TEFC                     

CASA’s Expectations of RAAOs

I have outlined for you some of the actions we are taking to make CASA a more robust, effective and efficient regulator. I would also like to outline some of the expectations CASA has of the RAAOs.

Australian sports aviation operates under self-administration. This means that CASA sets the regulations, and then works with the RAAOs to ensure that regulations are applied and enforced. The RAAOs provide CASA with specialist knowledge and insight into the sport aviation industry so that the sector may continue to operate safely.

As you are aware, the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 were not intended to regulate this class of aircraft or activities. RAAOs oversighting these activities do so under exemptions and delegations. This set of rules allows specialist aircraft that do not meet certification standards to operate through a series of exemptions from the regulations which apply to broader aviation activities.

However, these exemptions are conditional.

CASA expects that the RAAOs main purpose for existence to be to oversight members’ activities and assure CASA that these activities are conducted safely. CASA needs to be fully confident that RAAOs have the capacity to provide the required safety outcomes. If organisations can not assure CASA of this, then CASA can not allow the organisation to continue to administer its activities under the exemption.

However, CASA provides considerable assistance to help RAAOs meet this expectation. We want to see a successful sports aviation sector. But one that can operate safely.

I will be launching the sport aviation self-administration hand book today to help define organisational performance standards, governance standards and the expectation CASA has of RAAO board members. We have commissioned the development of industry risk profiles for each RAAO and established the Sports Aviation Enhancement Program to reduce risk and improve governance across the sector.

We have also established a Sports Aviation Office. The Sports Aviation Office applies a risk-based assurance model to oversight of sports aviation and the RAAOs. A key part of this is undertaking corporate and functional audits of the RAAOs – which we will be increasing. In addition, the Sports Aviation Office acts as a focal point for contact between the sector and CASA.

The Sports Aviation Office is also tasked with working in close cooperation with the RAAOs and I am hopeful that together we can consolidate the considerable improvements we have seen in the sector.

In closing I would like to leave you with words from the Australian National Aviation Policy Statement:

“Safety is crucial to the aviation industry and must underpin every aspect of its operation. Safety needs to be at the foundation of every agency, every business and every flight.”