CASA Briefing Newsletter - August 2013

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August 2013

 

From the Director of Aviation Safety

 

John McCormick

 

 

 

 

By now I would hope everyone in Australian aviation understands the importance to aviation safety of addressing human factors issues. In simple terms human factors covers how people perform tasks, the capabilities and limitations of people, how people and systems interact, communication and decision making. We know very few aviation accidents result from purely technical failures, with human mistakes contributing in up to 80 per cent of accidents. In the past many people have focused on human factors for pilots, which was an obvious starting point given the direct involvement pilots can have in an accident. But of course there are many other people who play a key role in aviation safety and they are just as capable of making errors which can contribute to an accident. The new maintenance regulations covering regular public transport operations – Part 145 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations – recognises the importance of human factors in the maintenance sector. These rules include requirements for human factors training for maintenance personnel, as well as for safety reporting systems and safety management. As we developed the new rules CASA recognised maintenance organisations and engineers would benefit from targeted information and training on human factors to help them comply with the new requirements. I am pleased to say we have now developed a very comprehensive package of information and support material for the maintenance sector and I believe all maintenance organisations will benefit from using the kit.

 

The kit contains a 200 page handbook – the resource guide for engineers. In 13 chapters this covers an introduction to human factors, error management, decision making, fatigue, communication, teamwork and much more. There are case studies to show how the principles of human factors apply in real world situations. The kit also includes a workbook for engineers, a facilitator’s guide, a CD-ROM of resources and a DVD. The DVD features a drama, called Crossed Wires, which portrays a day in the life of a fictitious maintenance organisation where mistakes are made. This is followed by the Right Connection, which looks at how the mistakes could have been avoided. In addition there are interviews with 12 human factors experts. In total this is a powerful package of information, education and training. I am pleased to say the initial response to the human factors for engineers resource kit has been extremely positive and I encourage everyone to either order a kit or download the material from the CASA web site.

 

Download the human factors for engineers kit.

 

Order your hardcopy of the kit now.

 

Best regards

 

John F McCormick

 

Limited ADS-B exemptions proposed – comment now

 

Limited exemptions are being proposed to the requirement for all aircraft flying at or above flight level 290 to be fitted with Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) equipment before 12 December 2013. The exemptions are being proposed because several major manufacturers of business jet aircraft have been slow in providing factory supported supplementary type certificates for the installation of ADS-B equipment. This has meant some business and private jet operators are having difficulty in sourcing modification kits in time to comply with the 12 December 2013 deadline. The problem affects a number of aircraft types, particularly for those with highly integrated avionics suites. By arrangement with Airservices Australia, CASA is proposing to provide an exemption to both Australian and foreign operators of aircraft that do not have ADS-B equipment. These operators would have to make an application to CASA to undertake flights that remained wholly within the so-called east-coast J curve and in exempted oceanic areas of Australian airspace. Exemption requests for other areas of airspace would not be approved. The east coast J curve is an area within the radar coverage on the east-coast, which extends from 200nm north of Cairns to 200nm west of Adelaide. Airservices Australia will continue to operate its terminal and enroute radars in this airspace for some time. The exemption for oceanic areas would not include flight in the Gulf of Carpentaria, the Great Australian Bight and some of Bass Strait. The exemptions would be limited to a maximum of two years.

 

A consultation draft of a proposed ADS-B class exemption has been released for comment. For air operators to gain an approval for an exemption they would have to provide an acceptable proposed implementation plan and timing for the installation of ADS-B in their aircraft, or advice that the aircraft would not be retained beyond the exemption duration period of two years. CASA will not be further extending any exemption beyond two years. CASA is now inviting comments on the proposal and the consultation draft.

 

To see where ADS-B would not be required under the proposal, go to this map. The proposed exempted areas are shown in blue (east-coast radar area) and green (oceanic area). Exemptions for flight in other areas over the Australian mainland (shown in pink) would not be approved.

 

Read the ADS-B exemption consultation draft and comment before Friday 20 September 2013.

 

Your medical questionnaire questions answered

 

CASA's Aviation Medicine branch from time to time gets enquiries about the questions pilots need to answer when obtaining or renewing their medical. To help all pilots understand the thinking behind the medical questionnaire the aviation medical team have provided some clarification about several questions. For example, why the question about whether you have attended a medical practitioner since your last aviation medical was issued? The reason is if the answer is no, people can bypass a whole series of questions about heart, lungs, and some other body systems – two pages of questions. If the answer is yes then those questions must be answered. A total of 8126 people out of 24,876 applications within one calendar year answered this question as no and thereby avoided a whole lot of questions, saving these people time and effort.

