Observing aviation safety, security vital, says CASA

THE government has been urged to realise the importance of the aviation industry to national economic growth and sustainability.
Rob Collins, the board chairman of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) PNG, told the three-day Aviation Safety and Security conference in Kokopo that such conference reinforced this.
He welcomed stakeholders who were investing in aviation security.
He said in terms of the aviation industry, a lot of carriage was with the National Airports Corporation but CASA was responsible for the overall oversight for aviation security.
Collins said CASA hoped the Apec meeting next year would contribute significantly to the economy in the short-term.
He said people would be arriving in big aircrafts and corporate jets and there would be a need to service these aircrafts.
“There is also a secondary effect whereby people who visit PNG and have a safe aviation experience will go back and tell their friends,” he said.
He said it was part of CASA PNG’s commitment to promote safety, communicate with its stakeholders and consult with people on changes.
“The aviation industry is globally challenged by the onset of new technology. There is a new aircraft coming out and instrumentation being developed. So it is always a challenge for the aviation industry and its regulator to keep up with the changes,” Collins said.