Update II - Dick Smith/AOPA Oz/IOS vs McCormack
Also via the Wagga Daily Advertiser:
April 15 2018 - 10:00PM
Wagga City Aero Club president backs federal election candidate as 'huge step' towards industry reform
![[Image: r0_101_2272_1378_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg]](https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/sWVD552KdHRYVUHHYJmxVS/891236d6-3452-4cd3-9026-a2b02ff3b71c.jpg/r0_101_2272_1378_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
SUPPORT: Aviators are calling for change and will consider running a Riverina candidate in the 2020 federal election.
Wagga City Aero Club has backed calls to run an aviation-focused candidate against Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Riverina Michael McCormack in the upcoming 2020 federal election.
It follows a sensational attack on the Nationals leader from aviation circles.
Both the Australian Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and millionaire advocate Dick Smith spoke in favour of industry reform on Friday, challenging Mr McCormack to commit to changes to the Civil Aviation Act, which had been agreed to by former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and Labor’s Anthony Albanese.
A spokesperson for Mr McCormack said he was “open to reform”, but argued reform “such as this takes time”.
This response was branded “laughable” by AOPA president Ben Morgan, who floated the possibility of running a candidate in the Riverina electorate.
Challenging the Deputy Prime Minister on home turf seems a tough proposition, but WCAC president Geoff Breust believes it’s a “huge step” towards positive reform.
“It’s a big call to run against Mr McCormack but I think it’s a significant reflection of how the industry is feeling. We see a disconnect between the overall needs of our industry and the actions of the federal government,” he said.
Mr Breust said frustration had been building among pilots and industry members given the National Party’s affiliation with rural communities.
“Small aviation businesses are really struggling … and those are the businesses that the Nationals should be fighting for,” he said.
“Pilot schools, engineer programs and smaller pilots in rural areas are typically National voters but they’re not being looked after in this case.”
Short interlude -
Also for those remotely interested in the progress of the Senate Air routes inquiry here are the Hansard transcripts available so far:
Next -
It looks like Senator Rex 'gets it' and may well be on his way back from the AP 'Hall of Shame':
Political Turbulence Exacerbates General Aviation's Bumpy Ride: Urgent Action Required On CASA Over-regulation
12 APRIL 2018
Claims by the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Michael McCormack, that he will take his time to consider desperately needed reforms to General Aviation’s regulatory burden hides the real reason for the delay.
“Inaction on mounting and calls for aviation regulation reform stems from the series of politicians flying through the Minister for Transport’s office”, said Senator Rex Patrick. “It’s busier than the Sydney-Melbourne air route, with Darren Chester being replaced by Barnaby Joyce who in turn has been replaced by Michael McCormack.
“Any ministerial change causes delay. Minister McCormack is still trying to get his wings while the General Aviation that he’s responsible for is headed for a crash landing. An urgent change in flight path is needed."
The health of General Aviation has been in major decline over the past decade. Pilot numbers are falling, as are the number of small aircraft registrations. At the same time CASA’s staff numbers have gone from 621 in 2006/07 to 830 in 2016/17 and their operating budget has gone from $129 million to $180 million.
“Something has to change and quickly,” said Rex. “I am in absolute agreement with Dick Smith on this - we have to have a more pragmatic approach.
”Other jurisdictions provide a safe operating framework whilst having regard to the need for a healthy industry. We can and must do something here to arrest the decline in General Aviation - it’s a critical part of services to the regional areas.
“Right now we have pilots focusing so much on regulation they are distracted from doing what they are supposed to be doing - flying the plane safely.”
The ‘Cost of CASA’ has featured in submissions to a Senate Inquiry into the operation, regulation and funding of air route service delivery to rural, regional and remote communities. The Committee held hearings in Broome, Darwin and Alice Springs last week and in north-west Queensland this week (Longreach on Tuesday, Winton on Wednesday and Cloncurry today). A number of witnesses giving evidence to the Commitee have indicated that a shortage of pilots in regional areas is adding to the cost of regular public transport airfares. The Mayor of Cloncurry provided evidence at today’s hearing that they used to have a charter operator base out of their airport but this is no longer the case.
"General Aviation is the breeding ground for pilots. As General Aviation has been declining, so too have the number of freshly trained pilots entering the system," said Rex.
“Right now CASA seems to be taking a position that the best way to ensure there are no accidents in General Aviation is to make sure the cost of regulatory compliance is so high that planes just don't take off."
https://rex.nxtmps.org.au/media/releases...egulation/
Trouble is he is one voice in a committee that has a troubling record of very little impact on reforming a deeply entrenched aviation safety bureaucracy, which has been ably supported (for 30+ years) by a series of indifferent and ignorant Government Ministers responsible for aviation...
MTF...P2
(04-13-2018, 06:38 PM)Peetwo Wrote: Via the Daily Advertiser:
April 13 2018 - 3:43PM
Dick Smith is backing aviators’ fight against Michael McCormack
- Jody Lindbeck
Millionaire aviator Dick Smith on a previous visit to Wagga.
Millionaire aviator Dick Smith is helping to bring an industry battle right to the doorstep of Member for Riverina, Michael McCormack.
