Rotorcraft Asia-Pacific Business Association - FISCAL UPDATES
RAPBA was formed on 1 July 2021 in Brisbane - the start of the financial year 2021/2022 in both Austrasia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Just sharing some good news about Australian helicopters. After examining CASA data bases up to end of 30 June 2021, RAPBA noted the helicopter register had grown by 98 helicopters to 2,433 which represented an annual growth rate of 4.5%. Upon a closer look, they noted the early onset of the COVID crisis almost flatlined the growth rate. However, in recent months the growth rate had increased to 8.7% pa which has produced an overall annual result of 4.5% for the FY2020/2021.
Looking back, we have been extremely fortunate over the past 10 years to have never suffered a negative growth rate, despite what global circumstances could throw at us. The CASA Register grew from 1,874 to 2,433 = 559 helicopters over 10 years representing an average growth rate of 2.4% (Around the lower GDP).
But drones have had exceptional growth. CASA data on 30 June 2020 showed over the past three years the number of commercial drone pilots has grown from 8,688 to 16,482 pilots or by 90%. AAUS figures for AOC’s are enormous. The Deputy Prime Minister at Rotortech quoted the figures which had apparently passed 10,000. More in our coming publications. The drone industry, both military and civil segments, has benefited from an enormous amount of invested monies.
One company has ordered 100 electric drones for operations around cities under the very fashionable UAM rules. This has attracted enormous global interest.
Many of you will know of numerous trials being carried out in our region in places such as Singapore, other APAC countries and both Australia and New Zealand.
One of the more recent developments has been the joining up of Queensland Surf Rescue and the Ripper Corporation which are now introducing large numbers of sophisticated drones into the search and rescue industry.
More later from RAPBA when the rest of APAC's reports are summarised.