[Peetwo]

For one of the best wrap ups of the Wagga Summit...

Via the Wagga Weekly:

AVIATION INDUSTRY FLYING UNITED ON CHANGE


pennie scott

It is a well trotted-out fact that the average age of farmers is close to 60, yet there is another sector with a similar demographic – general aviation.

More than 90 representatives from 34 general aviation industry associations gathered in Wagga this week so the leaders of each group could create a consensus proposal for a change to the Civil Aviation Act. The meeting was the sequel to Dick Smith’s public meeting on 4 May 2018 in Wagga, which was purposely convened by Michael McCormack as the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport in his electorate of Riverina.

The Australian General Aviation Alliance is made up of 34 associations with more than 26,500 members across all sectors of the aviation industry.

The Executive Director of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Ben Morgan, said general aviation includes every form except military and scheduled flights.
What is included in general aviation is relevant to all Australians every day via the vast array of activities falling under:

• Fire-fighting aircraft
  
• Emergency service fixed-wing and rotary aircraft (Snowy and Westpac emergency helicopters)
  
• Police helicopters
  
• Agricultural aircraft – spraying, mustering
  
• The Royal Flying Doctor Service
  
• Training aircraft
  
• Private pilots
  
• Surveying
  
• Business and charter flights
  
• Maintenance including avionics, engines and airframes
  
• Gliders, gyrocopters, microlights
  
• Parachuting aircraft
  
• Hot air balloons.
  

 
Former Managing Director of Regional Express (Rex), Geoff Breust, was the independent chairman for the summit and explained the frustrations of the existing prescription-based legislation of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority while the rest of the world’s aviation authorities operate on outcome-based legislation.

“Everyone agrees safety is vital. However, the safest aeroplane is the one still on the drawing-board.”

The main cause for concern among aviators is the addition of the word safety in 1995 so that the Civil Aviation Authority became the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. As a result, many more regulations were included in the Legislation, which, over the past 23 years, has caused general aviation to face increasing regulatory charges, a diminution of new participants and a dim future.

Australian director of AOPA, Mike Smith, said the costs associated with the regulations also prevent new business.

[img=300x0]https://www.yourlocalwaggaweekly.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Flying-united-trio-300x225.jpg[/img]

Geoff Breust (left), Mike Smith and Ben Morgan.

“Australia’s one of the best places to train pilots, yet the majority of places are taken by Chinese students whose courses are being paid for by the Chinese government.

“There is a recognised shortage of pilots world-wide, yet the costs of regulations are so high in Australia, very few of our young people can afford to pay the fees. This is a lost opportunity along with the decrease in other business opportunities in the aviation sector,” Mike said.

However, AOPA’s Ben Morgan said the summit was delighted that Michael McCormack as Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, and Shadow Minister, Anthony Albanese, attended and are committed to bi-partisan support to change the Act.

“Hearing both commit to this arrangement in a public forum gives the Australian General Aviation Alliance great heart that the necessary changes will be passed,” Ben said.

“At the conclusion of the summit, an agreement was reached covering all aspects of the Act we need changed and both Michael and Anthony agreed we would meet together at Parliament House to discuss the next steps. This outcome is very satisfying.”

The two resolutions, which will be presented to both the Minister and Shadow Minister, outline the problems aired at the meeting and suggests changes to the Civil Aviation Act and other Acts associated with aviation.

Geoff Breust concluded the summit thanking everyone who attended, including Senator Fraser Anning from the Katter Party, Secretary Dr Jane Thompson from the Senate’s Rural and Regional Affairs Transport committee, Senator David Fawcett, represented by Micah Wright-Taylor, CASA Group Manager, Rob Walker, Stephen Angus from Air Services Australia, Craig Spence from the International Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Jim Wolfe and Melissa Cashman from the Department of Infrastructure, airport managers and owners and pilot training school owners.
[url=https://www.yourlocalwaggaweekly.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Flying-United-mob.jpg]


The delegates from 34 general aviation industry associations who attended the July 2018 conference in Wagga.

MTF...P2