CASA Briefing Newsletter - August 2019

[Admin]

Acting CEO and Director of Aviation Safety Graeme Crawford comments:

 

 

Another important milestone in regulatory development has been reached with the finalisation of new fatigue rules for operators and pilots. The rules in Civil Aviation Order 48.1 Instrument 2019 are the result of the output from the review requested by the CASA Board which was conducted by an independent panel of experts. There was extensive consultation utilising the now well proven combination of an industry/CASA technical working group, the Aviation Safety Advisory Panel and public consultation. These fatigue rules align Australia with international standards, address known risks to improve aviation safety and provide flexibility.

 

The new fatigue rules will commence on 2 September 2019, and there will be a staged transition to give air operators adequate time to move across to the requirements. High capacity regular public transport operators are required to provide plans to CASA by 30 November 2019; however, smaller operators have more time to adopt the new rules. By 1 October 2020 all air operators will be expected to be compliant with the new fatigue rules. The new requirements permit operations under a series of prescriptive rules designed for different types of operations. Where operators require additional flexibility, they can apply for a Fatigue Risk Management System that relates to individual routes or their whole operation. CASA will also consider minor variations to the prescriptive rules where fatigue risks are adequately identified, mitigated and monitored.

 

CASA will be providing plenty of support to everyone who needs to make the transition, including a new version of Civil Aviation Advisory Publication 48-01. Consultation on the draft of this publication is now open and I invite everyone with an interest to comment. CASA intends to conduct regular fatigue surveys to assess the effectiveness of the new rules in reducing fatigue risk. We will also continue to monitor fatigue as part of our ongoing safety obligations to oversight air operators.

 

Find out more about the new fatigue rules.

 

Comment on draft Civil Aviation Safety Publication 48-01 v3.0.

 

Regards

Graeme Crawford

 

 

Updates

 

 

 

Online training on the improve

 

 

A new version of CASA’s online learning management system – AviationWorx – is about to be launched. AviationWorx is used by a range of people to undertake mandatory and voluntary training. This includes flight examiners, pilots, engineers, designated aviation medical examiners, ground handlers and refuellers. The system is being updated to make it easier for users to log in, find the courses they’re looking for and manage their training. Anyone who is part way through an AviationWorx online module or training course is encouraged to finish it before the current system is shut down on 28 August 2019. Any unfinished work in modules or courses will be lost after that date due to the migration to the new system. All registered AviationWorx users will be emailed instructions on how to log in to the new system, as well as being given updated guidance material on using the system. Information will also be available on CASA’s website when new system goes live. Current achievements in AviationWorx will be moved across to the new system.

 

Go to AviationWorx.

 

 

Comment now on dangerous goods proposals

 

 

Consultation is open on proposed changes to the rules covering dangerous goods. The proposals stem from a review of Part 92 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations, which sets the minimum safety requirements for the consignment and carriage of dangerous goods by air. Part 92 covers training, documentation, record keeping and incident reporting, as well as provisions for packaging, marking, labelling, loading and stowage in aircraft. The proposed changes have been examined by a technical working group of the Aviation Safety Advisory Panel. A range of issues are addressed by the proposed amendments, which will improve and update the dangerous goods regulations, including making them easier to understand and comply with. There is a proposed new subpart on the reporting of dangerous goods accidents, incidents and occurrences to give certainty and clarity to operators and to align with International Civil Aviation Organization reporting requirements. Provision is made for aviation infringement notices to be issued for certain offences to allow for more proportionate penalty options. Currently if CASA determines action is appropriate for a breach of the dangerous goods rules a prosecution must be sought. Changes are proposed to the dangerous goods training requirements and there are options for smaller commercial operators to conduct their own case-by-case risk assessments for certain dangerous goods without seeking CASA permission. This removes red tape.

 

Have your say on the proposed dangerous goods changes by 5 September 2019.

