Safety Issue

CASA's guidance material provided to operators about the structure and content of an operations manual was not as comprehensive as that provided by ICAO in areas such as multi-crew procedures and stabilised approach criteria.

Safety Recommendation

The ATSB recommends that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority address this safety issue.

Guidance material in the form of an advisory circular on multi-crew operations, which includes such contemporary safety issues as threat and error management and stabilised approaches, is in its final stages of development.

Australia remains active on the ICAO Operations Control Panel with regards to global standards and recommended procedures including those that apply to subjects such as operations manuals, multi-crew procedures and stabilised approaches.

While the ATSB acknowledges CASA's intention to issue an advisory circular on multi-crew operations, the safety issue relates more broadly to the structure and content of operations manuals.

CASA's guidance and procedures for evaluating operations manuals are being revised as part of the surveillance project referred to above [see CASA response to R20070004]. In addition, the Safety Systems Specialists will review complex operator manuals to ensure optimum useability.

Additionally, as part of this project, all auditors and inspectors will receive additional training as part of the impementation of the new surveillance system.

The ATSB notes the action being taken by CASA to address this safety issue. The ATSB would appreciate clarification that the guidance and procedures for evaluating operations manuals that are being revised as part of the project mentioned in response to R20070004 includes provision of more detailed guidance to operators on the structure and contents of operations manuals. The ATSB has amended the status of this recommendation to 'Monitor'.

Entry Control manuals are currently being rewritten to provide more current guidance. The first phase of the development of a Manual authorising an assessment tool has now been completed. This tool is designed to be used to provide specific guidance for all Inspector activity associated with assessment of system validity and verification. The Industry Oversight Project will employ the Manual authorising an assessment tool to produce clear guidance for the new assessment methods to be used in the Industry Oversight Project. Each Air Transport field office now has a dedicated Safety Systems Specialist to assist with analysis of complex manuals. The Specialists are continually trained in hazard assessment methods. While CASA has a responsibility to ensure Operator's manuals meet the required standards - which should be evident in the Exposition, the intention is that the Operator's own Safety Management System will be assessed for its effectiveness in identifying weaknesses in their Manual suite before they come to CASA's attention

The 8 October 2008 response from CASA does not appear to address the intent of safety issue. The ATSB would like to receive advise from CASA on how it intends to provide guidance material on the structure and content of operations manuals that is as comprehensive as that provided by ICAO.