The Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) has slammed CASA's proposal to recognise LAME qualification from foreign engineers as posing "unacceptable risks".
ALAEA general manager Glynn Sowter posted on the association's website this week, calling on members to respond to CASA's consultation. The post also outlines issues the ALAEA says it will include in its own feedback.
"After careful review, the ALAEA believes the proposal, in its current form, poses unacceptable risks to licence standards, job security and the long‑term health of our profession," Sowter says in the post.
According to the ALAEA, the key concerns identified in the CASA proposal are:
- inadequate consultation period – fewer than four weeks to consider wide‑ranging regulatory changes
- missing supporting material – no guidance, competency‑mapping or impact analysis has been provided
- ICAO Annex 1 requirements overlooked – the draft is silent on the mandated practical‑skills component
- troubling overseas precedents – European regulators are facing safety and workforce issues linked to similar fast‑track arrangements
- erosion of local training – reducing the need to train Australian engineers jeopardises future workforce sustainability
- premature authorisations – allowing foreign licence holders to work before completing a CASA assessment is unacceptable.
Sowter encouraged all ALAEA members to respond to CASA whether or not they agreed with the official association policy.
The ALAEA approach highlights a rift in the MRO industry, with the Aviation Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Business Association (AMROBA) previously putting their support behind the proposal as a way of addressing engineer shortages.
CASA's consultation period ends on 4 June, with responders able to submit feedback via the Consultation Hub.