The Board of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) meets six times per calendar year to fulfil its obligations under Section 53 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 to decide the objectives, strategies and policies to be followed by CASA; to ensure that CASA performs its functions in a proper, efficient and effective manner.
The CASA Board met in Hobart on 12 October 2023. This was an important location for us to visit as there is no CASA office in Tasmania. We hosted an evening event prior to the Board meeting, and invited aviation community members from across all sectors and Tasmanian postcodes to attend. It was an excellent turnout and we held informal discussions with attendees on a range of issues, several of which featured in discussions at the Board meeting the following day.
Hobart also presented us with the perfect opportunity to introduce our newest Board member, Dr Tarryn Kille, a resident of the Apple Isle, who was appointed to the Board two days earlier. Dr Kille has been a member of our Aviation Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) since June last year; a role she will now step down from as she joins the Board. She began her aviation career as a professional pilot and flight instructor, and has extensive experience across aviation research, regulatory policy and operations. Tarryn is an Associate Professor, Program Director and Aviation Discipline Lead at the University of Southern Queensland, lecturing in aviation leadership and management, and has a PhD in aviation sustainability. Tarryn is a welcome addition to the CASA Board.
CASA Board meetings follow a theme-based agenda focusing on organisational matters and operational matters that affect the aviation industry. The organisational matters centred around CASA’s corporate governance, financial position, the status of major projects, cyber security issues, organisational culture, workplace health and safety, and workforce planning. The Board received a briefing from the Chair of the People and Culture Sub-Committee and discussed matters relevant to CASA’s workforce. The Board also received reports from the Audit and Risk Committee and the Industry Complaints Commissioner.
The Board reviewed the results of the recent Australian Public Service (APS) Census. The Census results provide data on employee engagement and employees’ perception on organisational performance across a range of workplace elements such as leadership, communication and change, workplace conditions, wellbeing, innovation and inclusion. The Board will monitor CASA’s action to address those areas of concern raised in the Census, which will be set out in CASA’s action plan for the census, to support the health and well-being of our staff.
CASA’s Executive Management Team provided updates on a range of operational and regulatory initiatives. This included standing reports on the operational surveillance framework which has transitioned in some areas to the new national oversight model and the reporting of accidents and incidents to the Board. The Board received an update on progress against the General Aviation (GA) Workplan and the Forward Regulatory Program (FRP), on which we report annually to the Minister.
The Board was also updated on actions following the Aerial Firefighting Campaign conducted last year, which included that a strategic partnership has been developed between CASA and the Australasian Fire and Emergency Authorities (AFAC). A recent meeting allowed CASA to provide accident and incident data, while the Office of Airspace Regulation updated on firegrounds and related protocols.
The Board was briefed on a surveillance event which is underway in Northern Australia focusing on:
- compliance checks on rotary wing air transport operations;
- ensuring the appropriate recording of hours flown and maintenance releases; and
- visibility of CASA staff in remote locations.
The Board continues to monitor a range of matters that impact industry. This includes access to controlled airspace, feedback on the proposed Class 5 medical self-declaration certification, changes to Part 43 for the maintenance of aircraft engaged in private and aerial work operations, and the anticipated outcomes of the Aviation White Paper. There are several competing priorities and CASA is treating each matter as efficiently and effectively as it possibly can.
Lastly, Hobart provided the Board with a great opportunity to visit two local operations either side of the Board meeting: the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) located in Kingston, and Par Avion and Helicopter Resources located in Cambridge. These on-site visits provided us with an excellent opportunity to hear first-hand the challenges faced by operators in the current environment.
The next Board meeting will be held in Sydney on 7 December 2023. We are hoping to host a visit from representatives of the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (NZ CAA) to discuss matters of mutual interest.
Air Chief Marshal (Ret’d) Mark Binskin AC
Chair, CASA Board