SAAA NTM Update.
From the National Technical Manager
During the last two weeks I have been involved in considerable activity with respect to the three matters reported in this memo.
1 CASR 149
The entire Australian aviation regulatory suite is being transitioned from the CARs of 1988 to the new Civil Aviation Safety Regulations. CASR 149 introduces an entirely new regulation which will allow CASA to authorise Approved Self-administering Aviation Organisations (ASAO). CASR 149 is especially relevant to Recreational Aviation Organisations (RAO). I would like to highlight the conceptual differences between the current rules and the new CASRs in an effort to emphasise the importance and value of CASR 149 to the SAAA.
Old CAR 1988 Regulations:
Under the previous CAR 1988 regulations, aviation activities were conducted to a very prescriptive set of rules. E.g. “CASA says you must do this, do it in this manner, and only CASA will approve the procedures you use to perform the activity or changes to the way you do it”. Even with all this control and oversight, CASA continued to survey the conduct of such activities.
New CASR Regulations:
The new CASR regulations take a different and more modern approach to achieving the outcomes. The CASRs in concept only define the basic rules. The final objectives are achieved by allowing the organisation flexibility to select methods of its own choosing to obtain the required outcomes. Typically the “Rule Book” used by an Organisation (referred to as its “Exposition”) will set out the details of how it will achieve its objectives. The Exposition is accepted by CASA during the ASAO’s approval evaluation and only significant changes require approval thereafter.
An important difference introduced by CASR149 is the concept that SAAA will need to select and appoint suitable people to perform various approved activities within the CASR 149 organisation. The processes for assessing their knowledge and experience, providing suitable training, checking their competence, issuing their appointment authorisations and monitoring their performance will all have to be well documented for accountability to CASA . Our APs, TCs, Flight Training appointees, etc. will all fall into this realm.
I attended a CASA briefing in Sydney on the 22nd and 23rd July 2014 and have delivered a report to your NC members outlining the benefits and obligations for the SAAA of working under CASR 149. I have recommended to them that SAAA should transition to operations under CASR 149 as soon as practical. I have now been tasked to work with them to develop a transition plan with the intent of delivering this plan at the AGM.
2 RISK RADAR
The Risk Radar was originally developed by Andy George in WA and has been adopted into the SAAAs “Authorised Person” Manual of Procedures. CASA and other parties overseas have commented very favorably on the safety benefits from using this concept. Our radar is however an infant in development at this time. I envisage that it could become an integral part of our aircraft certification tracking and data collection procedures under CASR 149. I am aware that there are some proactive members within the SAAA who have already taken steps to design improved versions and would like their safety benefits to become available to all members as soon as possible.
I have identified a couple of talented members who are willing to take the lead in the development process of both the risk radar and the procedures to use and manage it. I would therefore like to ask any members who have designed improvements, or have suggestion for improvements, to email these (.xls or .doc) to me at technical@saaa.com before the 24th August. I will task these guys to roll this information into a revision to be implemented into use until such time as the CASR 149 transition takes place. At that time, a revision appropriate to any amended procedures introduced under CASR 149 will need to be introduced.
3 WEIGHT and BALANCE
There have been several enquiries by members requesting confirmation about the status of their aircraft which have receive EAB C of A issued by SAAA appointed APs for which the builders managed the W&B themselves. Whilst I have had several contacts with CASA, this is difficult to answer this because of the unintentional regulatory discrepancies that have occurred. A formal advice has been requested from CASA. In the mean time, I am more than happy to discuss the situation with anyone who would like to email me at technical@saaa.com or call the SAAA technical phone number 0417 555 030 (preferably after 5pm WA time).
Yours Sincerely
Geoff Danes
SAAA National Technical Manager
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