CASA

Small aviation organisations will be able to use a new simplified and streamlined process to comply with important drug and alcohol management requirements.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is introducing the simplified drug and alcohol management processes for aviation organisations with seven or fewer employees engaged in safety sensitive activities.

The new simplified processes do not apply to any aviation organisation engaged in or providing services to regular public transport operations.

Aviation organisations eligible to use the new drug and alcohol compliance processes will use a standard drug and alcohol management plan provided by CASA. Full details of eligibility requirements are on CASA’s web site.

Organisations will also use a CASA e-learning package to educate and train their employees in drug and alcohol responsibilities.

CASA’s Director of Aviation Safety, John McCormick, said the new drug and alcohol compliance processes for small organisations recognised that the existing requirements could be unnecessarily onerous for these operations.

“We are making life easier for small aviation organisations by streamlining the process of drug and alcohol management while maintaining high safety standards,” Mr McCormick said.

“Small aviation organisations will no longer have to develop their own drug and alcohol management plans.”

“By using CASA’s new drug and alcohol management plan and new on-line training small aviation organisations will save time and resources and still be confident they are meeting all the regulatory requirements.

“CASA has listened to the concerns of the aviation industry about the impact of drug and alcohol management plans on small organisations and found a solution that is simpler and protects safety.”

Small aviation organisations using the new processes will still be required to report to CASA every six months on their drug and alcohol management performance and CASA will continue to check on compliance.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (Australia) suspended Alligator Airways’ air operator’s certificate and certificate of approval on 3 May 2012 because the company’s conduct of operational and maintenance-related activities was seen to pose a serious and imminent risk to air safety.

On 18 May 2012, the Federal Court granted CASA’s application for an order to prohibit Alligator Airways from operating until 4 June 2012.

This prohibition order allowed CASA to finalise its investigations into a range of safety issues, including two recent serious incidents involving aircraft operated by Alligator Airways.

Under the Civil Aviation Act, once investigations are completed, CASA has up to an additional five working days from 5 June 2012 to issue a show case notice if CASA believes there would still be a serious and imminent risk to air safety if Alligator Airways was to resume operations.

If CASA does issue a show case notice the suspension will continue while the matters raised in that notice are addressed and a final decision made whether to vary, suspend or cancel the certificates. This could take up to 33 days.

All licensed aircraft maintenance engineers, apprentices and aircraft maintenance engineers are being urged to attend a seminar on Australia’s new aviation maintenance regulations.

All licensed aircraft maintenance engineers, apprentices and aircraft maintenance engineers are being urged to attend a seminar on Australia’s new aviation maintenance regulations.

A series of 13 seminars on the new maintenance rules are being held by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority across the nation from mid March to mid April.

Seminars are being run in all capital cities, except Canberra, as well as Newcastle, Wagga and Cairns.

The new maintenance regulations come into effect on 27 June 2011.

All licensed aircraft maintenance engineers (LAMEs) with current licences will have them converted to the new regulations before 27 June 2011. It is expected new licences will be issued in early June.

LAMEs with licences that expire before the end of June are reminded to renew their existing licence.

While LAMEs will retain their current privliges under the new rules it is important they understand how the new regulatory system operates and its impact on all sectors of the aviation maintenance industry.

Apprentices and aircraft maintenance engineers also need an overview of the rule changes.

Importantly, under the new rules there will be a focus on safety management systems and human factors training will be introduced for maintenance organisations which support regular public transport operations.

The new maintenance suite of regulations covers all LAMEs, all maintenance training organisations, maintenance organisations maintaining regular public transport aircraft and regular public transport air operators.

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.

Special flight safety checks are being carried out at Canberra aerodrome this week.

There will be a series of low-level flights to make sure flight paths at the aerodrome continue to operate safely.

A twin-engine Cessna Conquest aircraft will be used to conduct the safety checks within an area up to 35 kilometres from the aerodrome.

The two pilots flying the aircraft will ensure navigation aids are operational and not suffering interference, as well as looking for any new obstacles that could be a danger to aviation safety.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority requires these checks to be carried out every three years to maintain a high level of air safety at Canberra aerodrome.

