There was no regulatory requirement for simulator training in Australia.
Response from CASA: 31/08/2009
CASA will address this issue and will commence a review of the legislation. In the course of that review, CASA will consider whether there is a need to mandate the use of simulators in connection with certain flight crew training requirements in the air transport sector, and other sectors where this may be appropriate.
This work will commence immediately. It will involve consultation with industry and may come to involve a risk assessment, a cost-benefit analysis, and the preparation of a regulatory impact statement. As this is likely to be a protracted process, CASA is not in a position to specify a specific completion date at this time.
Response from CASA: 12/04/2010
CASA released a Discussion Paper (DP) in December 2009 on the subject of mandatory flight simulator training. The DP put forward a range of options to canvas the views of industry participants. Responses to this DP closed in February 2010. Numerous responses were received from a variety of organisations and individuals including airlines, pilots and flight simulator training providers. These responses are currently being reviewed and policy proposals are being developed.
The subject of mandatory flight simulator training is a high priority for CASA and as such it is expected that a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) will be published in the 2nd quarter of 2010. This NPRM will put forward CASA's proposed policy on this issue which will in part be derived from the comments received on the DP. Depending on the results of an assessment of business compliance costs, the proposal may be subject to a formal Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) which may prolong the rule making process.
Response from CASA: 26/10/2010
On 26 October 2010, CASA issued Notice of Proposed Rule Making - NPRM 1007OS 'Mandatory Flight Simulator Training - Proposed amendments to Civil Aviation Orders (CAOs) 40.0 and 82.0' for industry comment by 21 January 2011.
Response from CASA: 08/07/2011
On 8 July 2011, CASA advised that:
The Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) published in October 2010 proposed that pilots must be trained in certain abnormal aircraft manoeuvres in simulators, if available, rather than in aircraft. In general terms, for aircraft certificated for 20 or more passengers, or weighing more than 8618 kg, the NPRM proposed that pilot training be provided in simulators, if available in Australia or in a recognised country overseas. For multi-engine aircraft certificated for between 10 and 19 passenger seats, the training would have to be conducted in a simulator, if available in Australia. If a simulator was not available in Australia but was available overseas, the operator's check pilots would have to travel overseas for the training.
CASA has assessed the comments received to NPRM 10070S and has developed a revised proposal taking into account some of the identified issues. A cost and impact assessment of this proposal is currently being undertaken. It is anticipated that the revised proposal, with a cost assessment, will be provided to the joint CASA/industry Standards Consultative Committee for further consultation.
Response from CASA: 27/06/2012
On 21 May 2012, CASA published a notice of final ruling making that set out comments made by the aviation industry on the 2010 proposals, as well as the final rules. CASA advised that the changes to the simulator-based training requirements will come into effect on 1 April 2013 and encouraged air operators to prepare early for the new rules.
In June 2012, CASA announced that the new requirements for the conduct of a range of pilot training and checking exercises in simulators would reduce the risk of aircraft training accidents, improve pilot training and lower aircraft wear and tear. CASA reached this conclusion after analysing the impact of changes to the Civil Aviation Orders in relation to mandatory simulator training.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is satisfied that the action proposed by CASA will adequately address this safety issue.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommends that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority address this safety issue.
A summary of CASA activities to facilitate the use of full flight simulators and/or flight training devices follows:
The following inter-related activities are in the process of implementation:
The activities undertaken by CASA appear to have facilitated increased use of simulators for endorsement and other training. However, the ATSB remains concerned that there is no regulatory requirement for simulator training when a suitable simulator is available in Australia.