 

 

We’ve got drone safety answers

 

 

Getting the right answers to questions about drone safety is now a lot easier. CASA’s dedicated drone website – www.droneflyer.gov.au – and the drone pages on the main CASA web site now have a new virtual assistant to answer questions. The assistant appears in the bottom right hand corner of the screen, badged ‘chat with CASA’. It answers general drone questions in real time and in plain English. In the first weeks of operation common questions posed have been about flying drones near airports, the CASA approved app, altitudes, restricted airspace and licences. The virtual assistant learns from each interaction to improve the information and responses. CASA has also refreshed droneflyer.gov.au and CASA web site drone pages, including updated information on the planned national registration and accreditation scheme. The web pages are branded with the theme ‘know your drone’. This theme will be used in future drone information campaigns, with the aim of better engaging with all drone operators. The know your drone brand was developed following extensive market research and testing with current and intending drone users.

 

Go to droneflyer.gov.au.

 

 

Get our magazine in print now

 

 

The first new print edition of CASA’s Flight Safety Australia magazine will be out soon. Anyone who ran out of time to subscribe for the Spring 2019 edition can subscribe now for the Summer edition. Each issue of Flight Safety Australia is packed with feature articles and news, historical crash analysis, accident reports, close calls, quizzes and a new, high impact ‘crash comic’. The print edition costs $39.95 a year - less than $10.00 per issue, or under 80 cents a week. Flight Safety Australia content can still be read online for free.

 

Subscribe now for the print edition of Flight Safety Australia.

 

 

No to Illawarra danger area

 

 

A proposal to create a danger area in airspace around a planned open cycle gas turbine power plant near the Illawarra Regional Aerodrome has not been supported by CASA. The proposal for an airspace change to mitigate the risks of a plume rise from the power station was carefully examined by CASA’s Office of Airspace Regulation. This included formal consultation with airspace users, operational advice from qualified pilots, a detailed safety analysis using subject matter experts and a hazard identification workshop. It was determined the danger area may reduce the potential risk to aircraft from the impact of the proposed plume rise but the required location of the plume and associated danger area would generate additional risks that could not be mitigated. The location and proximity of the proposed danger area would adversely impact aircraft operations in and around Illawarra Airport, with the resulting risks to aviation unacceptable.

 

 

In brief

 

 

• Pilots are being surveyed on the resources they need to support pre-flight navigational planning around controlled airspace. The survey asks pilots about their previous use of the tool OnTrack and other resources they use in planning flights. General comments and suggestions can be made about pre-flight planning information and resources. CASA has withdrawn OnTrack as it contained out of date information. Have your say on pre-flight planning support before 30 September 2019.
   
  
• Remember there is a new drone safety app which is a must have for all drone flyers. The OpenSky app will help all drone operators to easily identify where they can safely and lawfully fly across Australia. The old Can I Fly There? app has been retired. Get the new OpenSky app in app stores or online.
   
  
• Flight Safety Australia wants to hear about your close calls—and pays $500 if yours is published. Close calls can be from any sector of aviation, from paragliders to airline transport, including all types of rotary wing aircraft. And close calls are not just about pilots. Contributions are welcome from aircraft maintainers, ground handlers and cabin crew. Share a close call by visiting the Flight Safety Australia website.
   
  

 

 

Learn to expect the unexpected

 

 

The latest series of AvSafety seminars for pilots has the theme of ‘expect the unexpected’. Topics being covered include 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. Several case studies will be examined that involve 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 September 2019 AvSafety seminars will be held at:

 

• Aldinga
   
  
• Atherton
   
  
• Cairns
   
  
• Darwin
   
  
• Gold Coast
   
  
• Jacobs Well
   
  
• Katherine
   
  
• Maryborough
   
  
• Rockhampton
   
  
• Redcliffe
   
  
• William Creek.
   
  

 

 

 

Book a place at a pilot safety seminar now.

 

 

The human component of engineering

 

 

A new series of engineering AvSafety seminars is now underway. The theme of the seminars for engineers 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. CASA’s experts will use a number of case studies to delve into engineering errors, lessons from mistakes and techniques for avoiding pitfalls. 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 will welcome discussions and questions, both during and after the presentations. These seminars are a great opportunity to add to professional development, improve safety knowledge and build better teamwork.

 

In September 2019 engineering seminars are being held at:

 

• Adelaide
   
  
• Cairns
   
  
• Mackay
   
  
• Parafield
   
  
• Victoria River Downs.