Pressure is now mounting from all GAAP airport users for a case by case review of  CASA CEO John McCormick’s “Directive 329/09”,  which applies uniform restrictions on all GAAPs regardless of major differences in airspace layout, traffic movements and other key issues.  In the most recent move Jandakot airport users have written to the Director claiming his decision was based on now-discredited advice, without an impact statement or appropriate consultation, battering their businesses and damaging the training industry’s international credibility.  Several independent experts have also criticised the language and the risk analysis methodology and assumptions of the “Ambidji Report” on which the decision was based. Jandakot users say they are now being locked out of…

Industry identities this week were dismayed at a reported CASA decision to establish an in-house “Ethics …

Many aviation industry identities have contacted us over the past week to express surprise at a series of recent executive appointments by CASA’s new CEO John McCormick. Their concerns cover virtually all CASA activity – regulatory reform, flying operations, airworthiness, aviation medicine, compliance & enforcement and legal. They are shocked to find that many of the necessary reforms implemented under Bruce Byron appear now to be reversed by individuals who have been unexpectedly promoted within the organisation.

Imagine finding yourself at the controls of a heavy jet bomber that just accidently became airborne, …

Three Queensland pilots set out from Caboolture today on a 5,000 km tour of far-flung coastal …

Opinion Editorial – Paul Phelan,
Two years and two months ago, a Jetstar Airbus A320 jet laden …

A serious in-flight electrical system failure in an Easyjet Airbus A319-111 has prompted a concerning final …

In case you haven’t heard of Jack Pelton, he’s American, and a true-blue GA pilot with …

It’s almost as if Bankstown Airport Limited (BAL) was deliberately thumbing its corporate nose at both Minister Albanese and aircraft operators with its seemingly unbridled anti-aviation activity.  The Minister has warned all airport lessee companies (ALC) that the government now believes there are a range of activities approved or sought by ALCs that “may be incompatible with the aviation operations of airports.” The list of such activities is almost a catalogue of the various uses implemented or proposed by ALCs in the recent past.

A weekend ring-around to senior staff of GAAP-based flying schools told us they’re unanimous that CASA Director John McCormick’s Class D airspace directive is the most positive step GA has seen from the regulator for many years.  But our survey also revealed serious unintended loose ends that need to be fixed very quickly. Most of these don’t spring from Mr McCormick’s Class D edict, but from two related issues.

CASA Director John McCormick has issued legal directions to Airservices Australia, ordering a sweeping transformation of the air traffic control environments at Australia’s six capital city general aviation airports’ (GAAP).  Notice and draft copies of the proposed directions were first issued on 15 July 2009, and became effective from 0001 AEST on Tuesday 21 July.

CASA has engaged Melbourne-based external investigator aCkTiF Solutions to aid it in a review into Mr Rudd’s written (and later verbal) allegations that three its inspectors have “acted in a way that breaches the CASA Code of Conduct.” (See previous article – Dad’s Army Rides Again.)  Although there are lots of references…

You’re about to find out why Mareeba pilot Richard Rudd is sometimes less than obsequious in the presence of CASA officials.  On July 11 2007 Mr Rudd was checking the security of a split pin on an elevator hinge of his Wilga aircraft when CASA airworthiness inspector Peter Larard approached him. The aircraft at that time…

Bruce Byron and some of his senior colleagues have done a great job cleaning up some serious regulatory black spots. But sadly there’s a surviving “culture” among a handful of CASA individuals who haven’t yet got the message, despite the welcome departures of several of their colleagues. Events suggest there’s still a bad smell around – hence the headline.  Some of the miscreants’ specialties appear to include negligent misstatement

Why is it that the only aviation-responsible minister ever to have faced-off greed-driven airport operators and their local government mates has been former Minister Mark Vaile?  The newest battlefront is at Evans Head on NSW’s north coast, where local government seems ready to sidestep its public consultation obligations by supporting a retirement village and nursing home subdivision that would all but shut down the town’s historic airport.

Privatisation. Land Developers vs. The Little Guy
Article posted on the 2nd of November 2008, by Ben …