Filling the void

In 2013, the TAAAF policies fundamentally changed the government’s approach to aviation policy and especially the difficulties being experienced with CASA. The 2016 policies have the potential to take that change much further.

While there are a range of initiatives outlined in the 2016 policies that cover all areas of the industry/government interface, two key elements stand out.

Firstly, the privatisation of Airservices Australia and the subsequent creation of an Aviation Future Fund will drive leadership development, improved training systems, international harmonisation and aviation research.

Secondly, a realistic pathway will repair the ‘enfant terrible’ that is CASA, which continues to fail in the face of fair demands for simplicity, timeliness and efficiency.

Unlike ‘thought bubbles’, the TAAAF policies are fully costed, fully funded and practical. The policies offer a bottom line positive impact of over $2 billion – even when taking into account proposed new expenditure commitments.

The policies are based on existing proven experience. This includes the not-for-profit model of privatisation that allows NavCanada to hold down airways charges and improve safety and the benefits that flow from an internationally harmonised rule-set – as per the NZ approach.

TAAAF has identified significant savings for government through a new and fairer approach to funding CASA and a coherent efficiency drive that would pare CASA back to its previous staffing levels of 600 (it currently runs at about 830).

As anyone trying to conduct an aviation business would know, CASA delays, cost and red tape have continued to deteriorate while the bureaucracy half-heartedly tries to implement the Forsyth review and seemingly ignores the ongoing train-wrecks of Parts 61/141 and CAO 48. 1. While a range of recent redundancies may have gone some small way to removing change impediments, industry is still left wondering what part of ‘urgent’ does CASA management not understand? The long-term damage caused to the industry by new regulations across maintenance, licensing, training, fatigue management and operations is only part of the story. The short-term impact on jobs, lost exports and business opportunities and the incremental time-wasting on byzantine CASA paperwork continues to take an obvious toll on industry productivity.

Moving CASA to risk-based, outcome-focused regulations will make a real difference to both productivity and safety. If industry doesn’t have to continually focus on trying to comply with stupidly complex regulations, it will have more time to focus on front-line safety issues.

This is particularly critical for smaller companies that simply don’t have the income to support someone in the office full-time chasing paper. A new classification of operations policy and sector risk profiles that better match risk and capabilities to regulatory philosophy is a fundamental part of the TAAAF policy and offers huge benefits to both the government and industry.

Another major element is the need to modernise the Civil Aviation Act 1988 so that CASA has to regulate what matters, and not regulate where there is no clear safety outcome.

It’s time for government – including the Minister and the CASA board – to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty in turning CASA from the crippled, process-ridden, inefficient bureaucracy that is the shame of this country to a regional leader of good aviation practice and positive outcome delivery.

The test for all political parties in this election campaign is to come up with concrete plans to help aviation. The raw material has already been provided by industry.

AAAA Convention , Surfers Paradise, 15-16 June

If you are a professional aerial application pilot or business owner looking for continuing development education units for AAAA’s Professional Pilot Program, then look no further than the AAAA Convention on the 15th and 16th of June.

Training will be available across a range of topics, including GPS classes and a masterclass for AAAA’s Aerial Improvement Management System (AIMS). A great line-up of speakers, a trade display and lots of networking opportunities make this the annual ‘do-not-miss’ event. Registration and program are available from the AAAA website – www. aerialag.com.au.

The policies offer a bottom line positive impact of over $2 billion.