CASA today announced it has established a task force to address the numerous issues with the new suite licensing regulations.
The 26-person TF will work full-time on resolving problems with CASR Parts 61, 64, 141 and 142, working closely with an advisory panel made up of people from the aviation community.
Several key organisations have already been invited onto the advisory panel including The Australian Aviation Associations Forum (TAAAF), the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the Aviation Business Association of Australia (ABAA) and the Royal Federation of Aero Clubs Australia (RFACA).
Other representatives from the regular public transport, mustering, training and tertiary institutions have also been invited onto the panel.
CASA’s Director of Aviation Safety, Mark Skidmore, said the Part 61 Solutions Taskforce and the advisory panel will work intensively to address unintended consequences in the licensing suite.
“CASA has already addressed many concerns that have been identified in the new licensing regulations but I understand more needs to be done,” Skidmore said.
“This is a priority and that’s why I need a dedicated team of people within CASA working full-time on the issues.
“Just as importantly we need advice and guidance from the aviation community to prioritise actions and verify that successful solutions have been found.
“The advisory panel will meet formally as required and at other times I expect its members to be in close contact with the CASA taskforce as work progresses.
“I require real solutions to the issues with the licensing suite as quickly as they can be delivered.”
The TF is expected to begin work immediately, with one of the aims to ensure that the new regulations don't impose unnecessary costs or restrictions on the aviation industry and make sure they are not an impediment to future growth.
Parts 61 and 64 relate to licensing and approvals, and Parts 141 and 142 apply to flying schools. CASA has been under extreme pressure from the aviation community to resolve issues with the new regulations that have seen flying training organisations confused and overloaded with trying to comply.
As well as the new task force, CASA has extended the deadline for training organisations to change to the new regulations by another year. The deadline is now 31 August 2018.