SAFA Skysailor Magazine

25 SUMMER 2025/2026 | December-January-February SKY SAILOR Midway through our application, CASA changed their internal process for handling these exemptions. In that transition, some of our submitted material effectively dis- appeared into the system, requiring us to resubmit work we had already completed. The updated process also meant rewriting or expanding sections to match the new structure and expectations. Eventually, after addressing the changes and final rounds of clarification, CASA issued the exemption in November 2025, clearing the largest hurdle in re-opening the site. Site Maintenance Even after the exemption was issued, we still had to make the site flyable again. CASA Exemption Once the council permit was in place, the LOA from Maroochydore Tower was issued, and we had considered relevant stakeholders, we could finally begin the part most pilots assume is the only work involved: the CASA exemption. This is where the depth of the process becomes clear. CASA needs confidence not only in the safety of the site itself, but also in the club’s ability to manage it responsibly, including our systems, our communication, and our approach to risk. The culture at CASA has shifted signifi- cantly from back in the day; every process detail now needs to be spelled out. Every ‘i’ must be dotted and every ‘t’ crossed. Our submission moved through several internal teams within CASA. The material typically goes first to the operational staff, then to another specialised group, and eventually to CASA’s legal team, who nat- urally examine it from a legal and compli- ance perspective, rather than a flying one. Each layer brings its own questions and clarifications, which makes the process iterative rather than linear. Photos: Tex Bec