Just an update today from an Australian newspaper. I will reformat the listing into the popular business jargon – the dreaded SWOT analysis. So here goes:
Strengths
1. Equipment: The order book for most distributors shows a healthy back log over the next year. Production delays are common due to the higher world demand. The CASA register again shows growth which is following the predicted trend. All segments of the industry, including the heavy turbine group show indications of growth.
2. Economy: The Australian economy is still steaming ahead, despite the oil crisis. In fact, unemployment has fallen to an almost record of 4.9%. We are being effected by our Asian neighbours where the growth rates are making the Europeans nervous. The Reserve bank may put up interest rates to slow things in the coming months. The low unemployment rate actually creates a weakness for us, as people are being attracter to more “profitable” workplaces away from avaition.
3: Mustering industry: These people make up about 40% of the industry. They fly more hours than all others combined. Any change here has a big influence on our industry. Operators are suggesting the season was late starting due to the cyclones (hurricanes) that ran across our north earlier this year. This has reduced the available time for their work, resulting in high flying rates. They seem confident that there is plenty of work as the beef prices are high; despite the US entering the Japanese market once again.
Weaknesses
3. Engineers: The looming engineer shortage has been mentioned before. As our fleet gets more “technical”, we need more high tech engineers. All Australian industries are suffering from shortages, and overseas people are being recruited to provide workers across all industries.
4. Pilots: There is a well debated oversupply in the low end of the market; however, the shortages in the middle level are continuing. The lack of IFR qualified people for co-pilots has caused problems for some.
Training
5. The training industry is doing well, with high intakes. Competition from other industries, especially when pay is considered, means that some high flyers we need to ensure our growth is managed well in the long term, are probably running a non aviation commercial business in your neighbourhood.
6. Further, we need better training of managers and especially Chief Pilot/Engineers – a CASA project?
7. IFR facilities continue to lag. At present your can obtain IFR training at Hobart (Rotor Lift), Melbourne (Mangalore) at Kestrel and Brisbane (Caloundra) at Chopperline. Some have simulators. IREX is also available at many FW schools. But the cost of a RW CIR is very painful – and yet the industry needs these graduates – maybe an HAA project here? (Government sponsorship).
Opportunities
We mentioned last week of the pending effect of the recent military training contract put to the civilians by the Army. In our listing today we see the beginning of this process which will have a dramatic effect on our industry over the 18 months. See Boeing.
Pilots:
Line and training pilots for EC130, EC135, A109, B412 and AW139. Adu Dhabi, Falcon Aviation Services.
Engineers:
Bell 412 engineers. Tours to Indonesia. PT Airfast Indonesia
ARH Tiger Training Systems Support Engineer and ARH Tiger AMEs (Avionics) – Brisbane. Australian Aerospace.
AMEs and LAMEs – Twelve Australian positions.
www.macrorecruitment.
Hydraulics Technician and Metal Machinist – Helitech, Brisbane.
www.helitech.com.au
Quality Auditor, Defence Workshop – Oakey, Qld. Helitech
LAME, Airframe & Engines – Sydney, NSW. Dale on (02) 9791 0322 Company??
Licensed and unlicensed engineers – Adu Dhabi, Falcon Aviation Services.
LAME, Airframes and Engines. Melbourne. Rotor Services.
Ground support:
Ground crew and managers:
Customer Accounts Manager. Brisbane. Pratt & Whitney Canada A’Asia.
Ground crew and Operations Support Staff for EC130, EC135, A109, B412 and AW139. Adu Dhabi, Falcon Aviation Services
Military support projects:
Boeing requests expression of interest for the following positions at Oakey, Qld:
Pilots, instructors and loadmasters
Trades and maintenance
Planning and data management
Training – flying and technical trade.
More info:
www.boeing.com.au
Threats
Our industry cannot ignore the expansion that is happening within the airline industry. They can steal our engineers and attract young people to the higher paid airline jobs. Domestic airlines started to expand in 2003, and last twelve months saw a growth of 10%pa in passengers, the last year being a record. The overseas airlines in our region saw a 12% growth in passengers, and a slower fleet expansion. The Asian region now has 25% of the world airline traffic. Recent orders for Asian airlines are near 1,000!! So we can see some poaching going on here.
Salaries: The unbelievable and somewhat historical concept that we fly for the love of it and accept peanuts in return will strangle us in the long term. We are now a profession and pending shortages will require some astute mangers. We really must pay our people in accordance with other industries and the
client has to pay for the service. (This is a very sensitive topic for some – but we cannot keep our heads in the sand forever!)
Fuel prices: Do I have to say more – choppers are gas guzzlers – all that profile drag!
Hope this helps – see you here next week.