11 hours ago
The Last Minute Hitch: 15 August 2025
15 August 2025
– Steve Hitchen
Our MOSAIC survey hit the collector limit very quickly last week, which is a result all of its own: it shows the GA community is well engaged with the new LSA regulations that, hopefully, will be introduced in Australia in the next couple of years. Now, this was a quick poll; a litmus test to see what the GA industry is thinking. It was not a measured study and therefore can't be relied upon as evidence for action with any great integrity. That's not what it was intended to do anyway. It was intended to see if we are all on the same page with radical new rules that will generate a revolution perhaps even more sweeping than the original LSA rules that came in 20 years ago. If there is any discord, this survey indicates it will be surrounding whether or not RAAus should be able to administer aircraft with MTOWs over 760 kg, which will become ubiquitous when CASA green-lights the new LSA standard. Where I found myself completely at odds with the poll results was in the last question: what will be the biggest impact of MOSAIC LSAs on general aviation? My own answer was that it would revitalise manufacturing, as shown in Brumby Aircraft's progress with the 760 airframe. However, the most common answer in the survey was that it would catalyse retirement of old GA aircraft because a viable alternative was now available. New LSAs will bring cultural change to all aspects of GA in the future, possibly in some ways we haven't even thought of yet, and provided it's done right, we have an exciting future to look forward to.
"..mental health has many different influences and impacts.."
I believe GA needs to calm the farm a bit on the Navigating Aviation survey report released this week. The survey polled 411 people about stress in the GA community, and the conclusions reached seem to indicate there is a serious mental health problem in GA. The issue I have with this is that there is no comparison with the general population that would show us if it's a bigger issue in GA than the wider community. The great truth in this report lies in green box at the bottom of page 7, where it says the report can't be definitive of how representative the survey results are to the GA community. They're telling us it is not a comprehensive study, it is not a peer-reviewed academic paper. The authors describe the report as an "indicative snapshot". CASA–which provided funds for the survey via scholarship–described the report as "another strand in the complex web of factors we consider when looking at pilot mental health". This is, I believe, a fair response. It recognises that mental health has many different influences and impacts, and that it is not the same for everyone. There is no one solution, but there are common factors that we can combat. If you cross-check the survey conclusions with the ATSB database, a picture begins to emerge of pilots pushed over their limits in order to save money or execute customer demand. GA needs better tools to tackle this errant culture, because it is clear that regulations simply aren't enough. But to produce focused solutions, we need to know the extent of the problem with more reliability than an "indicative snapshot" alone. We need to fashion tools that reduce the stressors and increase coping mechanisms. That level of solution will come only after a full academic study, which I believe is the path we now need to take.
Earlier this year, AMDA Foundation threw their support behind GA by hosting the 2024 CASA Wings Awards presentation at Avalon. They've doubled-down for the 2025 awards with AMDA CEO Justin Giddings joining the judging panel. We're taking this as a clear indication that AMDA understands the value in the awards scheme and the importance of making sure dedication to the GA community is recognised. The fact that the CEO himself stuck up his hand to personally come on board is not so surprising to me. In discussions post-Avalon with Giddings, I came away with a justified impression that AMDA has much to offer GA and they're prepared to leverage their resources where they can. Coming on board the CASA Wings Awards judging panel may be a small contribution compared to what is needed, but we should take it as the beginning of an expanded relationship between AMDA and general aviation.
May your gauges always be in the green,
Hitch
15 August 2025
– Steve Hitchen
Our MOSAIC survey hit the collector limit very quickly last week, which is a result all of its own: it shows the GA community is well engaged with the new LSA regulations that, hopefully, will be introduced in Australia in the next couple of years. Now, this was a quick poll; a litmus test to see what the GA industry is thinking. It was not a measured study and therefore can't be relied upon as evidence for action with any great integrity. That's not what it was intended to do anyway. It was intended to see if we are all on the same page with radical new rules that will generate a revolution perhaps even more sweeping than the original LSA rules that came in 20 years ago. If there is any discord, this survey indicates it will be surrounding whether or not RAAus should be able to administer aircraft with MTOWs over 760 kg, which will become ubiquitous when CASA green-lights the new LSA standard. Where I found myself completely at odds with the poll results was in the last question: what will be the biggest impact of MOSAIC LSAs on general aviation? My own answer was that it would revitalise manufacturing, as shown in Brumby Aircraft's progress with the 760 airframe. However, the most common answer in the survey was that it would catalyse retirement of old GA aircraft because a viable alternative was now available. New LSAs will bring cultural change to all aspects of GA in the future, possibly in some ways we haven't even thought of yet, and provided it's done right, we have an exciting future to look forward to.
"..mental health has many different influences and impacts.."
I believe GA needs to calm the farm a bit on the Navigating Aviation survey report released this week. The survey polled 411 people about stress in the GA community, and the conclusions reached seem to indicate there is a serious mental health problem in GA. The issue I have with this is that there is no comparison with the general population that would show us if it's a bigger issue in GA than the wider community. The great truth in this report lies in green box at the bottom of page 7, where it says the report can't be definitive of how representative the survey results are to the GA community. They're telling us it is not a comprehensive study, it is not a peer-reviewed academic paper. The authors describe the report as an "indicative snapshot". CASA–which provided funds for the survey via scholarship–described the report as "another strand in the complex web of factors we consider when looking at pilot mental health". This is, I believe, a fair response. It recognises that mental health has many different influences and impacts, and that it is not the same for everyone. There is no one solution, but there are common factors that we can combat. If you cross-check the survey conclusions with the ATSB database, a picture begins to emerge of pilots pushed over their limits in order to save money or execute customer demand. GA needs better tools to tackle this errant culture, because it is clear that regulations simply aren't enough. But to produce focused solutions, we need to know the extent of the problem with more reliability than an "indicative snapshot" alone. We need to fashion tools that reduce the stressors and increase coping mechanisms. That level of solution will come only after a full academic study, which I believe is the path we now need to take.
Earlier this year, AMDA Foundation threw their support behind GA by hosting the 2024 CASA Wings Awards presentation at Avalon. They've doubled-down for the 2025 awards with AMDA CEO Justin Giddings joining the judging panel. We're taking this as a clear indication that AMDA understands the value in the awards scheme and the importance of making sure dedication to the GA community is recognised. The fact that the CEO himself stuck up his hand to personally come on board is not so surprising to me. In discussions post-Avalon with Giddings, I came away with a justified impression that AMDA has much to offer GA and they're prepared to leverage their resources where they can. Coming on board the CASA Wings Awards judging panel may be a small contribution compared to what is needed, but we should take it as the beginning of an expanded relationship between AMDA and general aviation.
May your gauges always be in the green,
Hitch