HGFA Skysailor Magazine

SKY SAILOR 15 March | April 2019 ➲ Liaison and support with/for appropriate authorities when fatalities are involved, ➲ Coordination of assessment and reporting for AIRS Managers, ➲ Contributions to relevant items of the HGFA Strategic Plan, ➲ Acting as resident expert on safety matters, ➲ Making recommendations to improve the safety of operations for all HGFA Flight Training Facilities, pilots and HGFA disciplines. I will also be required to report to CASA any instances where an aviation safety-related process or instruction hasn’t been complied with. What do you want to achieve in this role? The first thing I want to achieve as Safety Officer is to get our AIRS Manager cadre recruited and fully engaged with the AIRS process. This will involve developing and rolling out guidelines and training material. Secondly, is the continued development of the SMS and ensuring compliance with our requirements from CASA’s perspective. This will involve the development of educational material for the State and Regional Associations, clubs and members and rolling out the SMS throughout the organisation. Once Part 149 of the CASR is formalised, I will be working assiduously to ensure we meet our obligations. Ultimately, I want to develop the safety culture referred to earlier and leave for my successor fully developed, mature documentation and processes for the management of safety across our sport. How will your work benefit the members of our sport? Our members, and those contemplating participation in our disciplines, deserve the very best we can provide in regard to their safety. I will be working to enhance the safety culture within the HGFA as well as ensuring our safety programs and processes operate at best practice in meeting our regulatory obligations. There will always be a need to improve the materials, methods and management practices as our sport evolves. A lasting commitment to improving safety can only raise our sport’s reputation and appeal and result in safer and happier pilots. How do you intend on operating and what can members expect to see? Members can expect to see communications from me in SkySailor, either in the formof articles, aspects of aviation safety or news items giving updates on how changes or new safety measures are being developed or implemented. I’ll be operating from my base in Tasmania, but will be joining in on meetings with SRAs and clubs to enhance the education and implementation process of our safety programs and initiatives. I look forward to working closely with all our members and safety stakeholders and can be contacted via <iain.clarke@hgfa.asn.au >.