 

Why the question on feeling drowsy? That is one of a set of questions called the Epworth questionnaire, named after Epworth Hospital in Melbourne. It is an internationally accepted questionnaire to identify people who are at risk of falling asleep at work or falling asleep at the wheel. Statistically, about one in ten female and one in four male Australians have clinically significant obstructive sleep apnoea. This question addresses an identified area of increased risk. If symptoms are experienced, they can be treated, and people can have an ongoing career as a pilot Lastly, what are funny turns? This is a question exploring whether people have had an episode of feeling dizzy or having difficulty in walking without collapsing. Clearly symptoms that need to be explored for people who are pilots.

 

Aviation medicine is always happy to hear from people who have questions or complaints. Email: [email protected] with the title 'feedback for PMO'.

 

CASA listens to helicopter sector concerns

 

After listening to the views of the people in the helicopter sector CASA is proposing some changes to the original transition arrangements for the new pilot licensing regulations. There were concerns that people in the process of gaining a helicopter licence could have been disadvantaged when the new licensing rules take effect on 4 December 2013. To avoid this situation CASA is proposing to allow people to qualify under either the old or new licensing regulations for three years. During this three year transition period from 4 December 2013, a helicopter pilot licence could be granted under the old Civil Aviation Regulations Part 5 or the new Civil Aviation Safety Regulations Part 61. The transition period will apply to both private and commercial helicopter pilot licences. This proposal recognises it will take some time for helicopter flying training organisations to comply with the new requirements set out in Part 61. A helicopter pilot licence issued under the old rules in Civil Aviation Regulation Part 5 will not be compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization standards and will include a statement to that effect. A helicopter licence issued under Part 61 will be compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization standards. The proposal to change the transition arrangements are subject to CASA’s regulatory consultation processes and the Parliamentary process.

 

Find out more about Part 61.

 

Get your manoeuvring maps

 

Revised maps showing runway layouts and critical surface movement areas for nine aerodromes are now available. The A4 maps can be downloaded from the CASA web site. They cover the Cairns, Archerfield, Bankstown, Camden, Moorabbin, Cambridge, Launceston, Parafield and Jandakot aerodromes. The manoeuvring maps are online so they can be updated easily to remain current. Feedback from pilots is welcome and this information will be incorporated where appropriate. The maps show runways, taxiways, apron areas, run-up bays, holding positions and runway incursion hotspots. There is also information on fuel bowsers and aircraft parking areas. Instructions on ground operations on the nine aerodromes is included, with ground frequencies shown. The maps are very useful for all pilots, particularly those not familiar with any of the nine aerodromes.

 

Download your manoeuvring maps now.

 

Education the key to meeting ageing aircraft challenges

 

Education of aircraft owners about ageing aircraft issues remains a high priority, according to CASA’s Director of Aviation Safety John McCormick. In a recent speech Mr McCormick said CASA will continue to provide education tools so aircraft owners can fully understand their responsibilities in relation to ageing aircraft. He said further regulation to deal with ageing aircraft issues will be considered as an option only if education fails to achieve the desired safety outcomes. CASA has developed a range of ageing aircraft information and tools including booklets, an on-line e-learning course and a web-based ageing aircraft management tool. A series of education seminars have also been held around the nation over recent years. The web-based management tool known as the ‘prototype matrix tool’ has been very successful with more than 13,000 hits during the trial period. CASA is now considering whether to further develop the tool into a permanent on-line resource.

 

Mr McCormick told the 2013 Aircraft Airworthiness and Sustainment conference there is nothing inherently wrong with an older aircraft provided it has been properly operated, stored and maintained. "Each aircraft and operational scenario is different, and therefore Australia has no plans to impose a universal life-limit on aircraft based on chronological age alone,” Mr McCormick said. “CASA is also considering several options in regard to the minimum levels of maintenance that are appropriate for aircraft operated many decades beyond their intended use-by date. As an aircraft ages, the nature and intrusiveness of scheduled inspections needs to increase-much the same as for a person’s medical visitations as one ages. However, there is much evidence to show us that this is not occurring in relation to the ageing aircraft fleet. Registered operators are encouraged to take a closer look at their maintenance inspection regime."

 

Read the Director's speech on ageing aircraft.

 

Higher safety standards for air ambulance flights proposed

 

The aviation industry is being asked to comment on a new set of proposals to change the way in which air ambulance flights are regulated. Currently air ambulance flights are covered by the aerial work regulations, despite the primary focus of these operations being the specialised transport of passengers. Other leading aviation nations place medical transport flights into the commercial air transport category, which means they operate under higher safety standards. Australia’s unique approach in categorising medical transport as aerial work means the safety standards are not in line with appropriate International Civil Aviation Organization standards and recommended practices. Despite this many Australian medical transport operators currently operate above the minimum safety requirements, although this proactive approach to safety is not recognised by the regulations. There are 97 holders of air operator’s certificates authorised to conduct air ambulance functions, made up of 50 helicopter operators and 47 aeroplane operators.

