Media Release: Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) tone-deaf to concerns of aviation industry

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Media release

7 November 2024

Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) tone-deaf to concerns of aviation industry

A proposed restructure at the CAA is just another case of the organisation being tone-deaf to the concerns of the aviation industry.

The CAA is engaged in an internal change process purportedly to improve frontline services and operational delivery. However, there is no clear rationale on what is being proposed.

Aviation Industry Association (AIANZ) Chief Executive Simon Wallace says the CAA is keeping the industry in the dark about changes that will directly affect its members and the wider aviation industry.

“The cloak of secrecy surrounding the process does nothing to inspire industry confidence in the CAA”.

Mr Wallace says the aviation industry is seeing a marked reduction in service levels at CAA with extended delays in certification and audits. The AIANZ says the scant information available, and lack of transparency appear to suggest that the CAA is changing focus from a safety regulator to an enforcement regulator. Such a change would be detrimental to aviation safety and is not in the best interests of the travelling public.

“What we also know is a significant number of frontline positions are on the chopping block, but we don’t know where the axe will fall and how that will affect service and delivery. This comes at a time when the Director of CAA has only recently received a $75,000 pay increase taking his salary to over $500,000”.

Simon Wallace says the change process follows a CAA Pricing Review that is proposing to hit the industry with a 47% increase in fees which cannot be justified based on current performance.

The AIANZ is seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister of Transport Simeon Brown to apprise him of its concerns.

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Contact: Simon Wallace, 0274 607 701

Download the full media release here

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