Chairing a panel at AAA Safety Forum

On 10 March, Aviation professionals from around Australia came together in Brisbane for the Australian Airports Association (AAA) 2022 Safety Forum.

The day was split into four parts, as listed below, with the topics covered by industry experts. The first three sections were recorded and can be purchased from AAA at a small cost.

Part one

• CASA opening remarks: Laura Carlton, National Manager Regulatory Services, CASA
• State of play: Jason Rainbird, Section Manager Aerodromes, Regulatory Oversight Division, CASA

Part two

• Moving to certification - Previous registered aerodromes transitioning to Part 139 MOS by 13 May 2022 (manuals and operations): Dan Eatock, Aerodrome Inspector, Regulatory Oversight Division, CASA
• Safety Management Systems - Aerodromes: Ash McAlpine, Safety Management & Performance Specialist, Safety, Risk & Intelligence Branch / Safety Systems, CASA
• CASR Part 11, Part 139 Section 2.06 and safety cases: Iain Lobegeier, Team Leader Aerodromes, Regulatory Oversight Division, CASA

Part three

• RPAS - Joint task force: Scott Duffy, Manager Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), Operations, CASA
• Emergency Management - Current and future challenges: Jennifer Thornhill, Team Leader, Aviation Security and Compliance, Canberra Airport and Matthew Harper, Director, Resilient Results
• Global Reporting Format Project: Dan Parsons, Senior Standards Officer (Aerodromes & Heliports), Flight Standards Branch, CASA

Part four - PANELS

• Restarting Safely – ensuring appropriate safety outcomes as aviation ramps up: Chaired by Keith Tonkin (Managing Director, Aviation Projects)
• The Work Continues – an industry perspective: Chaired by James Goodwin (Chief Executive, AAA)

The panel chaired by Keith (Restarting Safely) discussed the key requirements needed to ensure appropriate safety outcomes are met as aviation ramps up post COVID-19.

The panel consisted of some of the industry’s best, with:

• Dan Parsons, Senior Standards Officer (Aerodromes & Heliports) Flight Standards Branch, Civil Aviation Safety Authority
• Andrew Walters, Airfield Operations Manager, Melbourne Airport
• Marty Hanley, Coordinator Airport Operations and Compliance, Ballina Shire Council
• Ash Mcalpine, Safety Management & Performance Specialist, Civil Aviation Safety Authority

The panel brought up some very important points related to restarting safely, some specifics included:

• Why we need to think about restarting safely – including examples of what can go wrong
• Process for doing it – SMS/Management of Change – examples of processes undertaken
• Considerations/issues - The effect on wildlife, ground handling, safety incidents
• Individual experiences of positive outcomes and international case studies