CASA has moved to clarify concerns that Part 145 maintenance regulations will be imposed on general aviation maintenance, repair and over haul companies (MROs).
After a heated consultation meeting at Horsham in July, the MRO industry became concerned that proposed changes to the regulations would see over-prescriptive new rules force many MROs to close their doors or elect not to work on aircraft in the charter category. See the full story here.
In a strongly-worded statement released yesterday, CASA Director of Aviation Safety John McCormick moved to quash the fears.
"Recently there has been some disturbingly misinformed debate within sections of the general aviation community about proposed new maintenance regulations," McCormick began. "It is clear some people believe all of the new maintenance regulations currently covering the regular public transport sector are to be directly applied to general aviation. Let me make it very clear: this is not the case."
Part 145 regulations came into effect in July 2011, but at the time applied only to maintainers of regular public transport (RPT) aircraft. CASA indicated at the time that new rules to cover aircraft in the charter, airwork and private categories would be developed with consultation with the industry. According to McCormick's statement, that's exactly what CASA is doing now.
"Importantly this process begins with a discussion paper, the specific purpose of which is to inform and open a wide ranging conversation with the aviation industry and other stakeholders about the proposed direction of the new regulations.
"All this means, contrary to some of the ill-informed statements now being made by some people, that the anticipated new maintenance rules for the non-regular public transport sectors have not been determined, and will not be pre-determined.
"CASA will carefully consider the views of all interested and affected members of the industry and the wider aviation community, and we will take all reasonable comments and submissions into account before any rules are finalised.
"We fully recognise the regular public transport maintenance regulations cannot simply be applied across the board."
Comment has been sought from the Aviation Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Business Association (AMROBA). The full CASA statement can be read here.