Aircraft numbers are up, flying hours are slowly improving. 3500 RA-Aus aircraft and 1800 amateur built VH registered aircraft are not signs of death. Twenty years ago there were only about 350 amaueur builts on the VH register.
Vag277,
And all caused by what??
The reforms of what is now Part 21 of the CASRs in 1998, and the removal of great regulatory imposts are entirely responsible for this --- freeing up the whole system for amateur built (and maintained) including the 19- register for Experimental amateur built administered by RAOz, ne. AUF.
Getting rid of meaninglessly restrictive regulation.
Make no mistake, moving on from the highly restrictive 101.28 AABA type of amateur building to the freedom of the US style Experimental Amateur Built (so vehemently opposed, at the time, by those who equate "restrictive regulations" with "increased safety") was absolutely pivotal in the subsequent boom in amateur building.
And all this without any "reductions in safety" by greatly lightening the "certification" burden.
And further making the point about the increasing "over regulation" of what is left of conventional light GA, and it's inevitable result . The big increases in aircraft usage in the mining/oil/gas provinces disguises the steep decline in light private and business GA.
A pity we couldn't learn from Canada, and how they allow (with a modified C.of A) owner maintenance of older ( which means almost all) single engine light aircraft --- as if they were Experimental Amateur Built --- but, of course, the loudly baying naysayers all pronounced that "this wouldn't work in Australia", and the project died in CASA.
Tootle pip!!
