworthiness in relation to emergency locator transmitters and Velcro fasteners. There should be annual inspections of the transmitter installation with particular attention given to the Velcro fasteners if fitted. In addition, the inspection should look for battery corrosion, operation of the controls and crash sensor and the presence of a sufficient signal radiated from the antenna. Velcro fasteners can degrade over time due to wear, vibration, temperature changes and contamination.

 

Review the emergency locator transmitter airworthiness bulletin now.

 

Dates and details for engineer exams

 

Dates and details for the 2013 program of aircraft maintenance engineer licensing examinations have been released. The exams are being held in April, June, August, October and December at examination centres throughout Australia. Prospective licensed aircraft maintenance engineers will sit for exams over a three day period in each of the months – Tuesday through Thursday. All exams are held over three hours. To apply for an aircraft maintenance engineers licence an applicant must complete examinations that relate to the type of licence category being sought. Examinations are designed to ensure that a person has the level of technical skill and legislative knowledge to hold a licence. There are five types of examinations depending on the licence category being sought. Detailed information on the current requirements and conditions relating to aircraft maintenance engineer licensing exams has been published in a new airworthiness advisory circular. The circular covers applications, payments, re-marking, requests for cancellation, the exam syllabus and reference texts.

 

Find full details in the maintenance engineer licensing exams advisory.

 

New study highlights corrosion inhibiting risks

 

New advice has been issued about the risks of applying corrosion inhibiting compounds to aircraft structural joints. Research has shown caution should be exercised in the use of corrosion inhibiting compounds on structural joints which are highly loaded and/or fatigue critical. Aircraft maintainers, manufacturers and operators should ensure corrosion inhibiting compounds are applied in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. CASA has issued an airworthiness bulletin outlining the findings of a recent study into the effects of corrosion inhibiting compounds on aircraft structural joints. The study was the basis for a PhD thesis which was funded by CASA. Overall, the study found corrosion inhibiting compounds can offer substantial benefits when used appropriately. Any change in use should be done in close consultation with the aircraft manufacturer. Where corrosion inhibiting compounds are used in structural joints that rely on friction/clamp up force, such as aircraft lap joints, there may be a reduction in fatigue life. In fatigue critical joints the fatigue life may be reduced by half. The rate of growth of fatigue cracks also increases.

 

Find out more about the effects of corrosion inhibiting compounds.

 

Islander control cable failure warning

 

Operators and maintainers of Britten-Norman Islander aircraft are being warned about the potential failure of a control cable component. Recently two Islander aircraft have suffered failures of a control cable swivel end fitting. The component is used on the throttle, constant speed unit and mixture control cable assemblies. The failure of the swivel end fitting causes some loss of engine control functions. In one failure the pilot reduced the throttles for descent but no change in power was obtained from the left hand engine. The engine was then shutdown for landing. In an airworthiness bulletin CASA recommends replacement of control cable swivel end fittings if the age of the component is unknown or can be established as more than 10,000 hours time in service. New or used fittings with less than 8000 hours time in service should replace the aged components. Where there is any doubt about the serviceability of a component the manufacturer should be contacted for advice. CASA is asking for any fittings that are removed from an aircraft to be sent to its airworthiness and engineering branch. Further investigations of the problem are underway.

 

Find out more about the Islander control cable issue.

 

Barrier Aviation’s certificate cancelled

 

On Wednesday 13 March 2013, CASA cancelled the air operator’s certificate held by Barrier Aviation Pty Ltd. Barrier Aviation was a Cairns-based charter, aerial work and flying school operator, flying in Far North Queensland, the Torres Strait and the Northern Territory. CASA suspended Barrier Aviation’s operations on 23 December 2012 due to a serious and imminent risk to air safety. On 22 February 2013, the Federal Court of Australia made an order prohibiting Barrier Aviation from conducting operations. CASA conducted a thorough investigation which confirmed Barrier Aviation had been operating aircraft with serious and known defects, as well as directing pilots to fly these aircraft. Known defects were also not being recorded on aircraft maintenance documentation. Following the Federal Court order and the completion of CASA’s investigation, CASA was not satisfied that Barrier Aviation would not operate aircraft with known defects if allowed to resume operations. CASA determined Barrier Aviation had a poor safety culture and placed commercial imperatives before safety. In a statement CASA said it regretted the inconvenience the cancellation of the air operator’s certificate has caused for passengers and Barrier's employees. However, CASA's primary and overriding priority must be aviation safety.

 

Time to review aerodrome safety management systems

 

Certified aerodrome operators are being asked to review their safety management systems to ensure they are in line with the latest CASA policy. An updated advisory circular on safety management systems for aerodromes has been released which includes a new framework based on an International Civil Aviation Organization safety management system framework. The CASA policy is for a four component, fifteen element framework. The safety management system components are: safety policy and objectives and planning, safety risk management, safety assurance and safety promotion. In the advisory circular aerodromes are told their safety management systems should identify each of the components as well as the underlying elements. The degree to which each element is addressed will depend on the complexity of the aerodrome. Aerodromes may need to undertake a ‘gap analysis’ of their current safety management system to what changes may be needed to meet the new policy and improve their system. Certified aerodrome operators are required by the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations to have a safety management system. Registered aerodromes are not required to have a safety management system but are encouraged to do so.

 

Read the aerodrome safety management system advisory.

 

All you need to know about passenger briefings

 

Most people outside aviation rarely fly in a light aircraft. That means it is very important to make sure passengers understand all aspects of safety before pilots take to the skies. CASA has a short video which is an ideal tool for pilots to use to ensure the key issues for passenger briefings in light aircraft operations are covered. The video covers pre-flight information, safety on the apron and what to explain once inside the aircraft. By following the tips in the video pilots can make sure their passengers are relaxed, safe and ready for an enjoyable flight. The video emphasises the pilot in command is responsible for the safety of passengers, which includes showing how to board and leave the aircraft safely. It is recommended pilots explain as much as possible about the aircraft to give passengers a clear understanding of how their flight will proceed.

 

View the passenger briefing video now.

 

 

[Gnarly Gnu]

"CASA suspended Barrier Aviation’s operations on 23 December 2012 due to a serious and imminent risk to air safety. On 22 February 2013, the Federal Court of Australia made an order prohibiting Barrier Aviation from conducting operations. CASA conducted a thorough investigation which confirmed Barrier Aviation had been operating aircraft with serious and known defects, as well as directing pilots to fly these aircraft. Known defects were also not being recorded on aircraft maintenance documentation. Following the Federal Court order and the completion of CASA’s investigation, CASA was not satisfied that Barrier Aviation would not operate aircraft with known defects if allowed to resume operations. CASA determined Barrier Aviation had a poor safety culture and placed commercial imperatives before safety. In a statement CASA said it regretted the inconvenience the cancellation of the air operator’s certificate has caused for passengers and Barrier's employees. However, CASA's primary and overriding priority must be aviation safety."

It's interesting to insert a specific helicopter type with known long standing safety defects - that actually, you know, killed several people - instead of 'Barrier Aviation'.

 

Yes the new videos are sweet and all John but we want to know who is auditing CASA?

 

 

[Ultralights]

sadly CASA is answerable to no one.