(1)   Would the Minister confirm that in the 2003-04 financial year the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) provided support in the development of Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) through a visit to the Federal Aviation Administration Capstone Program in Alaska.

(2) (a)   When did this visit occur; (b) who went on the visit and in what capacity; (c) what was the overall cost of the visit; and (d) what was the cost to CASA of this visit.

(3)   Did anyone else contribute to the cost of the visit; if so, who and how much did they contribute.

(4)   Was a written report to the Minister a proposed outcome of the visit; if so: (a) when did the Minister receive the report; and (b) can a copy of the report be provided; if not, why not.

(1)   One CASA officer visited the United States Federal Aviation Administration Capstone Program in Alaska.  This visit occurred in conjunction with a visit to Montreal to attend a working group meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Operational Data Link Panel.

(2)  

(a)   The visit took place in March 2004.

(b)   Mr Nick King, Flying Operations Inspector in CASA’s Airspace, Air Traffic and Aerodromes Branch visited the Capstone Program in his capacity as a member of a CASA team working on the ADS-B Operational Trial.

(c)   The overall cost of the visit including the visit to Montreal was $13,492.

(d)   The cost to CASA for the visit was $13,492.

(3)   CASA is not aware of any other organisation that contributed to the cost of the visit.

(4)   No.