Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Michael McCormack says he is keen to listen to proposals for regulatory reform from Australia’s general aviation sector.
Representatives from more than 30 industry associations have gathered in Wagga Wagga for a two-day Australian General Aviation Alliance (AGAA) general aviation summit, which kicked off on Monday.
The AGAA has proposed changing the wording of the Civil Aviation Act, which currently as stated calls on Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to “regard safety as the most important consideration” in its role regulating the industry.
Instead, CASA would be charged with ensuring the “highest level of safety in air navigation” in addition to having consideration for “an efficient and sustainable Australian aviation industry, including a viable general aviation and training sector” and “the need for more people to benefit from civil aviation”.
Further, the AGAA proposal also called for the main object of the act to be to establish a regulatory framework for maintaining, enhancing and promoting the safety of civil aviation with particular emphasis on preventing aviation accidents and incidents.
And the AGAA also wanted the Civil Aviation Act to recognise the “importance of having a strong, efficient and sustainable aviation industry, and of enabling more people to benefit from aviation”.
The chairman of the general aviation summit Geoff Breust said in his welcome letter to delegates that there was “already consensus that the Civil Aviation Act required amendment”.
“Indeed the view has been around for some years,” Breust said.
“Our task is to agree on what that amendment should be – if not the actual words, the real intent to be covered in the wording.”
Delegates were also expected to come up with a communique outlining reforms designed to lift the regulatory burden and lower costs for those working in the general aviation sector.
McCormack said the federal government welcomed any suggestions that would improve Australia’s aviation safety legislative and regulatory framework.
Further, the Minister encouraged all delegates to focus on proposals that were “likely to have a practical effect delivering tangible improvements to the challenges GA is facing”.
“The government is working with you to deliver meaningful reforms for the benefit of general aviation while maintaining the high aviation safety standards demanded by all Australians,” McCormack told delegates in his speech.
“I will continue to listen and carefully consider the issues raised by people in the general aviation sector, and the government and portfolio aviation agencies will respond appropriately.
“I am keen to hear from you on the key issues you want tackled by government and industry that relate to GA operations in Australia.
“As a former small business owner, a Minister for Small Business and editor of a regional newspaper here in Wagga, I am very conscious of the challenges faced by small business in Australia and the need to remove unnecessary costs and regulatory burden.”
Airline Owners and Pilots Association of Australia (AOPA) executive director Benjamin Morgan said a change to the Civil Aviation Act and the adoption of rules from US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would help unlock the potential of this country’s general aviation sector and meet the demand of the airline industry.
While some in the sector have been calling for genuine change for at least a decade, if not longer, Morgan said there was hope the current push would yield those sought after reforms.
“Our industry has had plenty of demands over the years so we appreciate and we value the support that the Deputy Prime Minister has shown today,” Morgan told reporters on Monday.
“I’m actually reasonably buoyed by the statements that have been made. I can see that there is a clear intent and what we are going to be working towards to make sure that that intent translates into action.
“The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association will be working very hard to see to it that the Deputy Prime Minister honours his word and continues to work with this industry to provide a viable outcome because the reality is if we don’t achieve this we will see the general aviation industry collapse even further.
“There is a large portion of our industry at risk.”
AOPA has previously described the general aviation sector as “collapsing under the weight of regulation” and slowly dying.
CASA reforms to be completed over the next year
McCormack said in his speech Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) was committed to completing the aviation regulatory reform package over the next 12 months.
In the meantime, there was ongoing work to improve the lot of those working in aviation, including general aviation.
To that end, the Minister announced in his speech changes to indemnity insurance for flight examiners.
“With effect from 1 September 2018, CASA indemnification will be provided to all Flight Examiner Rating holders and will continue for Approved Testing Officers,” McCormack told the summit.
“This announcement follows the completion of a policy review and public consultation by the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities earlier this year.
“This approach will help retain experienced industry flight testing personnel working in regional areas, I know this has been an issue that industry have been keen to see a resolution and I am glad that today we can announce the good news.”
News of the resolution surrounding indemnity insurance followed an announcement from CASA on Saturday it had introduced a new category of private pilot medical certificate that aimed to simplify the process and reduce costs for private pilots flying piston engine aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of less than 8618kg.
Further, operations were limited to below 10,000 feet in day visual flight rules conditions, with up to five non-fare-paying passengers.
The new Basic Class 2 medical certificate means pilots can use their own general practitioner for aviation medical certification, then complete the process online for a $10 processing fee.
This compared with having to visit a special aviation medical practitioner and pay a $75 processing fee under the previous arrangements.
“The new Basic Class 2 medical certificate is safe, simple, fair and inexpensive,” CASA director of aviation safety and chief executive Shane Carmody said in a statement.
“The medical certificate reforms made by CASA cut through unnecessary regulatory red tape and directly benefit many people in aviation, particularly those in general aviation.
“This is tangible evidence that CASA is working successfully to reduce the regulatory burden on the aviation community while maintaining appropriate safety standards.”
Further, McCormack said CASA had started work with the industry on the development of new general aviation maintenance regulations.
“There will be a new set of maintenance regulations tailored specifically for general aviation, which will be based as far as possible on best practices in leading aviation nations, such as the United States,” McCormack said.
“CASA is also working on improvements to the regulations covering maintenance personnel licensing and aircraft design and manufacturing.”
