CASA will conduct a review of aerodrome regulations with the aim of reducing the burden on the aviation industry.
The objectives for the review include a gap analysis against ICAO standards to align rules with international best practice and collaborating with the aviation industry to improve the regulations without compromising safety.
In announcing the review in his CASA Briefing for November, Acting Director of Aviation Safety, Terry Farquharson said: "One key aim of the review will be removing any unnecessary regulatory burdens and costs resulting from the current aerodrome regulations. A project has been established to review Part 139 of the Civil Aviation Regulations and the associated manual of standards.
"These rules were implemented in 2003, meaning there have since been changes in international practices and standards, developments in the aviation industry and many evolutions in technology."
According to CASA, the aviation industry is loaded with unnecessary cost and operating impacts resulting from:
- the ongoing transition from legacy standards which existed prior to the CASR Part 139 implementation
- requirements in Part 139 MOS which exceed equivalent ICAO Annex 14 requirements without clear justification
- disconnects between Part 139 and other CASA regulatory parts, standards and advisory information
- inflexible standards which necessitate compliance with legacy technology when superior infrastructure and equipment has since become available
- standards which don't reflect the operating requirements for current-generation aircraft
- complexities with understanding the three types of aerodrome categorisation under Part 139 as well as Aeroplane Landing Areas and Helicopter Landing Sites which are unregulated.
The review will result in a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) being developed for industry comment.
More information on the review is available on the CASA website.