This is what Virgin blue had to say to the Minister about ADS-B
New satellite navigation technologies such as GPS and ADS-B, have provided the aviation industry with a capability to significantly enhance navigational accuracy and surveillance. When combined with appropriate ATC procedures, the new technologies will deliver very significant cost and capacity benefits to the Australian aviation industry.
Technological innovation is often industry led. It is important that key stakeholders such as ASTRA and IATA, together with the Australian airlines and Government, form a collaborative working relationship to ensure that appropriate and timely changes are introduced to air traffic management systems in the national interest. This will enable industry to avoid cost penalties incurred through under-utilisation of expensive aircraft technology and inefficient air traffic management constraints imposed by use of legacy systems. Virgin Blue supports the concepts and strategies articulated in both the ICAO Asia/Pacific Regional Plan for the New CNS/ATM Systems and Air Traffic Management Strategic Plan Version 3.
Formalising the relationship between industry and Government agencies and fostering collaborative decision making will better ensure a successful transition from old to new technologies; the introduction of more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly approach and traffic management procedures, and support industry capital investment in innovative technology.
Government’s role should be to ensure that there are no obstacles inhibiting a rapid transition to new technology and that investment in new technology is supported and rewarded and encouraged in the national interest.
The introduction of new surveillance and navigation technology is essential to the long term efficiency of aviation services in Australia. The efficient and timely introduction of new technology is being frustrated by regulatory and resource constraints
ADS-B surveillance provides the Air Traffic Controller and, in the case of “ADS-B In” equipped aircraft, the pilot, with visibility of conflicting traffic. The safety benefits of this technology are obvious and its commissioning must be accelerated.
Initiatives such as GNSS based navigation, ADS-B and Flexible Use Airspace are recent examples where concepts were developed and endorsed by industry only to have progress towards implementation severely constrained at critical times by regulatory resource challenges.
There is a whole lot more in the DJ submission.
Does this sound like a company that is reluctant to participate in ADS-B roll-out. Take note here please Mr Murphy. Your recollection of what your source related to you may be skewed. The ONLY point in their submission about passing costs back to the government is over security measures in relation to the costs of guest screening at smaller regional airports.