Australian Aviation - Essay Example

Australian Aviation Australia has played a significant pioneering responsibility in aviation, which has been seen as a pathway that has pushed the limits of technology and the experience of mankind (Australia Department of Transport and Communications, and Collins, 1992). Aircrafts have been developedin Australia since 1858 when William Dean undertook the initial manned flight in Melbourne (Lee, 2008). The Australian aviation industry has been developed by the country’s intellectuals who focused their best interest in developingcrafts and this influenced and inspired greatly the work of others in United States and Europe. Up to now, Australia still has an effective aviation industry, though small, which adds up to the country’seconomic development, national employment, defense and tourism (Lee, 2008). Australia also manufactures parts for foreign aircraft producers therefore earning valuable counterbalance credits. The country also produces light aircrafts. The responsibilities of the aviation industry are managed by the government through a department and a number of agencies. This essay will focus on the Australian structure and how it contributes to meeting the numerous global roles which Australia is obliged to meet under the Chicago Convection. Chicago Convection also referred to as the Convectional on International Civil Aviation (CICA), was signed by 52 states on December 7, 1944 (Haanappel, 2003).The Chicago Convection founded the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a specific body of the United Nation (UN) which has the responsibilities of synchronizing and regulating global air travel (Milde, 2008). Various rules and responsibilities have been established by the Chicago Convection and they include regulations on aircraft safety and registration, and airspace, and offers information regarding the rights of the parties with link to air travel (Haanappel, 2003). Future development of global civil aviation is linked with amplified understanding and friendship among states, promotion of cooperation and world peace (Stadlmeier, 1998). In order to achieve this, the signatory governments agreed on various arrangements and principles to ensure that global civil aviation is established in an orderly and safe manner and that global air transport services might be developed on the roots of parity of opportunity and run economically and soundly (Haanappel, 2003). These principles put forth by the Chicago Convection shall be met by all contracting states. The Australian aviation is run and manned by the Australian government through various departments and agencies appointed by the government. They include: the Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS), the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Department of Defense (DoD), and Airservices Australia (Airservices) who work hand in hand and play essential responsibilities in service delivery, regulation and policy development for the Australian aviation industry (Australia Department of Transport and Communications and Collins, 1992). Studies show that Australia has an outstanding record in safety in the aviation industry and the departments and agencies are dedicated to making certain that this is sustained and improved. Every agency and department has definite areas of responsibility, but to ensure that the system works efficiently, it is essential that the agencies work is complimentary and founded on a mutual sense of purpose and understanding. The Airservices Australia is an agency whose responsibility is to provide safe and environmentally sound air traffic control management and linked airside services to the aviation industry (Australian National Audit Office, Hall and Boyd, 2006). Such responsibilities include air communication and navigation facilities, air traffic control, and air traffic and fire-fighting services within the borders of Australian Flight Region (FIR). Every year, Airservices Australia mans the operations of air traffic for over three million global and domestic flights which carry around seventy five million passengers. Additionally the agency provides aeronautical information, navigation and telecommunication services to the aviation industry (Australian National Audit Office, Hall and Boyd, 2006). Furthermore, Airservices Australia offers Aviation Rescue and Fire Fighting Servicesin various airports around Australia. In order to attain this objective, the agency has opened 1100 sites which has employed around 3500 staffs, comprising of 1000 air traffic controllerswho work from two main centres, at Brisbane and Melbourne Airports (Australian National Audit Office, Hall and Boyd, 2006). Moreover, there are 28 air traffic control towers in Australia, at regional airports and at the capital city. In 1999, the Airservices Australia started employing The Australian Advanced Air Traffic System (TAAATS) (Miller et al., 2010). This is a computerized air traffic control system which covers all regions of Australian Aviation (Australian National Audit Office, Hall and Boyd, 2006). Through this, the Australian government is able to meet some of the global roles it is obliged to meet under the Chicago Convection. One of the principles of the Chicago Convection is accident investigation. The principle states clearly that in case an accident occurs to an air plane of a contracting nation in the region of another signatory nation, and includes serious injury or death, or indicates critical technical defects on the airplane or navigation facilities, the country in which the accident took place will begin an investigation into the accident situationas long as it is permitted by the law (Haanappel, 2003). During the investigation, the country in which the airplane is registered will be given a chance to appoint witnesses to be