The airports issue should start with the fact that government owned civil airports should be open for available much like roads. The excessive fees and restrictions are elements that have impacted negatively on the growth, size and viability of the GA industry. The overall losses weigh on GA in such a profound manner that some perceived government savings by leasing will be many times less than the tax losses from the 2/3rds shrunk GA industry.
In addition we have have a system of licenced airports so that aviators may plan with certainty and have safe alternates. Now we have airports such as Olympic Dam controlled by BHP that require, last time I inquired, $20million insurance and no planned landings when BHP’s flights are using same. Then we have Broome which charges like the proverbial bull. From a current post on FB:-
“Broome is really getting out of control. They now need 48 hours prior notice for parking, have $50+ landing fee and I was just quoted $1872.00 + GST for five weeks itinerant parking or $2,019.00 + GST for 3 months. Last year, I could rent a month at a time for about $350. They are just using their location as a monopoly position, couldn't give a shit about private aviation and are trying to charge the maximum they can.
Honestly, between this kind of behavior (and e.g. Roma charging $200 to come out and check your ASIC after hours before they'll give you a gate code), the demise of LAMEs and total screw-ups like the Coffs harbour airport redevelopment and sale to a private company which has expressed its desire to jack the ground rent up on the GA hangars, I really fear for GA in Australia.“
In my book I don’t see why public airports should have such onerous conditions of use. Fair enough privately owned airports and maybe the answer to Broome might be that someone opens a strip just out of town. Then the problem becomes one of ‘planning’ permission and because Australia has, according to the London Economist, about the most restrictive land use rules in the world, then good luck with that idea. Sorry to say but “She’ll be right” no it won't. If we can’t get to work with our MPs rather than indulge the great Aussie pastime of bagging all politicians then we won’t get real reform. We should persuade ourselves that it’s freedom and free enterprise that builds prosperity, not ever more bureaucratically operated rules and regulations for just about everything.
In addition we have have a system of licenced airports so that aviators may plan with certainty and have safe alternates. Now we have airports such as Olympic Dam controlled by BHP that require, last time I inquired, $20million insurance and no planned landings when BHP’s flights are using same. Then we have Broome which charges like the proverbial bull. From a current post on FB:-
“Broome is really getting out of control. They now need 48 hours prior notice for parking, have $50+ landing fee and I was just quoted $1872.00 + GST for five weeks itinerant parking or $2,019.00 + GST for 3 months. Last year, I could rent a month at a time for about $350. They are just using their location as a monopoly position, couldn't give a shit about private aviation and are trying to charge the maximum they can.
Honestly, between this kind of behavior (and e.g. Roma charging $200 to come out and check your ASIC after hours before they'll give you a gate code), the demise of LAMEs and total screw-ups like the Coffs harbour airport redevelopment and sale to a private company which has expressed its desire to jack the ground rent up on the GA hangars, I really fear for GA in Australia.“
In my book I don’t see why public airports should have such onerous conditions of use. Fair enough privately owned airports and maybe the answer to Broome might be that someone opens a strip just out of town. Then the problem becomes one of ‘planning’ permission and because Australia has, according to the London Economist, about the most restrictive land use rules in the world, then good luck with that idea. Sorry to say but “She’ll be right” no it won't. If we can’t get to work with our MPs rather than indulge the great Aussie pastime of bagging all politicians then we won’t get real reform. We should persuade ourselves that it’s freedom and free enterprise that builds prosperity, not ever more bureaucratically operated rules and regulations for just about everything.