Industry Urged to Speak Up on New Rules

Pilots, air operators and flying instructors are being urged to register now for a vital conference on Australia’s air safety rules. Places are filling quickly for the conference that focuses on proposed new regulations covering flight crew licensing, flight operations and flying training.

The proposed new rules are central to the safe operation of the aviation industry and impact on large and small aviation businesses, as well as private pilots. With the draft rules set to be finalised at the end of this year, the conference is an important opportunity for people in the aviation industry to provide comment and criticism to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

The three day conference starts on 3 March and is being held at the Sydney Convention Centre. More than 200 people have already registered to attend the sessions, which will look at the proposed new rules in detail. Representatives from the large airlines as well as many smaller regular public transport operators and charter operators will be present. Most TAFEs and universities that offer aviation courses will also be taking part.

CASA’s executive manager Standards, Bill McIntyre, says the conference is the most important aviation safety event in 2003. "The re-write of Australia’s aviation safety standards is well advanced and CASA’s aim is finalise the great bulk of the work by the end of this year... It means the aviation industry will be facing many changes to safety regulations in the next few years. That makes it vital for everyone involved in flying to have their say on the proposed reforms now."

It's really important.

McIntyre closed his remarks with this admonition: "Everyone who flies who or runs an aviation business will have to make changes -- now is the time to learn about the proposals and be a part of the reform process."

FMI: www.casa.gov.au/hotopics/seminars/flot.htm