AUSALPA COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSED SYDNEY AIRPORT DEMAND MANAGEMENT AMENDMENT BILL 2024 AusALPA has responded to the proposed Sydney Airport Demand Management Amendment Bill 2024, urging that increased airport efficiency not compromise aviation safety. While supporting fair slot allocation and recovery strategies, AusALPA emphasises that safety standards must not be relaxed to meet movement goals. Key recommendations include balanced use of parallel runways, strategic use of intersection departures to reduce congestion, and federal funding for critical infrastructure like a Rapid Exit Taxiway for the cross runway. AusALPA also calls for explicit language in the Bill's Explanatory Memorandum to clarify that safety practices should remain unchanged, ensuring safety remains the top priority. Read more>> October 25, 2024
AusALPA’s Comment on the Drafts of the State Safety Programme and the National Aviation Safety Plan 2024-27 AusALPA submitted feedback to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, and the Arts on the State Safety Programme (SSP) and National Aviation Safety Plan (NASP) 2024-27. AusALPA emphasised the need for their active role in all safety working groups (WGs) through standardised terminology. The submission advocated for the inclusion of a "standardisation" principle in SSP, full compliance with ICAO SARPs, and highlighted the absence of references to key legislative protections for airspace. AusALPA also addressed Australia's permissive culture, recommended reestablishing the Australian Strategic Air Traffic Management Group (ASTRA), and called for incorporating frontline feedback in safety management processes to enhance data protection and safety culture. Read more>> May 29, 2024
AusALPA Submission to CASA Consultation on Global Reporting Format AusALPA has made a submission on the Proposed Policy for the implementation of Global Reporting Format (GRF). The Association has been a advocating for the implementation of GRF, since 2018, as it is an agreed international standard and has been developed to provide an easier way of assessing runway surface condition and thus helping to prevent runway excursions. In summary, we have agreed to most of the proposals without comment, because AusALPA was able to have a substantial input into the development of the revised policy. Under the proposal, all certified airports with sealed runways (approximately 330) will be included, not just the controlled ones, which was the original proposal (2022). The amended regulations have been drafted so that this can be achieved without unnecessary burden or expense especially to the smaller aerodromes. Read more>> November 24, 2023
Comments on the Class 5 Medical Self-Declaration Policy Consultation In this submission, AusALPA expresses reservations about the Class 5 Medical Self-Declaration Policy proposal. The Association believes the policy could lower existing safety standards, expressing concerns about the risks associated with self-declaration for medical fitness, especially in busy airports and complex airspace. AusALPA suggests improvements such as implementing the policy on a trial basis, requiring an initial medical to be conducted by a medical practitioner, and collecting data on Class 5 medical use. The submission also highlights the need for transparent audit processes and addresses concerns regarding access to Class C and D airspace. Ultimately, AusALPA urges CASA to pause the policy's implementation until necessary improvements are made to prevent potential degradation of safety standards. Read more>> November 21, 2023
Comments on the Discussion Paper for Access to Class C & D Airspace for Sport and Recreation Aircraft In response to the Discussion Paper (DP) on access to Class C and D controlled airspace for sport and recreation aircraft, AusALPA expresses overall support while emphasising the importance of integrating this topic into the broader Australian Future Airspace Framework. The Association highlights its role in advocating for the risk assessment and subsequent transition to a Control Terminal Area (CTA) for Ballina Gateway Airport. AusALPA underscores the need for nuanced regulations, drawing on international standards like the ICAO Manual on Air Traffic Management System Requirements. The submission emphasises the principles of access and equity, providing detailed insights into considerations such as airspace access criteria, pilot competencies, medical fitness, aircraft equipment, and priorities for airspace access. AusALPA supports a fair and risk-based approach, anticipating further engagement with CASA on this critical aviation topic. Read more>> November 17, 2023
AusALPA Submission on AusCheck DP: Implementing A Single Issuing Body For ASICs AusALPA fully supports strengthening the integrity of ASICs/MSICs. Access to security-controlled areas should only be permitted by using a suitably encoded ASIC/MSIC. The card ideally should incorporate biometric data. AusALPA should be included by CISC as a competent stakeholder in policy design and implementation forums, including but not limited to the “co-design” workshops... Read more>> December 12, 2022
AusALPA Submission to Airservices Proposed Lowering of Class E on the East Coast to 6500' AMSL AusALPA has been actively involved in stakeholder engagement with Airservices’ airspace proposals, particularly those related to the “J-curve”, for some time. We have been stridently critical of the way in which Airservices (AsA) has presented the various proposals to modify Australia’s existing airspace architecture, especially in the absence of any semblance of Design and Implementation Safety Cases. Read more>> August 18, 2022
AusALPA Comments on the Airspace Review of Ballina AusALPA strongly support the end-state proposal of a combined control zone and approach service for the Ballina airspace. AusALPA is concerned that the proposed piecemeal and stepped-solution timeline for the implementation of the draft recommendations demonstrate that the issues are not being adequately addressed holistically. Read more>> July 17, 2022
Normalising Tailwind Operations Politics Threatening Aviation Safety AusALPA is very concerned with the political processes being undertaken by Airservices (AsA) and Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) to appease a small but vocal segment of the local community who, after being lulled into a false environmental perception by the lack of aviation activity during the majority of the COVID-19 pandemic, are concerned by the impact of a resumption of flights on their property values as well as the impact on their quality of life. Read more>> March 17, 2022
Aviation Safety Conditions in Planning Permit PA1700266-3 Golden Plains Wind Farm Although it is hard to ignore the parallels with the iconic Australian movie The Castle, our primary concern in relation to the Craigwood aeroplane landing area (ALA) and the Golden Plains Wind Farm is with aviation safety as the underpinning philosophy of Australia’s airport safeguarding framework. Read more>> February 7, 2022