How has micro-economic reform impacted on general aviation businesses and what strategies need to be put in place to ensure that access to airport infrastructure does not impede industry viability and growth?
Very badly, they sold the farm, if you want to grow things the only answer is to buy it back.
Do the needs of general aviation operators warrant any changes to airport regulatory and planning arrangements?
See above
How can general aviation operators, particularly small businesses, establish viable business models that allow them to take advantage of current buoyant conditions in the aviation market? In particular, how do these businesses meet the increased cost of skilled labour and improve recruitment and retention of their skilled workforce?
Simple: the operators pay market rates for labour and resources, run a competitive HR regime like every other business does and charge what it costs plus a viable commercial margin.
If the consumer is not prepared to pay the piper they'll lose the service. Thats the way it actuallly works in real life.
Not backwards from what the operator thinks the consumer will pay, it is clear that paradigm has brought them to where they now are.
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What role should all levels of government have in protecting secondary airport infrastructure and in providing for new infrastructure?
See para 1
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How can the general aviation industry provide the necessary investment to renew the ageing aircraft fleet?
By constructing a viable business model, capitalising it adequately and thinking and running it like a businessmen(persons
). This industry is NO different from any other, it is NOT a means of indulging someones aviation fantasies or hobby. It should not have any special treatment. If remote or difficult areas need support that must come from very specific, direct and measurable subsidy to the regular busines model. Government used to do it that way until the genius operators convinced the Govt that they could do it cheaper than the incumbent and without subsidy, yeah right.
Is there a role for governments?
Yes take Airservices and the airports back into the regulator FAA style, abolish specific user pays and fund it through the fuel taxes, the real and only user pays system. Take a look at what has just happened in the US to the attempt by their Govt the emulate our system.
Are additional measures required to ensure the continued safe operation of ageing aircraft?
Nope, not any more than what is required to keep the geriatric Qantas 767 and 747s going.
Next question.?