Mr Smith has committed to being in Wagga for a fly-in rally which is being organised by pilots, who say their industry is being destroyed by delays in a planned overhaul of aviation safety legislation...
![[Image: r0_0_3397_2461_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg]](https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/gasQJzgp5ZCz3FfZvQ4JQT/d50bf31c-ea77-4be9-917e-7e5e781d0325.JPG/r0_0_3397_2461_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Also via the Wagga Daily Advertiser:
April 15 2018 - 10:00PM
Wagga City Aero Club president backs federal election candidate as 'huge step' towards industry reform
- Lachlan Grey and Jody Lindbeck
SUPPORT: Aviators are calling for change and will consider running a Riverina candidate in the 2020 federal election.
Wagga City Aero Club has backed calls to run an aviation-focused candidate against Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Riverina Michael McCormack in the upcoming 2020 federal election.
It follows a sensational attack on the Nationals leader from aviation circles.
Both the Australian Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and millionaire advocate Dick Smith spoke in favour of industry reform on Friday, challenging Mr McCormack to commit to changes to the Civil Aviation Act, which had been agreed to by former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and Labor’s Anthony Albanese.
A spokesperson for Mr McCormack said he was “open to reform”, but argued reform “such as this takes time”.
This response was branded “laughable” by AOPA president Ben Morgan, who floated the possibility of running a candidate in the Riverina electorate.
Challenging the Deputy Prime Minister on home turf seems a tough proposition, but WCAC president Geoff Breust believes it’s a “huge step” towards positive reform.
“It’s a big call to run against Mr McCormack but I think it’s a significant reflection of how the industry is feeling. We see a disconnect between the overall needs of our industry and the actions of the federal government,” he said.
Mr Breust said frustration had been building among pilots and industry members given the National Party’s affiliation with rural communities.
“Small aviation businesses are really struggling … and those are the businesses that the Nationals should be fighting for,” he said.
“Pilot schools, engineer programs and smaller pilots in rural areas are typically National voters but they’re not being looked after in this case.”
Short interlude -
Also for those remotely interested in the progress of the Senate Air routes inquiry here are the Hansard transcripts available so far:
Quote:03 Apr 2018 Broome, WA (HTML & PDF)
04 Apr 2018 Alice Springs, NT (HTML & PDF)
05 Apr 2018 Darwin, NT (HTML & PDF)
10 Apr 2018 Longreach, QLD (HTML & PDF)
Next -
It looks like Senator Rex 'gets it' and may well be on his way back from the AP 'Hall of Shame':
Political Turbulence Exacerbates General Aviation's Bumpy Ride: Urgent Action Required On CASA Over-regulation
12 APRIL 2018
Claims by the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Michael McCormack, that he will take his time to consider desperately needed reforms to General Aviation’s regulatory burden hides the real reason for the delay.
“Inaction on mounting and calls for aviation regulation reform stems from the series of politicians flying through the Minister for Transport’s office”, said Senator Rex Patrick. “It’s busier than the Sydney-Melbourne air route, with Darren Chester being replaced by Barnaby Joyce who in turn has been replaced by Michael McCormack.
“Any ministerial change causes delay. Minister McCormack is still trying to get his wings while the General Aviation that he’s responsible for is headed for a crash landing. An urgent change in flight path is needed."
The health of General Aviation has been in major decline over the past decade. Pilot numbers are falling, as are the number of small aircraft registrations. At the same time CASA’s staff numbers have gone from 621 in 2006/07 to 830 in 2016/17 and their operating budget has gone from $129 million to $180 million.
“Something has to change and quickly,” said Rex. “I am in absolute agreement with Dick Smith on this - we have to have a more pragmatic approach.
”Other jurisdictions provide a safe operating framework whilst having regard to the need for a healthy industry. We can and must do something here to arrest the decline in General Aviation - it’s a critical part of services to the regional areas.
“Right now we have pilots focusing so much on regulation they are distracted from doing what they are supposed to be doing - flying the plane safely.”
The ‘Cost of CASA’ has featured in submissions to a Senate Inquiry into the operation, regulation and funding of air route service delivery to rural, regional and remote communities. The Committee held hearings in Broome, Darwin and Alice Springs last week and in north-west Queensland this week (Longreach on Tuesday, Winton on Wednesday and Cloncurry today). A number of witnesses giving evidence to the Commitee have indicated that a shortage of pilots in regional areas is adding to the cost of regular public transport airfares. The Mayor of Cloncurry provided evidence at today’s hearing that they used to have a charter operator base out of their airport but this is no longer the case.
"General Aviation is the breeding ground for pilots. As General Aviation has been declining, so too have the number of freshly trained pilots entering the system," said Rex.
“Right now CASA seems to be taking a position that the best way to ensure there are no accidents in General Aviation is to make sure the cost of regulatory compliance is so high that planes just don't take off."
https://rex.nxtmps.org.au/media/releases...egulation/
Trouble is he is one voice in a committee that has a troubling record of very little impact on reforming a deeply entrenched aviation safety bureaucracy, which has been ably supported (for 30+ years) by a series of indifferent and ignorant Government Ministers responsible for aviation...
MTF...P2