The Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development has released the report of the Aviation Safety Regulation Review (ASRR) only days after the deadline for presenting it Minister Warren Truss.
The report includes 37 recommendations for change that, at first glance, appear to address many of the concerns aired by industry submissions.
Most importantly, several recommendations point directly at the need to change the culture within the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Among the recommendations are:
- ATSB to get involved in sport and recreation accidents
- The next Director of Aviation Safety should have experience in cultural change of large organisations
- CASA to develop a staff exchange program with industry
- CASA to change regulatory philosophy and build an industry relationship based on collaboration and respect
- CASA to publish and demonstrate a "just culture" that means people are not punished for actions that are in line with their training and experience levels - but willful negilgence still be not tolerated.
- CASA to re-establish small offices at industry centres
- CASA to review penalties in the CASRs
- DAMEs to issue all classes of medical where the standard is met.
In the executive summary, the three-person review panel had this to say on the matter of the current CASA culture.
"A number of countries with advanced aviation regulatory systems have developed collaborative relationships between their regulators and industry, leading to open sharing of safety data.
"Due to the present adversarial relationship between industry and CASA, Australia lacks the degree of trust required to achieve this important aim. Sharing safety data is a fundamental principle of good safety management.
"The Panel concludes that CASA and industry need to build an effective collaborative relationship on a foundation of mutual trust and respect. Therefore, CASA needs to set a new strategic direction."
The full ASRR report is available for download from the Department website.