[Peetwo]

Perhaps a non-partisan Parliamentary solution -  

Ref:

In the land of the 'fair-go'.

Thoroughly democratic darts match last evening; Darren Chester MP the main topic. It is an interesting 'forum' a few Ales, relaxed pace of conversation, concentration on the game and good company allows time to consider the arguments put forward. And there were many, both pro and con. At the end of the shift I recorded the resolution, to wit:-

The 4D Chester thread will be resurrected as it stands, the gross errors of the past cannot be simply wiped away; however as it is widely believed that the MP was lumbered with probably the worst 'advice' and adviser possible and had no previous idea or experience of the aviation industry's problems; then a reset of attitude and credit would be allowed. This in the name of a fair go.

Chester's opening gambit in defence of Mallacoota aerodrome and the community _ HERE _ and the promise to take the matter up with the incumbent minister is a good place to begin. B. Joyce Esq left behind a SoE which had both legs and teeth, it provides a solid platform for those now in opposition to take the government to task. Reform of the aviation 'safety agencies' and the way they conduct business is long overdue. Perhaps the MP may even become a champion for that part of the industry which does not provide 'scheduled' services, there's real mileage there.

The Mallacoota situation could/should be quickly resolved, particularly in light of the CASA statements relating to exemption etc.

"CASA said grant options and exemptions were offered to smaller aerodromes, though the council did not apply for either on behalf of the Mallacoota Airport."

"Grandfathering provisions applied to existing facilities, including Mallacoota Airport, so smaller aerodromes did not need costly work to meet the new standards,"

"No infrastructure changes were required as part of the transition process."

It may even be as straightforward as sorting out the local council and having a chat with CASA. We shall see.

And so we wish Chester MP 'bon-chance' and as much real world advice as he can handle.

Toot - toot....

It only takes one brief look at the CV of 4D's former Senior Aviation adviser to understand why the advice given to former miniscule 4D was perhaps tainted and bias towards the CASA Iron ring...

Civil Aviation Safety Authority
2 yrs 8 mos

Manager, Part 61 taskforce, Part 141/142Manager,
Oct 2015 - Mar 2016 · 6 mos
Canberra, Australia

Manager of CASR Part 141/142 review team.
Standards Officer (Large aeroplanes)
Aug 2013 - Oct 2015 · 2 yrs 3 mos

Providing policy guidance and regulation development for the CASR operations suite of regulations.

Followed up by a stint a year later as Senior Aviation adviser to none other than the former CASA CEO St Commode:

Senior Aviation Adviser-Office of the CEO
Civil Aviation Safety Authority
Oct 2017 - May 2018 · 8 mos
Canberra, Australia

So perhaps in hindsight 4D has since realised that he was poorly advised and misled by a CASA biased adviser??

Next I draw attention to this excellent Lead Balloon UP post and observation about the current make up of the Parliament:

..What needs first to be done is actually slowly happening: The percentage vote for the major parties is diminishing, with the current government having been elected on its worst primary vote ever. A couple of coronaries or defections and the House of Reps becomes interesting.

Giving the major parties and their camp followers alternating turns at pillaging the common wealth, having fine-tuned the senior bureaucracy to assist it to happen or sit mute and watch while it happens, is not in the national interest. (It is of course happening in the States, too, which are, after all, the breeding grounds for the major party 'talent' that 'rises' to Federal level.)

While ever we keep giving the major parties turns at pillaging the common wealth, they are not really 'accountable'. Sooner or later, a 'sacked' government and its camp followers come back or are taken care of, very nicely thank you very much, by a subsequent government of the same flavour. Corruption investigation bodies have demonstrably brought some of these people to account at a State level. So I say: bring it on at the Federal level. The more of these people having party meetings in gaol and the more people who truly represent the interests of their constituents in Parliament the better it will be for the common wealth, including for the health of general aviation...

Which brings me back to when 4D 1st became the Minister overseeing aviation to which he had apparently good intentions, via LMH: http://www.australianflying.com.au/news/...n-exposure

"...His electorate of Gippsland includes Latrobe Regional Airport, home to GA manufacturer Mahindra Aerospace: GippsAero to the purists. GippsAero has been going through some tougher times of late, with flagging sales and delayed certification for the turbo-prop Airvan 10. Although it is a bit much to expect the minister to do anything about soft markets and stiff competition, having their local MP step into the job already infused with the challenges facing the company can only be good for GippsAero. The last thing any MP wants is job losses in their own backyard.

Chester is also a customer of general aviation, plying the sky between Canberra and Lakes Entrance in a chartered Piper Seneca regularly. Now the pilot knows he is ferrying the minister around, you can bet there will be some interesting conversations in the headphones high above the Monaro ... if there haven't been already. This is "coal-face" input at its best. Every time he straps in, Chester will be shown the inherent value of general aviation and there's no doubt the ramifications of an industry collapse will be apparent to him. It's a long drive even when you're chauffered.

Our new minister is also a member of the Parliamentary Friends of Aviation Group. This is a collection of federal MPs that gather to "provide members a great opportunity to stay informed about the issues the industry is facing." It is chaired by long-time aviation champion Senator David Fawcett. Now, you would hope the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport would be part of this group, but the fact that Chester was a member before getting the ministerial gig shows a pre-existing interest in the industry.

None of this suggests that general aviation will have an elevated level of influence on Darren Chester. As minister, he is also responsible for the airlines as well. He will find the best interests of RPT and GA colliding on his desk regularly, forcing him to try to strike a balance between the two.

So, what is going to change? Immediately, we can expect nothing to happen. There is a Federal Election looming in the second half of this year, and although Chester is probably a monty to keep Gippsland, it is always risky making changes that might prove unpopular enough to unseat MPs under siege in marginal electorates.

Over the next couple of weeks, we can expect an announcement that the new minister intends to keep going with the reforms instigated under Warren Truss, but no new policies or directives until after polling day.

Only then will the general aviation community be able to judge the impact of Darren Chester MP in his own right..."

"Friends of Aviation"??

Hmm...perhaps in the current Parliamentary make up of both houses, it would be possible to find other like minded MPs and Senators, of all political persuasions and allegiances, that have had similar issues plaguing the aviation industry, brought to their attention, within their electorates/States? -

MTF? - Yes much...P2