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."

FMI: http://casa.gov.au/corporat/ceo/speeches/05-10-25.htm