Civil Aviation Safety Authority

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is the Australian national aviation authority (NAA), the government statutory authority responsible for the regulation of civil aviation.

History
Established on 6 July 1995 when the air safety functions of the former Civil Aviation Authority of Australia were separated from its other regulatory function of air traffic control (which went to Airservices Australia).

Role
CASA licences pilots, ground crew, aircraft and airfield operators; and is responsible for enforcing safety requirements under the Commonwealth Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Air Navigation Act 1920. Although a corporate body distinct from the Australian Government, CASA is responsible to the Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport..

CASA was established, and its functions are defined, by the Civil Aviation Act 1988. Those functions include conducting the safety regulation of:
 * civil air operations in Australian territory
 * operation of Australian aircraft outside Australian territory
 * developing and promulgating appropriate, clear and concise aviation safety standards
 * developing effective enforcement strategies to secure compliance with aviation safety standards
 * administering drug and alcohol management plans and testing
 * issuing certificates, licences, registrations and permits
 * conducting comprehensive aviation industry surveillance
 * conducting regular reviews of the system of civil aviation safety in order to monitor the safety performance of the aviation industry
 * conducting regular assessment of international safety developments

CASA must regard the safety of air navigation as the most important consideration.