Could US Aviation Officials Learn Something Here?
Australian Civil Aviation Safety
Authority CEO Bruce Byron this week introduced eight principles for
the development of an improved aviation safety culture in his
country during a recent conference down under.
Byron detailed the principles in a keynote address to this
year's Safeskies conference in Canberra, telling the conference
CASA was taking a wide range of actions to develop a more
co-operative working relationship with the safety-focused members
of the aviation industry.
Aviation safety is a shared responsibility between the regulator
and industry and the most effective way of achieving safety is
through co-operation, not imposition, he said.
The principles Byron outlined to achieve positive safety
outcomes are:
- A focus by CASA on issues that genuinely address safety, not
things that simply create paperwork with little real safety
benefit
- Safety rules that are clear, concise and outcome based
- Rules that are developed in genuine consultation with
industry
- A CASA that limits any adverse impact on industry, with safety
delivered at a reasonable cost in a professional and timely
manner.Decisions and requirements by CASA that follow fair,
consistent and systemic processes, with no bias or favoritism
- Genuine consultation by CASA about change - listening to
industry suggestions
- A willingness by CASA to delegate the administration of lower
priority sectors of the industry such as aerial agriculture and
recreational aviation -- while maintaining safety oversight and
conducting audits
- CASA staff acting with professional respect and courtesy.
"The regulator must retain the
capacity to be independent, professional and at 'arm's length' from
the industry when it is appropriate, and to be fearless in
enforcing rules and imposing sanctions when such action is
required," Byron told Safeskies.
"However, the goal should be to develop the concept of shared
responsibility to such a high level that strong enforcement
measures are rarely required.
"Indeed, in an ideal world the need for robust enforcement and
punitive compliance action would be a reflection of the failure of
the shared responsibility approach."
Byron said that as CASA moves towards cost recovery for
regulatory services changes will be made to ensure industry gets
reasonable value for money.
"While we must not see CASA as primarily a service-providing
organization, when industry needs permissions or approvals they
have a right to expect them to be delivered smoothly and cost
efficiently. No one likes paying more money, but if we provide a
service, it is reasonable we receive a proper return.
"And where only CASA can provide a particular service, we will
do that in accordance with service standards I expect to see
published for all our regulatory service functions by mid next
year."
Byron said reviews of all of CASA's activities were underway and
the results may necessitate some hard decisions.
"An outcome of these reviews that I expect to see is an
outscouring of some of our low risk regulatory service functions to
suitably qualified individuals or organizations within
industry.
"We will not turn our backs on any sections of the industry, but
we cannot -– and will not -– continue devoting equal
time and energy to areas of industry that pose little risk to
public safety."
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