Media release. - 2006/09/14 13:58
MEDIA RELEASE
The Hon Warren Truss MP
Minister for Transport and Regional Services
DOTARS06/155WT - 14 September 2006
Airspace management reform in Australia
The Australian Government has announced a number of key reforms to the governance and management of Australian airspace.
The reforms announced by the Minister for Transport and Regional Services, Warren Truss, will enable Australia to more effectively continue its airspace reform program.
“Australia's aviation safety record is amongst the best in the world, and the changes will further enhance both safety and efficiency,” Mr Truss said.
Mr Truss said the reforms would establish clear decision making responsibility for airspace changes, establish requirements for a single common risk management framework and processes for assessing and implementing future changes, and make agencies more accountable for their regulatory decisions.
“We will now move ahead with transferring airspace classification and designation functions from Airservices Australia to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These airspace regulatory functions will be performed within CASA by a dedicated unit – the Office of Airspace Regulation (OAR),” he said.
“This change will remove perceptions of a conflict of interest for Airservices Australia, and place airspace regulation in its ‘natural home' – with the safety regulator.”
The Department of Defence will retain its current powers and responsibilities for defence airspace, but its personnel will be engaged with the OAR to ensure optimisation of airspace utilisation.
The costs of airspace regulation will continue to be met through the Airservices enroute charges system and not through any new charges to industry.
Mr Truss also noted the potential important role in airspace management of new technologies. “ Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS– is an air traffic surveillance technology that can offer important benefits in terms of better tracking, less restrictive air traffic control separation standards, and reduced fuel burn and travel time,” he said.
“Airservices Australia already has a programme for implementing Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS– in Australian upper airspace.
“The Australian Government supports the work underway to extend ADS‑B as a potential future civilian air traffic surveillance and separation tool for this country. ADS-B has the potential to greatly enhance our air traffic system capability and provide enhanced services to pilots.
“In consultation with industry, Defence and the safety regulator, Airservices is refining the business case and timetable for expanding ADS‑B coverage.”
Mr Truss said the new approach to the management of Australian civil airspace will be underpinned by a national Airspace Plan. The Plan will be developed by my Department in partnership with my portfolio agencies, Defence and industry.
“The plan will be a statutory instrument and will guide civil airspace users, regulators and service providers. It will outline the Government's objectives for civil airspace management, set a common risk assessment framework, assist industry in its investment decisions, and deliver robust and transparent airspace decision making. Importantly, the Plan will set out the Australian Government's position on the levels of service to be provided to aircraft with fare paying passengers and other airspace users. It will guide CASA in its airspace decision making.
“There will be full consultation on the content of the plan, and I look forward to the active participation of all stakeholders” Mr Truss said.
Mr Truss noted that to support the Common Risk Framework, Airservices Australia will continue to undertake a rigorous risk assessment of airspace operations. It is introducing new technology to assist with the enhanced risk assessment and monitoring process. This new platform will integrate internal and external sources of information improving knowledge and understanding of aviation activities across Australia. It will enable Airservices Australia to undertake more rigorous analysis of airspace operations thus providing earlier notice of possible emerging risks, which will deliver a significant improvement in anticipating and planning for immediate and future airspace needs.
Mr Truss reiterated the Government's support for the reform objectives of the National Airspace System (NAS).
Major elements of the NAS have already been implemented.
“Future airspace reforms, including the remaining NAS characteristics, will continue to be implemented following cost–benefit and risk analysis and consultation with stakeholders on the specific proposals,” Mr Truss said.
“If we are to retain a first class aviation system it is essential that airspace reforms be subjected to rigorous analysis and take full account of emerging technologies,” he said.
Mr Truss announced that the Uhrig assessments of Airservices Australia and CASA had been completed and that there would be no changes in the governance arrangements for Airservices Australia. The Government announced in April 2004 that Airservices would eventually be prescribed as a government business enterprise.
CASA will be brought under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 and the Public Service Act 1999 .
Mr Truss said legislation to implement the changes would be introduced into the Parliament as soon as possible. The OAR will come into effect from 1 July 2007.
Media contact:
Kylie Butler (Mr Truss's Office)
Ph: 02 6277 7680 or 0417 652 488
Web: www.ministers.dotars.gov.au
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