Safety Issue
CASA did not have a systematic process for determining the
relative risk levels of airline operators.
This issue was discussed in the analysis section of the draft
report but was not listed as a safety issue. However, it has now
been included as a safety issue following assessment of comments on
the draft report.
Safety Recommendation
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommends that the Civil
Aviation Safety Authority address this safety issue.
CASA has a project underway to review, and if necessary,
redesign elements of the oversight regime. The implementation phase
of the project commences in early 2008.
This project also includes a risk assessment module. It is
intended that the entire surveillance system be based upon an
integrated risk framework.
The ATSB notes the actions being taken by CASA to address this
safety issue and has amended the status of this recommendation to
'Monitor'.
There is significant progress of the Industry Oversight Project
in developing the systematic assessment of relative risks of
airline operators. A large group of smaller operators were assessed
for relative safety risk when they became part of the oversight
responsibility of CASA's Air Transport Operations Group. This
assessment was achieved using a method initially developed between
the Group and the Project and this method is currently being
further developed to be applied across all Air Operators under the
Group's oversight. This enables the Group to target its resources
effectively and identify clearly operators who may not be managing
safety appropriately based on risk. The same method is to be
further developed, adapted and applied for all CASA oversight
activity.
The ATSB acknowledges that CASA is undertaking positive action
to address this safety issue. Before the ATSB closes this safety
recommendation it would like to be advised about the success and
outcomes of the actions described by CASA.
CASA has recently restructured to more accurately align
resources with functions required by the Civil Aviation Act. As an
element of that restructure a dedicated Safety Analysis and
Education division has been formed. Also, the former Air Transport,
Manufacturing and General Aviation groups have been merged to form
the new CASA Operations Division. A Safety Oversight Branch has
been established within that division. Within the Safety Oversight
Branch dedicated Safety Performance Management and National Safety
Planning sections have been established.
The previous work conducted by the Industry Oversight Project is
now being managed to fruition through the current establishment of
these areas and an operational enhancement program dedicated
largely to the creation of a risk based oversight methodology. This
work is premised upon contemporary risk management philosophies and
will deliver a systemic process for the management of safety
performance at a national level. It will generate processes for
more effectively capturing, assessing and managing the relative
risk levels of Australian civil aviation permission holders through
the strategic application of CASA resources in line with those
aviation safety risk levels.
CASA has recently restructured to more accurately align
resources with functions required by the Civil Aviation Act. As an
element of that restructure a dedicated Safety Analysis and
Education division has been formed. Also, the former Air Transport,
Manufacturing and General Aviation groups have been merged to form
the new CASA Operations Division. A Safety Oversight Branch has
been established within that division. Within the Safety Oversight
Branch dedicated Safety Performance Management and National Safety
Planning sections have been established.
The previous work conducted by the Industry Oversight Project is
now being managed to fruition through the current establishment of
these areas and an operational enhancement program dedicated
largely to the creation of a risk based oversight methodology. This
work is premised upon contemporary risk management philosophies and
will deliver a systemic process for the management of safety
performance at a national level. It will generate processes for
more effectively capturing, assessing and managing the relative
risk levels of Australian civil aviation permission holders through
the strategic application of CASA resources in line with those
aviation safety risk levels.
CASA has now issued the updated CASA Surveillance Manual [available on the CASA website www.casa.gov.au and introduced a new IT tool Sky Sentinel. Together they constitute a very comprehensive systematic process for determining the relative risk levels for all Air Operator Certificate holders.
