We’re ready to embrace eVTOLs, says CASA CEO

We sought wider industry feedback before we finalised the instrument to ensure there are no unintended consequences of how we are giving effect to this system. This follows a path we took with changes to Cessna SIDs requirements earlier this year and gives industry a chance to let us know if there’s something we’d inadvertently missed. The changes mean pilots who are qualified to fly helicopters in what will ultimately be a new class and want to fly another type of helicopter in the same class will no longer need a separate type rating.

But they will need to complete type-specific training and a flight review in the helicopter type they intend to fly to ensure they can safely make the transition. Instructors and examiners will also be positively affected by this change and won’t have to hold a training or flight examiner endorsement for each type of helicopter in the class.

This may seem like a simple change, but it is quite complex from a legal standpoint. CASA also needs to adapt its IT systems to accommodate the change and there will need to be modifications to operations manuals. This means we will initially have to process applications manually. The need to work with industry was underscored by the attendance of our board at ROTORTECH and the desire of members to meet with attendees.

We also backed the future of our industry and its emerging leaders by announcing five recipients of our aircraft maintenance engineer scholarships. These five promising individuals were among more than 100 high quality applicants. The scholarships are part of our push to address some of the issues the industry is facing today.

Our recently released General Aviation Workplan sets out our commitment to address well-articulated issues such as the need to simplify maintenance for private and aerial work operators and reform our aviation medical policy. The GA workplan sets out a schedule for the next 18 months covering a range of initiatives we are either already working on or plan to introduce.

We also peered a bit further into the future and the emergence of new technologies such as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL). Some Australian companies have already announced their intention to buy eVTOL aircraft, many with Embraer subsidiary Eve. The situation is moving quickly in terms of both the aircraft and the facilities they will use, including vertiports. It’s anticipated that Joby Aviation, which has been in the US certification process for several years, and Germany’s Volocopter will launch services in the next two years. Our expectation is that Eve will not be too far behind them.

We are engaging through the International Civil Aviation Organization and other national aviation authorities to make sure we remain in step with, and influence, the international approach to regulating these exciting new developments. We also acknowledged the challenge for CASA, and our colleagues at Airservices Australia to design, implement and operate airspace that can give everyone fair access to the skies.

Again, this is an international issue and we are working with our global counterparts. In a world where things are complex and moving quickly, we wanted to provide some clarity on our approach to safety regulation and oversight. We have worked very closely with industry to develop a long-term regulatory vision through the RPAS and Advanced Air Mobility Strategic Regulatory Roadmap.

But let me return to the message I hope people took away from our involvement in ROTORTECH: the need for all of us to work together. We consult on policy at different stages – in the early stages of policy development, and again when we take that policy and your feedback and start writing the regulations. This means when we put something out for consultation it is not set in stone but it is a result of hard work by the Aviation Safety Advisory Panel and the technical working groups.

And we may have already considered input from broader industry too. We put it out for comment to make sure we have it right and to avoid unintended consequences. We also want to understand the impact of our proposals on operators – big and small. We are not swayed by campaigns that assume the force of numbers outweighs logic. We do want to hear what operational implications or issues you might be concerned about.

And we will address the issues that are raised.