Flying training is a key sector of the aviation industry from both an economic and safety point of view. With the demand for pilots growing at a rapid rate, it’s vital that flying training gets the recognition and support it needs. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s Peter Gibson explains the latest safety initiatives.

Does CASA have a new focus on flying training?
For some years CASA has been devoting increasing time and resources to supporting the flying training sector of the aviation industry. Quite simply, this recognises the fundamental importance of flying training to safety and the view amongst a number of people across the industry that CASA needed to do more. The latest step being taken by CASA is developing a new program which will see the regulator working even more closely with flying training organisations and approved testing officers. At the centre of this program is the creation of a new national office within CASA, known as the Flight Training and Testing Office. This is being set up at CASA’s existing Bankstown facilities and will be staffed by flying operations inspectors who will specialise in training.

So what exactly will the new flying training office be doing?
It will centralise the CASA management of all approved testing officers, who are the industry people with the qualifications and a CASA delegation to carry out flight tests. Up until now, the oversight and management of flying training has been carried out from local CASA offices, with policy and rule development centrally delivered. In the future most of these functions will be executed from one office, so there is a nationally co-ordinated approach to flying training support and standards. This will include the employment by CASA of a small group of Flying Training Examiners who will conduct some flight tests and work with approved testing officers. The new office will also establish and oversee a program of ongoing professional development for approved testing officers.

What will CASA’s new Flying Training Examiners actually do?
One of their core functions will be to carry out a range of flight tests. However, it is important to stress there is no intention by CASA to take over the role of approved testing officers or to conduct all flight tests. The idea is for the Flying Training Examiners to perform some selected tests and to do the majority of the initial issue of grade 3 aeroplane and grade 2 helicopter flight instructor ratings. By carrying out tests for the first-time issuing of instructor ratings, CASA will directly oversee the people who are teaching safety standards to pilots. This not only gives CASA some measure of direct quality control, it also gets CASA out on to the tarmac more frequently to hear the views of the flying training industry. In practical terms it will mean CASA will conduct up to 250 tests on new instructors each year.

Is there a problem with the way approved testing officers are operating now?
No. CASA believes approved testing officers are doing their best to deliver quality flying training and testing to the highest possible standards. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive to do even better. There has been a view by some people in the aviation industry that standards were even better when the predecessors to CASA had a hands-on involvement in flying training. Indeed, many people remember fondly the days of the Examiner of Airmen. They, and others, have been asking CASA to get more involved in flying training and that is what we are doing. CASA’s chief executive officer Bruce Byron recently stated:
“In 2004 I commissioned an analysis, with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, of all fatal general aviation accidents for the past ten years. We found that more than 40 per cent had, as a primary factor, loss of control of the aircraft. Clearly, this is linked to aircraft handling, which in turn can be linked to training. Therefore, to reduce this figure and further improve our safety record, a focus on flying training and a goal to improve standards is vital.”

So where is CASA up to right now in this new flight testing initiative?
Work to set up the central flight training and testing office is well underway, with plans in place to recruit staff, develop a policy and procedures manual and continue consulting with industry. This stage includes training for CASA examiners and the start of industry tests. CASA is aiming to have these initiatives in place by the second half of 2008. The second stage of the programme will be work on approved testing officer entry, oversight and exit control and an approved testing officer professional development program. A final stage will include data capture and analysis, along with surveillance to be conducted in line with CASA’s new Aviation Safety Oversight Programme.