present during the inquiry and the findings and report of the inquiry will be communicated thoroughly to this country (Stadlmeier, 1998). Airservices Australia is given the mandate by the Australian government to undertake this responsibility. The Chicago Convectional also states that every country should make certain that it takes efficient measures to ensure that it prevent the spread of certain diseases by means air navigation (Milde, 2008). Such diseases include typus smallpox, cholera, plague, yellow fever, among other communicable diseases. To make sure this is met, the Australian government keeps in touch with the ministry of health and sanitation which ensures that all persons using air navigation are tested of these diseases as per the Chicago Convectional principles (Blee, 2010). This as a result will make sure that these infectious diseases are not spread from one state to the other which may pose a major health risk to millions of people. The consultation between the Australian government and the ministry of health will be without bias to the application of any current global convection on this matter in which the signatory nations may be parties (Lee, 2008). The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) established in 1995, is the Australian National Aviation Authority (NAA), Australian government statutory authority which is mandated with the role of regulating civil aviation. Some of the responsibilities of CASA are to licence ground crew, airfield operators, pilots, and aircraft. Furthermore, the agency has the responsibility of enforcing safety necessities through the Air Navigation Act 1920 and the Commonwealth Civil Aviation Act 1988. CASA’s responsibility of enforcing safety covers the regulation of the following: civil air maneuvers in Australia, developing aviation safety standards, surveillance of aviation industry, and administering alcohol and drug testing and management plans among others. This is in accordance with the responsibilities put forth by the Chicago Convection regarding the licensing of personnel. The convection states that every pilot and other persons of the operating crew who are engaged in global navigation must be issued with certificates of proficiency and licenses granted valid by the country in which the airplane is registered (Milde, 2008). Airplane operators can only obtain such certificates and licenses from their country of origin otherwise they will not be recognized as valid. CASA also ensures that it searches and inspects airplanes of other signatory nations on landing or departure to ensure safety (Milde, 2008). In addition the agency employees inspect the necessary documents which are recommended by the Chicago Convection. CASA together with the Department of Transport and Regional Services established the safety advantages of the initiation of alcohol and drug testing program (Blee, 2010). This was meant to reduce the high number of accidents occurring in relation to alcohol and drug use. This is also in accordance with the Chicago Convection which puts forth that safety in air navigation should be observed in all cases and the contracting states should make certain that it develops and implements measures to meet the same (Stadlmeier, 1998). The department of defense (DoD) ensures that safety in air navigation is maintained. This it does through close inspection of aircrafts to ensure that airplane landing or departing from the contracting statedo not carry any war ammunitions or war implements (Lee, 2008). This is meant to ensure public safety and order in the particular state. However, the department should not impose restrictions that might inhibit the carriage and employment onairplane equipment essential for the navigation or operation of the airplane or passengers or personnel safety (Haanappel, 2003). In conclusion, the Australian government through the various departments such as the Department of Defense, Department of Transport and Regional Services, Airservices Australia and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority has played a major role to ensure that it meets the responsibilities put forth by the Chicago Convection. It is apparent that this has not only created peace and understanding between the contracting parties, but it has also enhanced safety in the air travel industry. Through mutual consultation with these departments and agencies regarding the effectiveness of the aviation industry, air travel in Australia has proved to be successful and it has added up to the country’s economic development, national employment, defense and tourism. References Australia Department of Transport and Communications, and Collins, B. (1992). Australian aviation: towards the 21st century: A policy statement on reform of Australian aviation by the Minister for Shipping and Aviation. Melbourne: The Dept. Australian National Audit Office, Alicia Hall, Brian Boyd (2006). Airservices Australia's upper airspace management contracts with the Solomon Islands government: Airservices Australia. Sydney: Australian National Audit Office. Blee, J. (2010). Aviation in Australia. Sydney: ReadHowYouWant.com. Civil Aviation Safety Authority. About CASA. Retrieved from http://www.casa.gov.au/scripts/nc.dll?WCMS:STANDARD::pc=PC_91621 (Accessed September 18, 2011) Haanappel, P.P.C. (2003). The law and policy of air space and outer space: a comparative approach. Kluwer Law International. Lee, A. (2008). Australian aviation: a pictorial history. Sydney: Axiom Publishing. Milde, M. (2008). International Air Law and ICAO.Eleven International Publishing. Miller, F.P., Vandome, A.F., and McBrewster, J. (2010). Airservices Australia. Brisbane: VDM Publishing House Ltd. Stadlmeier, S. (1998). International commercial aviation: from foreign policy to trade in services. Atlantica Séguier Frontières. Read More