Low-level flying is an essential part of the safety exercise, with aircraft down as low as several hundred feet at times.

Local residents may notice an uncommon flying pattern, but this is to make sure obstacles are accurately marked on charts and no new obstacles exist. Obstacles can be towers, trees, masts or buildings that can be a danger to aircraft.

The checks are scheduled to be carried out on Tuesday 18 January 2011.

If poor weather or other factors do not allow the safety checks to go ahead on the planned days they will be carried out as soon as possible.

CASA has contracted the operation of the special check flights out to Radiola Aerospace Pty Ltd – a company with wide international expertise in these specialist operations.

Special flight safety checks are being carried out at Moree aerodrome next week.

There will be a series of low-level flights to make sure flight paths at the aerodrome continue to operate safely.

A twin-engine Cessna Conquest aircraft will be used to conduct the safety checks within an area up to 35 kilometres from the aerodrome.

The two pilots flying the aircraft will ensure navigation aids are operational and not suffering interference, as well as looking for any new obstacles that could be a danger to aviation safety.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority requires these checks to be carried out every three years to maintain a high level of air safety at Moree aerodrome.

Low-level flying is an essential part of the safety exercise, with aircraft down as low as several hundred feet at times.

Local residents may notice an uncommon flying pattern, but this is to make sure obstacles are accurately marked on charts and no new obstacles exist. Obstacles can be towers, trees, masts or buildings that can be a danger to aircraft.

The checks are scheduled to be carried out on Wednesday 19 January 2011 and Thursday 20 January.

If poor weather or other factors do not allow the safety checks to go ahead on the planned days they will be carried out as soon as possible.

CASA has contracted the operation of the special check flights out to Radiola Aerospace Pty Ltd – a company with wide international expertise in these specialist operations

CASA Media Release –
Monday 10 January 2011

Warrnambool pilots are being urged to attend an important air safety workshop next week.

The workshop will give local pilots special training to improve their flying and safety skills.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is holding the workshop to help make the skies over Warrnambool even safer.

Safety issues to be covered at the workshop include airmanship. There will also be the opportunity for pilots to ask questions and raise issues about local flying.

CASA’s Peter Gibson says the workshop is part of a national regional air safety campaign.

“Giving pilots from Warrnambool extra training will lift their safety skills to even higher levels,” Mr Gibson says.

“All pilots receive comprehensive training but this workshop means they will be even better equipped to fly safely at all times and deal with emergencies.

“Warrnambool has a good air safety record but accidents do happen and everyone in aviation must work hard to keep local skies safe.”

The workshop is being held at the Warrnambool Mid City Inn on Thursday 20 January 2011, starting at 6pm.

CASA is providing free refreshments for everyone on the night.

New maintenance regulations

Australia’s aviation maintenance industry will reap a wide range of benefits from a new suite of safety regulations.

The maintenance suite of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations was made by the Governor General last week and formally registered today.

It covers continuing airworthiness requirements (Part 42), approved maintenance organisations (Part 145), maintenance personnel licensing (Part 66) and maintenance training organisations (Part 147).

The new regulations will be introduced from 27 June 2011. The rules covering continuing airworthiness and maintenance organisations only apply to regular public transport aircraft and operations, and are being phased in over two years.

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.

All licensed aircraft maintenance engineers will have their licenses re-issued under the new regulations, with current privileges retained.

CASA will begin a comprehensive information and education campaign early in 2011 to make sure the aviation industry is ready for the new regulations well before the commencement date.

CASA’s Director of Aviation Safety, John McCormick, said the maintenance suite will bring real benefits to Australian aviation.

“Safety will be enhanced by ensuring regular public transport operators have a continuing airworthiness management system,” Mr McCormick said.

“Safety systems and human factors training will be introduced for maintenance organisations which support regular public transport operations.

“In addition, the new rules are more closely aligned with many other leading aviation nations, making it easier for Australia to do business with the rest of the world.

“The outcome-based approach of the new regulations means there is a clear focus on safety outcomes at all times, while providing the aviation maintenance industry with flexibility.

“The flexibility will provide Australia with the ability to respond positively to innovation and technological developments in the future.”