Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority has identified four major trends that will affect aviation operators' ability to manage risk over the next three to five years.
CASA says the trends and risk factors are unprecedented global demand for aviation services developments in aircraft manufacture, systems and technologies that offer potential safety solutions at the same time as adding complexity and change, international instability and increased security requirements and increased environmental awareness.
The sustained growth in aviation services, for example, is putting a strain on operations, infrastructure and support systems, says CASA, while today's security requirements are increasing the cost and complexity of air transport operations that could affect an operator's ability to control traditional safety risks.
CASA aims to establish by the end of June five industry/CASA working groups. These will focus on aircraft airports and infrastructure airspace and air traffic management personnel and government agencies. The groups will address emerging trends and risk factors and develop and implement intervention strategies.
A number of initiatives are to be introduced by CASA to strengthen the integrity of the aviation safety system, including:
- increased surveillance of pilot and maintenance personnel capabilities increased surveillance of compliance with flight and duty times;
- the development of fatigue risk management system guidance;
- regulations increased assessment of ageing airworthiness issues in smaller passenger aircraft not supported by manufacturer's instructions for continued airworthiness;
- and a new flight testing capability for initial assessment of new flying instructors.
The trends were identified by aviation industry and CASA representatives when asked what they considered to be the greatest safety risks the industry will need to address in the short term. The process is part of CASA's risk management approach to aviation safety, with the information to be used to mitigate potential risks to safety, says CASA.
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Source: Flight International
