The Last Minute Hitch: 24 January 2025
24 January 2025
– Steve Hitchen
And so we have come to 2025; another year of aviating awaits us. It's a Federal Election year this year, and previous experience with that means we are in for policy statements from political parties, various associations and think-tanks. With the ALP bound to cling ferociously to the White Paper as their aviation credentials, it is up now to the Coalition to state their case. With the polling booths due to open sometime in May, we are in for a busy few months of politicking. But for me, the Australian Federal Election is not the most exciting thing due this year. Sometime before 2025 is done, the Federal Aviation Administration is due to finalise their thinking on MOSAIC. MOSAIC is the new standard and accompanying rules that will modernise the definition of Light Sport Aircraft (LSA). It has the potential to revolutionise the category and, most importantly for Australia, re-energise the manufacturing industry. With the current restrictive parameters–including the MTOW–around LSAs lifted, we should start seeing designs with capabilities very close to GA aeroplanes, but without the weight of dollars needed for full certification. We're all hanging out for this one; bring it on, FAA.
"..manufacturers are loathe to make predictions about getting useful engines to market.."
One policy the ALP will be hoping impresses aviation voters is sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This was an underpinning initiative in the White Paper; to create an indigenous SAF industry to ensure a consistent reliable supply of aviation fuel for Australia. International production is so far behind potential demand that we were going to starved of fuel whilst overseas airlines drank everything available. A local source for local use will be mandatory before the next decade is out, so kudos to the ALP for getting the ball rolling. However, their policy should extend deeper into GA. If they adhere doggedly to the White Paper, the government is looking for electricity to replace standard GA piston engines so more SAF production can be dedicated to airlines. As I see it, that's a policy worth rethinking. Diesel engine demand is on the march, and powerplants like Continental's CD range are expected to be able to burn SAF just as well as a Rolls-Royce turbine (yet to be verified, admittedly). Although electric powerplant development is kicking along, manufacturers are loathe to make predictions about getting useful engines to market. Diesel engines are available now, and most likely will be approved for SAF long before electric engines prove their worth. GA aircraft like C208s, PC-12, SF50s, most Diamonds, TBM 960s and Kodiaks all burn Jet-A1 now and will be putting their hands up for SAF. Encouraging smaller piston aeroplanes to convert to diesel would simplify everything and eliminate the need for charging infrastructure at airports. And it would bring forward the retirement date for avgas, which dovetails nicely with the ALPs desire for cleaner aviation.
Congratulations to all the winners of the 2024 CASA Wings Awards. It is pleasing to see dedication, efforts and passion rewarded with this type of recognition. The litany of winners this year represents a large proportion of the total energy put into general aviation in Australia, and many of you will be familiar with their names and their careers already, such is the impact they have had. And we, too, are going further with the awards by holding a presentation ceremony at Avalon on the Friday of the Australian International Airshow in late March. This enables us to present the awards in front of the gathered aviation community at the industry's largest event. Details of the time are yet to be finalised, but it's safe to call it for the morning of Friday 28 March at the General Aviation pavilion in the GA precinct. Stand by for more details as they firm up.
May your gauges always be in the green,
Hitch
24 January 2025
– Steve Hitchen
And so we have come to 2025; another year of aviating awaits us. It's a Federal Election year this year, and previous experience with that means we are in for policy statements from political parties, various associations and think-tanks. With the ALP bound to cling ferociously to the White Paper as their aviation credentials, it is up now to the Coalition to state their case. With the polling booths due to open sometime in May, we are in for a busy few months of politicking. But for me, the Australian Federal Election is not the most exciting thing due this year. Sometime before 2025 is done, the Federal Aviation Administration is due to finalise their thinking on MOSAIC. MOSAIC is the new standard and accompanying rules that will modernise the definition of Light Sport Aircraft (LSA). It has the potential to revolutionise the category and, most importantly for Australia, re-energise the manufacturing industry. With the current restrictive parameters–including the MTOW–around LSAs lifted, we should start seeing designs with capabilities very close to GA aeroplanes, but without the weight of dollars needed for full certification. We're all hanging out for this one; bring it on, FAA.
"..manufacturers are loathe to make predictions about getting useful engines to market.."
One policy the ALP will be hoping impresses aviation voters is sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This was an underpinning initiative in the White Paper; to create an indigenous SAF industry to ensure a consistent reliable supply of aviation fuel for Australia. International production is so far behind potential demand that we were going to starved of fuel whilst overseas airlines drank everything available. A local source for local use will be mandatory before the next decade is out, so kudos to the ALP for getting the ball rolling. However, their policy should extend deeper into GA. If they adhere doggedly to the White Paper, the government is looking for electricity to replace standard GA piston engines so more SAF production can be dedicated to airlines. As I see it, that's a policy worth rethinking. Diesel engine demand is on the march, and powerplants like Continental's CD range are expected to be able to burn SAF just as well as a Rolls-Royce turbine (yet to be verified, admittedly). Although electric powerplant development is kicking along, manufacturers are loathe to make predictions about getting useful engines to market. Diesel engines are available now, and most likely will be approved for SAF long before electric engines prove their worth. GA aircraft like C208s, PC-12, SF50s, most Diamonds, TBM 960s and Kodiaks all burn Jet-A1 now and will be putting their hands up for SAF. Encouraging smaller piston aeroplanes to convert to diesel would simplify everything and eliminate the need for charging infrastructure at airports. And it would bring forward the retirement date for avgas, which dovetails nicely with the ALPs desire for cleaner aviation.
Congratulations to all the winners of the 2024 CASA Wings Awards. It is pleasing to see dedication, efforts and passion rewarded with this type of recognition. The litany of winners this year represents a large proportion of the total energy put into general aviation in Australia, and many of you will be familiar with their names and their careers already, such is the impact they have had. And we, too, are going further with the awards by holding a presentation ceremony at Avalon on the Friday of the Australian International Airshow in late March. This enables us to present the awards in front of the gathered aviation community at the industry's largest event. Details of the time are yet to be finalised, but it's safe to call it for the morning of Friday 28 March at the General Aviation pavilion in the GA precinct. Stand by for more details as they firm up.
May your gauges always be in the green,
Hitch