[Peetwo]

Bizav editor's weekly wrap:

Aviation Business editor Philip Smart

Editor's Insights
23 Jun 2016

For the General Aviation associations hoping for government involvement in change at CASA, the result of next week's Federal election may be a moot point.

If the incumbent government returns it will have an imperative to say everything is on track, leave it alone to run its course. Should Labor be running the country on July 3 the industry will face another protracted period of a ministerial selection, induction and briefings before they even start trying to get their heads around the issues.

Land a complicated, protracted subject such as the state of Australia's regulatory reform on the desk of a new minister with no background in the field, and they are likely to call for a report or enquiry to buy themselves some time and separate their own government's approach politically from that of the previous incumbent.

In either case, the general aviation industry will be well down the list of Things To Do First when expending resources on promises made in education, health and immigration are much more likely to give a new government an immediate lift on the scoreboard with the general public.

Since the May Tamworth rally the heads of some of Australia's aviation associations have held what were generally agreed to be cordial and productive meetings with CASA and with the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development. Attendees have indicated to Aviation Business that it now appears CASA is listening.

CASA CEO Mark Skidmore has added people to his team with an industry reputation for good communication. He has also said he knows that change communication is needed throughout his organisation to ensure the attitudes and approach of CASA personnel interacting directly with industry at the coal face are in line with the goals set in the executive suite. It takes time for a ship as complicated as a government department to change course.

But many general aviation businesses, struggling under the weight and cost of regulation that sometimes seems to have no point or connection to safety, will wholeheartedly agree with Aerial Application Association of Australia's Phil Hurst, who just in the past few days has characterised CASA's change "too little and too slow".

Tru dat...


MTF...P2