Australasian Report for August 2005
Australia - Year to 18 Sep ’05.
Since January the fleet has grown from 1192 to 1256, an increase of 64 helicopters. The growth over 37 weeks is almost two new helicopters on the Register each week. Possibly due to the winter season, the growth rate has slowed to about 6%, which is slightly less than the average of the previous twelve months. At this rate of increase there will be extra 90 helicopters on the Register by 31 December, or another 104 jobs by this growth alone, plus normal pilot attrition of about 15% due retirement, illness, etc.
New Zealand – Year to 1 Sep ‘05
Since January the fleet has grown from 597 helicopters to 626, an increase of 29 helicopters over 34 weeks. This represents 0.85 new helicopters on the Register per week. The NZ growth rate has slowed from 6.64% in January to 4.9% in August, now below the past twelve month’s growth rate. As a result there will be an extra 45 machines on the Register by 31 December, or another 52 jobs, plus those created by normal pilot attrition of 15% pa.
Outlook: The helicopter industry is in a very healthy state. Although the growth rate has slowed over the winter season, both countries are showing helicopter fleet growth rates of twice the increase in their economies (GDP). Most distributors indicate that a delay on the production lines, due to a world wide strong demand, has slowed deliveries in Australasia. Had stock been available, the above figures would have been higher. Overall, Australia is holding a growth rate of 7% pa and which is similar to the 6.5% pa fleet increase in New Zealand. Both fleets doubled in size over eleven years. On current trends the fleets will double in six to seven years.
Obstacles: Both countries are showing signs of a pilot and especially engineer shortages. This is more pronounced in Australia which does not have a government sponsored pilot training scheme. In Australia the average of a pilot is late forties and engineers early fifties. Not a good resource when in a strong growth phase.
Hope this helps you all. More next month. Data extracted from CASA and CAA NZ websites.
Fly safely .....