CASA Briefing Newsletter - July 2019

[Admin]

CEO and Director of Aviation Safety

 

 

I am pleased to announce CASA’s flagship aviation safety publication Flight Safety Australia will soon be available as a quarterly print magazine as well as in the online edition. Since the Flight Safety Australia online edition came into place in 2012, CASA has continued to provide high quality aviation safety information and news. We recently conducted an industry survey which showed 95 per cent of readers say Flight Safety Australia increased their knowledge and awareness of aviation safety issues while 85 per cent said it influenced them to become safer in their aviation role. Almost 90 per cent of current readers surveyed said they would recommend it to other people in the aviation community. These are great results, but we wanted to be sure everyone had the opportunity to have access to Flight Safety Australia. So after the popularity of the annual print edition and the continued interest in a more frequent print magazine, we are reintroducing a regular printed edition.

 

Flight Safety Australia magazine will be available quarterly in print from September 2019. There will be an annual subscription fee of $39.95 for four issues delivered in a 12-month period, which includes GST and postage and handling within Australia. This fee recovers some of the costs of printing the magazine. Of course, we will continue to provide free online content at the Flight Safety Australia website, which will be updated regularly with unique digital only content, including news, safety videos, audio close calls and more.

 

If you would like Flight Safety Australia in print place an order through the CASA online store. Please subscribe by 25 August to receive the Spring 2019 issue.

 

Best wishes

Shane Carmody

 

 

Other CASA announcements

 

 

 

Cessna wing spar alert

 

 

A recent fatal Cessna accident in Australia has triggered an alert for inspections of wing carry through spars. The alert covers all Cessna 210 and Cessna 177 models with cantilevered wings. Cantilevered wings do not have struts. The fatal accident was in an Australian registered Cessna T210M aircraft and may have been caused by a fatigue fracture of the spar, where cracking had initiated from a corrosion pit on the lower surface of the wing carry-through spar. The spar failed inboard of the right-hand wing attachment lugs. An accident investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau is underway and a preliminary report shows that the spar had experienced very minor surface corrosion pitting, with no other mechanical damage found at the fracture surface. A review of defect reports and industry feedback regarding corrosion to carry-through spars fitted to Cessna 210 G through M models show that the design is prone to moisture ingress at the upper wing skin joint. Cessna advises 177 models have the same design and potential for similar corrosion on the carry-through structure. Both early and later Cessna 210 and 177 models can also experience moisture ingress from the wing root rib panel cut-outs located adjacent to the carry-through spar wing attachment lugs. In an airworthiness bulletin CASA makes a number of recommendations in relation to Cessna 177 and 210 aircraft, based on the current available information. The recommendations apply to around 330 Australian registered aircraft.

 

Read the Cessna wing spar airworthiness bulletin now.

 

 

GA8 suspension lifted

 

 

A temporary suspension of GippsAero GA8 aircraft operations has been lifted by CASA. The temporary suspension was put in place as a safety precaution following a recent fatal parachuting accident in Sweden. The precautionary suspension was triggered by initial information from the investigation into the Swedish accident which showed the accident aircraft had broken up in flight. New information from the investigation indicates there is no evidence of a potential unsafe condition associated with the aircraft. CASA will continue to monitor the investigation into the Swedish GA8 accident and will take appropriate action if any related safety issues arise. A CASA airworthiness inspector has been observing the investigation. Sixty-three GA8 aircraft in Australia were grounded, as well as a number operating overseas. The suspension was in effect for five days and ended at midnight on 25 July 2019. A safety assurance review of Australian parachute operations will also be conducted over coming months. The parachuting accident happened on 14 July 2019 near Umeå in northern Sweden. None of the nine people on board the aircraft survived the accident.

 

 

Government sets safety expectations

 

 

The Federal Government has released a new set of expectations for the nation’s aviation agencies. Statements of expectations were issued to Airservices Australia, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority with effect from 15 July 2019, maintaining safety as the absolute number one aviation priority. The statements formalise the Government’s expectations concerning the operation and performance of these bodies, with a view to keeping Australian air transport amongst the safest and most reliable in the world. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Government was proud of a safety record that places Australia in the top six of International Civil Aviation Organization member states. “The Government’s statements of expectations for the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, Airservices Australia and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority focus firmly on charging these globally respected agencies with maintaining the nation’s enviable safety record,” Mr McCormack said. The release of the statements follows the reintroduction to Parliament of proposed changes to the Civil Aviation Act 1988 that seek to take into account the cost impact of regulation, while maintaining the primacy of safety. “The Federal Liberal and Nationals Government is very conscious of the challenges faced by small business around the country and the need to remove unnecessary costs and regulatory burden,” Mr McCormack said. “It is important we continue to support an aviation industry that is safe, dynamic and sustainable, with a regulatory system that is responsive and proportionate to risks. The CASA statement of expectations reflects this balance.”

 

 

New advice on fuel rules

 

 

Online advice on the aviation fuel rules has been updated as a result of feedback from the aviation community. The updated advisory material clarifies the requirements for inflight fuel checking and recording, including information on when it may not be required. The rules have not changed and still require pilots to effectively manage their fuel to ensure that they have sufficient to land with reserves. Two publications have been updated - Civil Aviation Advisory Publications 234-1 and 215-1. Civil Aviation Advisory Publication 234 provides general advice on operations manuals and 215 offers guidance on developing an operations manual. There are three annexes to publication 234, covering sample fuel calculations for single engine piston, multi-engine turboprop and multi-engine turbojet aeroplanes. The information is worth reviewing even when an operations manual is not being developed as it helps explain the fuel requirements. CASA also has online information on the fuel rules for private pilots operating under the visual flight rules.

 

Find out more about the fuel rules.

