The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) of Australia is seeking an urgent meeting with the government to discuss the country’s new aviation security measures, implementation of which AOPA describes as a “shambles”, writes Emma Kelly.
One of the measures requires the country’s 36,000 pilots to have, by 31 December, a new Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC), which includes in-depth background checks. In an effort to streamline the process the government recently approved the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) as an issuing body for the new ASIC, in addition to processing pilot licence applications.
“It’s a shambles,” says AOPA president Ron Bertram. “First they encourage industry to buy expensive machines to issue identity cards and then they announce CASA will do it, effectively undercutting industry. Now to add insult to injury they announce CASA doesn’t have the resources and it can’t be done on time,” he adds.
The Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS) says it still hopes to meet the end of year deadline, but concedes that as time goes on this is getting harder.
By early November, 15,000-20,000 ASIC applications had been received, says DOTARS. It adds that it is trying to make it easier for pilots by cutting the red tape. In late October it mailed out application forms and information packs to the country’s 36,000 pilots.
AOPA accuses the government of making “an absolute mess” of aviation security. Bertram says: “Most airport owners don’t know what they have to do, most pilots are confused and distrustful and the cost and subsequent damage to GA is enormous.”
Source: Flight International
