[Peetwo]

I read Phil's submission from cover to cover.
Bloody well done boys and girls. Top marks.

You know what I like most about the AAAA's work? The submission actually gives me confidence and trust and makes me proud of some of the sectors and elements of our industry. Only an experienced, mature and skilful aviation group could write such an intelligent, well rounded and succinct factual submission! If only the same level of skill existed in CAsA and Government hey?

P. S Phil, is the reason that Mr Chester has such perfect hair because you boys have been putting some crop dusting chemicals in his hairspray?

The 'despicable' Dazzling Dazza - In one of the most cynical and sheer bastardry indifferences to the aviation portfolio he oversees, & while swanning around the Tamworth/New England region yesterday, Chester's office released a vomitus media release: 

Updated Aviation State Safety Programme released

Media Release
DC069/2016
06 May 2016

Australia's updated Aviation State Safety Programme was released by the Australian Government today.

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said Australia has an advanced aviation safety system in place and is one of the safest places to fly in the world.

“Regardless of these strengths, however, even a mature system must look for continuous improvements in response to the growing diversity of the aviation industry,” Mr Chester said.

“It is important we continue to adapt to the challenges of a rapidly changing domestic and international aviation market, including in the area of aviation safety.

“Australia's updated State Safety Programme continues to clearly outline the strong governance framework underpinning Australia's aviation safety system.”

Mr Chester said the programme has been expanded to include challenges facing the system and sets out Australia's short, medium and long-term aviation safety objectives.

“The programme is consistent with the approach to safety management outlined in the International Civil Aviation Organization's Global Aviation Safety Plan and will be reviewed every three years,” Mr Chester said.

“Public and industry submissions received on a draft programme released for comment in December 2015 were also considered before the programme was finalised.”

The programme was developed by the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development, in consultation with other Government agencies including the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Airservices Australia, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the Department of Defence, the Bureau of Meteorology and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

The updated Aviation State Safety Programme is available at: infrastructure.gov.au/aviation/safety/ssp/index.aspx

  
Besides the usual Murky Mrdak spin & bollocks at the top about us being up their with other 1st World Nations in aviation safety (bucket please.. ), what really irks me the most is this flippant passing comment..

“Public and industry submissions received on a draft programme released for comment in December 2015 were also considered before the programme was finalised.”

I am yet to read the SSP but I reckon it is a fair bet that the excellent submission from the AAAA's Phil Hurst (above) & comments from the RAAA, as is custom for the Murky crew, will have been totally ignored.

However what is probably worse is that the SSP, which the Forsyth report recommended should be reviewed, was announced while a large body of industry stakeholders (including Phil Hurst) were being preached to by this WOFTAM, waste of space miniscule in Tamworth -

This is totally disrespectful for those sectors of the industry that have a vested interest in their being a properly implemented & functioning State safety program in accordance with ICAO Annex 19.

Cynically I also wonder if the quiet no frills release of Murky's SSP, has something to do with the fact that M&M does not want to draw attention and be questioned on the 3000+ notified differences & some of my further observations mentioned here:

Of the ICAO SARPs Annex 13 & 19 are integral to the proper implementation and effective administration of a State SSP. However as a further indicator that the Australian aviation safety bureaucracy is merely paying lip-service to the spirit & intent of ICAO, one only needs to review the 'notified differences' for A13 - http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aip/current/sup/generatedsupplements/Annex_13.pdf -

; & A19 - http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aip/current/sup/generatedsupplements/Annex_19.pdf .

There is a combined 12 pages and total of 55 NDs for the two Annexes.

However the real cynicism and affront to industry is within the detail. Let me explain, quote from department SSP DRAFT request for industry comment:

On 4 December 2015, the Department released an updated draft SSP for aviation industry and public comments. The comment period has now closed.

 

Note the date. Now refer to AIP SUP H104/15 [url=https://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aip/current/sup/s15-h104.pdf]  The SUP was issued on the 10 Dec 2015 and notified additional differences to at least 2 of the Annexes instrumental to the administration of a State SSP. So are the relevant notified differences, in particular with Annex 19, preempting the DRAFT SSP being implemented without amendment? How can that be possible when industry stakeholders were yet to comment?

The other option is that the NDs for Annex 19 are based on the current and original SSP.

However the current SSP was published in April 2012, how is it then possible to have additional NDs for a supposedly ICAO compliant document that has been in place for more than 4 years? 

Here is hoping that Murky's mob will eventually publish all industry comments on the 4 Dec 2015 DRAFT SSP..

The other thing that may have prompted M&M to discretely release the SSP two days before the caretaker government period, is that the SSP was referenced in the released TAAAF Policy. 

4. State Safety Program

The State Safety Program (SSP) for aviation is the primary structure for the Government to deliver its obligations under international aviation conventions.

The current approach of Government excludes industry from ongoing involvement in the SSP, other than through very broad consultation or through various piecemeal consultative mechanisms, often through different agencies.



There is a critical need to establish a stronger government-industry partnership through a fresh approach that recognises the role of industry in supporting and informing Government aviation policy.


The Forum believes that Government should review the structures involved in the State Safety Program and provide mechanisms for improved high-level consultation with industry, including industry representative membership of the key committees.


The Forum is deeply concerned with the ongoing practice of Australia lodging differences to ICAO standards without consultation with industry. This practice must be stopped and a new system of industry consultation implemented through the SSP to ensure any difference lodged has the support of industry and is aligned with Government objectives for the efficient functioning of the Australian aviation regulatory system and international harmonisation.

If this policy (or a version of it) was adopted by the Coalition and they get back into government, it is far easier to say the SSP is done & dusted till next time (3yrs), therefore not requiring adherence to government policy.


MTF...P2  


Ps Newsflash: Apparently 2021 could prove to be a significant number for OST