 

 

Have a say on preflight resources

 

 

CASA is asking for feedback from pilots on resources to support preflight navigational planning around controlled airspace. A short survey has now opened to gather information on the past use of the OnTrack website, which was a safety education resource released by CASA in 2010. It assisted pilots to plan flight routes and operate safely in and around controlled airspace at 13 aerodromes around Australia. OnTrack is now no longer available as navigation information published on the website is not up to date with the latest aeronautical charts. The survey asks pilots about their use of OnTrack, how informative videos on the site were and other tools they use in planning flights. There is a general comments field for suggestions about preflight planning information and resources.

 

Have your say on preflight planning support before 30 September 2019.

 

 

New drone app released

 

 

The first drone safety app based on CASA’s new digital drone platform has been released into app stores. The OpenSky app helps drone operators to easily identify where they can safely and lawfully fly across Australia. OpenSky provides tailored information for recreational drone flyers, as well as drone operators with a certificate issued by CASA and commercial excluded operators. There are links to relevant safety rules for each category of operations. Users can report unsafe drone flights using a link to CASA’s web form. Controlled airspace is shown in red for recreational and excluded users, while airspace around uncontrolled aerodromes and landing areas is shown in orange. A checklist provides essential operating information for the location selected by the user.

 

Find OpenSky on the drone safety platform.

 

 

Find flight training easily

 

 

Currently there are more than 250 flight training organisations across Australia. But finding the right training organisation in the right location may not always be easy. To help, CASA now has a new flight training organisation database on its web site. The database can easily be searched using key words or viewed in total. It displays the trading name and type of approval for organisations that have agreed for the information to be published, which means it may not be a complete list of all authorised flight training organisations. The list also includes details of organisations that may only provide flight training for their employees. Information displayed about each organisation includes their location and the type of CASA certificate or approval held.

 

Go to the flight training database now.

 

 

Updated human factors kit

 

 

An updated edition of the safety behaviours and human factors resource kit for pilots has been released. This is an excellent teaching resource for the aviation industry and is now available online or in print. The kit includes 10 booklets, a workbook with practical exercises and videos. The updated edition has new videos which can be ordered on a USB or watched online. The videos contain interviews with industry experts and practitioners like Richard de Crespigny, the Qantas pilot of QF32, Matt Hall, former RAAF pilot and current Red Bull racing pilot, and Louise Kirkwood, the manager Human Factors at Qantas. The kit focuses on key elements of human factors including safety culture, human performance, communication, teamwork, decision making and more. It also includes new topics like the rapid growth of automation and satellite-based navigation. For training schools, the second edition is an acceptable means of compliance, which means CASA recognises the modules within the kit as a resource for developing human factors internal training.

 

The kit can be used online or ordered from the CASA online store.

 

 

ARN process gets quicker, simpler

 

 

Changes to the proof of identity requirements for the issue of aviation reference numbers have been made. The changes will speed up the process for issuing reference numbers, allowing most to be issued automatically through the myCASA portal. The existing 100 point identification requirements have been removed and applicants can now use either an Australian passport, Australian birth certificate, Australian citizenship certificate, foreign passport or ImmiCard. Applicants using a foreign passport will need to be in Australia at the time they lodge their application, unless they are a permanent resident. Otherwise they will need to provide a certified copy of their passport which will be manually processed by CASA. If an applicant does not have one of the relevant documents they will need to complete an aviation reference number application form for manual processing, which requires certified copies of 100 points of identification. Applications by form take at least five days to process.

 

Find out more about the aviation reference number changes.

 

 

Briefs

 

 

• The new regulations covering sport and recreational aviation have now commenced, with a three year transition period. Part 149 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations has introduced a broad and flexible regulatory framework for sport and recreational organisations, replacing a range of regulatory exemptions that had been used for many decades. Sport and recreational aviation organisations can now transition to Part 149, with several well advanced in preparations.
   
  
• The latest edition of the aircraft engineer careers guide is now available in hard copy. The careers guide provides helpful tips on how to become an aircraft engineer, how to get a licence and where to go for the appropriate training. The hard copy of the guide is available from the CASA online store.
   
  
• A summary of consultation has been published for the new rule sets for larger aeroplane air transport operations - Parts 119 and 121 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations. The proposed new regulations consolidate the rules into a single document suite and make them more operationally focused and easier to use.
   
  

 

 

All new topics for pilots

 

 

A new set of topics feature in the latest series of Avsafety seminars for pilots, which has a theme of ‘expect the unexpected’. Topics being covered are preflight planning, aeronautical decision making and checklists. The pilot pre-flight personal minimums tool known as PAVE will be discussed. PAVE stands for: Pilot, Aircraft, Environment and External Pressures. These are all areas to carefully review before taking off. Several case studies will be examined that involved issues including weather, fuel, weight and balance and airspace infringements. The importance of in-flight decision making will be covered, including some of the traps in decision making. A decision-making model will be looked at known as PILOT. This stands for Pool the facts, Identify the problem, Look for solutions, Operate, Take Stock. Participants will discuss a case study involving fuel management from the point of view of in-flight decision making. The section on checklists will cover their history, importance and how to use them. Several safety occurrences will be reviewed where the correct use of a checklist may have stopped the incident or accident occurring.

 

In August 2019 Avsafety seminars will be held at:

 

• Ayr
   
  
• Wollongong
   
  
• Camden
   
  
• Maryborough (Victoria)
   
  
• Ballarat
   
  
• Wilpena Pound
   
  
• Port Augusta
   
  
• Caloundra
   
  
• Bendigo
   
  
• Mittagong
   
  
• St George
   
  
• Cunnamulla
   
  
• Charleville
   
  

 

Book a place at a pilot safety seminar now.