From ABC News
Runway changes could hamper regional aviation and force airlines including Rex to curtail outback services - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Runway changes could hamper regional aviation and force airlines including Rex to curtail outback services
PM
By Caroline Winter
Updated 9 hours 10 minutes ago
Photo: Regional Express has worries about the changes (Rex)
Map: Coober Pedy 5723
New aviation rules could affect a number of regional areas where airstrips fail to meet international standards.
The proposed changes could hamper flights to outback Coober Pedy in South Australia, and areas with narrower-than-standard runways including Ballina in northern New South Wales and Emerald, Bundaberg and the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) wants to ensure all runways are of a width which meets international standards.
Coober Pedy Council says it will have to change its airstrip but it does not have enough money to do so.
The airline Regional Express (Rex) is warning it might have to axe flights to the town, which could hit tourism and mining.
Commercial airlines have been taking passengers to and from Coober Pedy for 27 years.
Since 2007, Rex has been the sole operator in the market, offering its flights six days per week.
Network strategy and sales manager with Rex, Warrick Lodge, says it is a difficult time for airlines generally.
"Regional airlines are doing it tough at the moment. The aviation industry's in crisis. We can do without these red tape issues, restricting services to remote regional communities that so heavily rely upon them," he said.
"If these regulations are promulgated and there are no changes made, we are not able to operate to Coober Pedy airport unless the runway is widened.
"Those same regulations will apply to all operators. This is something that's of grave concern for Coober Pedy."
Wide enough airstrip, but part gravel
The international regulations require a 30-metre-wide sealed runway.
The strip at Coober Pedy is 30 metres wide but only 18 metres are sealed.
Coober Pedy airport has been operating under an exemption, but Mr Lodge says CASA has now cited safety concerns as the reason for needing a change.
"Regional Express has very advanced safety management systems in place. Those safety management systems have not identified any safety-related issues in terms of operating to Coober Pedy with an 18-metre-wide gravel strip and this is certainly an issue which is all about red tape and really an issue that should be addressed quickly," he said.
Australia is aligning our runway rules with the international standards and that means that there's a slightly different approach, but the Civil Aviation Safety Authority is certainly not requiring regional aerodromes with narrow runways to go out and immediately widen them
Peter Gibson, CASA
Coober Pedy Mayor Steve Baines is worried for the outback community if Rex pulls out.
"Losing the service would essentially destroy the tourist industry and it would place an enormous cost-time burden on local businesses and create a massive inconvenience for the residents," he said.
He said it also would affect fly-in, fly-out mining operations in the outback.
Mr Baines says the South Australian Government pledged $340,000 if it were matched by federal money and the council would make up the shortfall.
But a grant application has been knocked back by the Federal Government.
Audio: Listen to Caroline Winter's report on regional aviation (PM)
"One option is that someone in Canberra has to find the will to continue the exemption in the short-term," Mr Baines said.
"The second is that the Federal and State Government and our council find the $720,000 to widen the runway.
"The third one unfortunately is that come February next year, if neither of those are done, we're cut off from the rest of the country and international tourism."
Peter Gibson of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority says there has been confusion over the new rules.
"Australia is aligning our runway rules with the international standards and that means that there's a slightly different approach, but the Civil Aviation Safety Authority is certainly not requiring regional aerodromes with narrow runways to go out and immediately widen them," he said.
"The council (at Coober Pedy) needs to understand that Rex is in talks with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority about getting the required documentation to operate under the proposed new standards.
"Now if the standards go ahead, they can get their documentation and Rex can continue to operate onto narrow runways with their aircraft."
A draft proposal on the runway width review has been released this week and is open for comment until May.