Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) last week announced a set of regulatory reforms intended to streamline governing aviation through improved continuity in the areas of engineering, pilot licensing, flight training and operations, maintenance and fatigue risk management, as well as improving standards for navigation, sport aviation and aerial work. The agency released the reforms almost simultaneously with the publication of an aviation safety regulatory report called for by Australian Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss after both the CASA and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) came under fire for taking an excessively adversarial approach with the industry.

The reforms the CASA unveiled are designed to align the safety agency with international best practices developed in conjunction with the industry while also offering longer lead times before implementation. Many of the updated regulations have already taken effect.

The CASA says it will implement other new rules, including those covering general aviation pilot licensing and maintenance operations, after closer consultation with that segment of the industry. CASA director of aviation safety John McCormick recently announced plans to leave his position. The industry has called for a replacement with leadership experience, rather than just aviation knowledge.