• AMT manufactures composite tail rotors for Bell 206 Jet Rangers. (Robert Frola)
    AMT manufactures composite tail rotors for Bell 206 Jet Rangers. (Robert Frola)
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Changes to the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) between Australia and the USA are set to give Australian parts manufacturers easier and cheaper access to the huge US market, according to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

CASA Acting CEO Shane Carmody outlined the agreement amendments in his March 2017 CASA Briefing newsletter.

"The changes will benefit Australian aviation parts and products designers and manufacturers, as well as people and companies that export aircraft and aircraft products to the United States," Carmody says.

"In a range of circumstances these amendments allow for easier acceptance by the US Federal Aviation Administration [FAA] of CASA supplemental type certificates and associated Australian authorised release certificates. The changes will deliver a significant financial boost for a number of sectors of the Australian aviation industry, including small design organisations, parts suppliers and large airlines. 

"New opportunities will be created to sell existing designs and products and to grow business. Importantly, costs are reduced without compromising safety."

Ken Cannane, Executive Director of the Aviation Maintenance Repair and Overhaul business association hailed the new agreement as a step forward for the Australian industry.

"The changes to the BASA Implementation Procedures will help FAA acceptance of a CASA issued STC so the FAA can issue their STC," he said. "It is a historic change that will benefit Australia’s design and parts manufacturing industry.

"It is a great achievement ... and will open Australian innovation and entrepreneurial management skills to development of products that will create jobs in Australia for a change."

Cannane gives much credit for the changes to Caboolture-based AMT Helicopters, which was used as a trial STC. AMT took their team to the FAA to justify the acceptance of the CASA process.

AMT manufactures composite tail rotor blades for Bell Jet Rangers.

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said the changes would also benefit Australian companies and individuals who export aircraft and aircraft products to the United States.

“There are more than 40 Australian aviation design organisations and more than 80 aviation production organisations that will have lower costs and less red tape when exporting to the US market,” Chester said.

“A range of Australian design and manufacturing approvals will now be accepted in the US without the need for additional and sometimes costly work.

“People and organisations wanting to sell their aircraft into the US should have fewer regulatory hurdles to contend with.

“These amendments save money and streamline regulatory requirements without in any way compromising safety standards."

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