CASA’s Flight Safety Australia magazine returned to print, with more than 2,500 readers subscribing in the first year.

Measures that CASA introduced to support the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic included six-month extensions of 800 air operator certificates and more than 300 flight training certificates, 30,000 medical certificates for pilots and 14,000 aircraft maintenance engineer certificates.

A virtual assistant was deployed on a dedicated website, casa.gov.au/knowyourdrone, to manage enquiries related to remotely piloted aircraft systems. Some of the popular topics of enquiry were:

• What are the rules for flying drones?
• Drone registration
• Do I need a drone licence?
• How do I apply for a drone licence?
• Remote pilot licences, remotely piloted aircraft operator certificates and commercial use.

The new Aviation State Engagement Forum (AvSEF) was initiated to provide opportunities for direct communication with regional aviation communities.

CASA transitioned to a new learning management system – providing greater functionality, including capabilities for new delivery methods and improved reporting and an intuitive user interface – for delivering training to CASA staff and industry.

CASA engaged with the Digital Transformation Agency Digital Graduate Program, and CASA’s Information Technology Branch commenced working with the Australian National University to provide real-world experience for Master of Innovation and Professional Practice students.

The AvSafety seminar series introduced a new engineering seminar program, The human component. The program focuses on engineering errors and the lessons learnt, the human component of engineering, and proposed regulations for general aviation maintenance and continuing airworthiness regulations.

As a part of CASA’s COVID-19 response, 92 per cent of CASA staff commenced working remotely from home.