One thing CASA doesn't lack is the courage to pick up a stick and ram it hard into the side of a large bear. They've done it again with their rankings of regulatory burden. CASR Parts 66 and 147 have been ranked low burden, whilst CASR Part 145 has been ranked as medium burden. The maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) industry may consider all of this as high burden in their review, if their past stance on these suites is any indicator. On the upside, CASA has ranked Part 67 on medicals as high burden. Those with long memories, however, will recall the Byron days when the burden was officially recognised, resulting in nothing happening at all. Same under McCormick, so we have to question if this high ranking for Part 67 means anything of substance. We have the opportunity to send CASA our own rankings, but we need to be honest and resist the temptation to rank everything as high burden; that would give CASA an excuse to ignore our input.
Richard Rudd and Rob Cumming's Caravan to Canberra expedition highlights where the general aviation industry is at with the regulator: they've had enough. Richard and Rob will arrive in the capital this weekend bringing exactly that message on a mobile billboard. It's true that there is not a lot they can tell politicians that the politicians haven't been told before, and although they will get a sympathetic ear from supporters, they'll still get a deaf ear from CASA. However, Richard and Rob are doing something rather than just sitting and complaining, and you've got to applaud that.
Qantas Founders Museum has added a Super Connie to their museum in Longreach, The aircraft has been derelict in The Philippines for years, so it will need a good clean-up and restoration before taking up its spot beside the B707 and B747 already there. The Connie is a significant aircraft for Qantas and a vital addition to their collection. What might have been nice is if the announcement had been about flying a B767 up there instead of consigning them all to the graveyards in the USA. There might still be time for them to consider this, although Qantas might not feel the 76 deserves a place in their history, despite being their first Extended Twin Engine Operations (ETOPS) aircraft and having the first glass cockpits in the Qantas fleet. There's also the matter of money; they might still be able to sell some of them given the economy they still represent.
May your gauges always be in the green,
Hitch