[Peetwo]

MRO rules: Harmonise or miss the boom -

Yet another issue that if not proactively addressed by Government could lead to the further decline of yet another vital sector of the General Aviation industry, via the Oz today: 

Get training up to speed ‘or miss out on maintenance boom’



Jobs at the airport.

• Annabel Hepworth, Michael Owen
  
• The Australian
  
• 12:00AM September 15, 2017
  

Australian industry risks missing out on a boom in aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul without reforms to bring training and licensing into line with international standards, it has been warned.

The UNSW Business School’s Ian Hampson has renewed calls to align Australian maintenance training and licensing rules with international standards.

“Not to do so will leave Australian industry out of the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) boom,” he said.

He made the comments after a recent workshop to canvass maintenance training and licensing and amid expectations that in Asia, the MRO industry could provide a big export market for Australia.

It is expected that demand for maintenance will grow as airlines add to their fleets because passenger traffic is estimated to almost double over the next 20 years, ­according to estimates by the International Air Transport ­Association.

There are concerns that the licensing system, set out in part 66 of Australia’s civil aviation safety regulations, is not fully harmonised with the European Aviation Safety Agency, meaning Australian licence holders can’t easily get them recognised overseas.

He also said providers of ­licence training were subject to regulations from the vocational education and training sector as well as the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, “and these are sometimes inconsistent, leading to fragmentation and inconsistency of output”.

And there was difficulty meshing EASA’s “knowledge modules” with the use of a “training packages” that are a key feature of Australia’s VET system, he said.

CASA is reviewing part 66 and an industry working group is expected to develop specific change proposals.

The comments come amid growing focus on the sector. A ­serious bungle by TAFE SA has left its aircraft maintenance ­engineering students in limbo.

Meanwhile, an aviation training school established by the Queensland government has flagged it wants to establish courses in other states.

CASA has been investigating since April TAFE SA’s licensed aircraft maintenance engineer training course at Parafield ­Airport.

About 90 engineers have had parts of their licences suspended and no new students have been accepted into the TAFE SA course after CASA found ­students were not assessed to the correct standards and exams had raised questions as to whether they were taught the right skills.

TAFE SA operates a “maintenance training organisation” under approvals issued by CASA.
There are only three other centres in the country offering the training; at TAFE NSW, Aviation Australia and Federation Training in Gippsland, Victoria.

Aviation Australia, established in Brisbane by the Queensland government in 2001, has since expanded to Cairns, Melbourne, Sydney and Shanghai, and has a joint venture in Saudi Arabia.

The company, which also offers EASA part 66 basic knowledge training, is looking to expand further.

The aircraft maintenance engineering courses are government-subsidised in Queensland, Victoria and the Northern Territory and in a statement posted on its website this week the company says it is working to establish government-funded courses in other states.

Asked whether South Australia was a focus, a spokeswoman for Aviation Australia said: ­“Aviation Australia has and will continue to deliver training ­nationally to those seeking quality and compliant qualifications.”

TAFE SA governance and research director Roslyn Agate said it was committed to remain as one of four training centres in Australia for licensed aircraft maintenance engineers.

“TAFE SA executive has discussed the continuation of the aviation training program and is committed to its ongoing delivery,” Ms Agate said.

“TAFE SA is continuing to work very closely with CASA as we have done in the last few months and we expect these issues to be resolved in the near ­future.”

A CASA spokesman said its inquiries were “progressing” as “we are still working through their (TAFE SA’s) revised manuals and other material”.

And of course this will just support the BRB verdict and add to the legend of Chester  as 'Our Greatest Aviation Disaster' -

On a hopefully more positive note, apparently the Australian Aviation Associations Forum convened a meeting in Can'tberra yesterday and at this stage there are no reports of open warfare or blood in the gutters -

A great meeting today in Canberra with the members of the TAAAF.  Departing now for YSBK.



3:21 PM - 14 Sep 2017

https://twitter.com/aopaaustralia/status...0407501824

 

MTF...P2