 

CASA now believes medical transport flights should be categorised as air transport operations and be subject to the same general safety standards applying to other passenger transport operations. This would mean medical transport operators would be required to have safety management systems, human factors training, fatigue management, pilot training and checking and maintenance processes which include minimum equipment lists. In a notice of proposed rule making CASA says specific medical transport operational requirements, due to the highly specialised nature of some of these flights, will need to be addressed in the regulations. These include specialised extraction methods, non-standard runways and night vision goggles. CASA says the benefits of the proposed changes include more robust aircraft equipment requirements, fatigue risk management specific to aeromedical operations, greater operational tasking and flexibility and a greater potential for authorisations to be recognised during international operations.

 

Read the medical transport notice of proposed rule making and have your say by 27 September 2013.

 

New rules give industry a clearer path in design

 

A new clearer and systematic approach to the certification of aviation products, parts and appliances is coming. This systematic approach is adopted under the new rules in Civil Aviation Safety Regulation Part 21J – Approved Design Organisations. Part 21J will be effective from 1 March 2014 and will replace the current authorised persons’ scheme with organisational approvals. The new regulation sets out the requirements for being an approved design organisation, as well as the privileges and obligations. Approved design organisations will be able to perform certain design and technical data approval functions within the scope of their certificates of approval without further reference to CASA or an authorised person. The coordination and management of many certification projects, currently mostly performed by CASA, will be devolved to approved design organisations. The scope of the functions that CASA may authorise will depend on the demonstrated capabilities and systems approved design organisations have in place. These new regulations align Australian regulatory requirements governing the certification and operations of design organisations with other leading aviation nations.

 

Find out more about the approved design organisation rules.

 

WA air traffic growth in the spotlight

 

Nine recommendations to improve the safety and efficiency of air traffic in Western Australia have been made in a special report. The report looks at the impact of increased aviation activity in Western Australia due to factors such as the mining boom and offshore oil and gas exploration. There has been a rapid and unexpected demand on aviation as air transport has been used to mobilise a growing workforce in regional and remote areas. This is expected to continue, particularly for fly-in-fly-out operations. The fly-in-fly-out sector uses a wide range of aircraft from small turbo props to high capacity jets. This has created a complex mix of aircraft operating in Western Australian airspace, with different performance and equipment levels. In 2011 CASA proposed the formation of a special task force to examine all these issues. The task force was made up of representatives from the Federal Department of Infrastructure and Transport, Airservices Australia, the Department of Defence and CASA. In its report the task force says a number of key issues were identified. These include a lack of traditional radar surveillance outside 250 nautical miles of Perth, a lack of automatic dependent surveillance- broadcast (ADS-B) equipment on aircraft and airport infrastructure struggling to cope with traffic. Recommendations include reviewing the airspace classification in the Pilbara region, encouraging the fitting of ADS-B equipment as soon as possible and developing a plan to increase ADS-B coverage.

 

Read the Western Australian air traffic task force report.

 

New advice coming on volcanic ash and aviation

 

New advice and guidance is being developed for the aviation industry on the management of flights during volcanic ash. CASA will provide more comprehensive information on operations after volcanic activity for all sectors of the aviation industry, not just regular public transport. This will cover flight operations, airworthiness, airspace management and safety management systems. The guidance will incorporate guidance material recently released by the International Civil Aviation Organization covering risk management of flights with known or forecast volcanic ash. New information being developed by CASA will provide a list of known threats and hazards produced by volcanic events to enable all operators of Australian aircraft to assess and manage their own risk of operations during volcanic ash contamination. There will be information on the hazards to the airworthiness of aircraft caused by exposure to volcanic ash, including effects on airframes, propulsion and systems. This will include guidance on what actions need to be taken immediately and in the long term if an aircraft has been or is likely to be exposed to ash. There will also be guidance on airspace operations and management. A project has been set up by CASA to develop this new package of information on volcanic ash events and aviation operations.

 

Find out more about the volcanic ash project.

 

Briefings on new regs at 15 locations in September

 

Fifteen briefings on a range of new aviation safety regulations are being held by CASA across Australia during September 2013. The briefings will cover the new pilot licensing regulations, electronic flight bags, new fatigue rules, performance based navigation and flying training regulatory changes. Aviation people attending the seminars will also be given a step-by-step guide on how to find and utilise important online safety tools such as OnTrack and Out-n-Back. In September the AvSafety seminars will be held in Queensland, NSW, Victoria and Western Australia. Overall, the aim is to show pilots and other aviation people how to access the information they need, stay up to date with regulatory change and get safety education and advice. An explanation of transition processes to the new rules will be provided and the responsibilities of aviation people and organisations will be explained. In conjunction with a number of the AvSafety seminars there will be dedicated sessions devoted to performance based navigation. These sessions will focus on raising awareness about the need for instrument flight rules aircraft operating in Australia to be fitted with global navigation satellite systems and automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast avionics. Everyone attending the seminars will be encouraged to ask questions and provide feedback to CASA.

 

Find an AvSafety seminar near you and register your place now.