The first full fatigue risk management system approval under CAO 48.1 was issued by CASA in September 2019

Shane Carmody, CASA Chief Executive Officer/Director of Aviation Safety, presented the approval to Rebecca Tomkinson, Chief Executive Officer of Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia Western Operations (RFDS WO).

RFDS WO had been working through a trial fatigue risk management system for the previous two years. The organisation’s trial instrument was due to expire on 30 September 2019, so CASA conducted an audit to decide whether the trial period should be extended or a full approval could
be issued.

A fatigue risk management system is designed to be scalable and flexible for individual operators. RFDS WO had expended significant effort and resources, working with external consultants, to shape and develop its system, monitor flight crews and their fatigue, and engage with pilot groups and CASA during the process.

The CASA team overseeing the trial was particularly impressed to see a pilot-initiated proposal considered, and subsequently implemented, with a positive benefit to flight crews and the company.

The work of managing, coordinating, peer reviewing and signing off on the exercise involved staff across the whole of CASA.