The disgrace that is GA in Australia. Thornbird, I concur,letter to Aus Ednot printed
In regard to Mark Skidmore being appointed as CEO of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority there will be many in General Aviation (GA) who were hoping for a person with a wide background, especially in GA.
Steve Creedy's article in the Aus tells us that Mr. Skidmore has experience in civil aviation, quoting Civil Aviation Safety Authority Board Chairman Allan Hawke: “Mark has worked in civilian aviation as a test pilot, business development manager and company director,’’
From the article it seems that Mr Skidmore has very little commercial experience, he has been a career military man nearly all of his working life. No doubt Dr. Hawke, the Board and the Minister will try to deflect the criticism that will surely come about in General Aviation by this appointment.
I'm sure all of us in General Aviation (GA) will wish Mark Skidmore well, but, until there are positive signs to the contrary, we will be left thinking that Canberra has decided that a Canberra man will do what is best for Canberra.
Civil aviation is very different to the military scene, General Aviation is seriously in need of reform, it has stagnated or been declining for many years owing to a lack of airports policy and a regulator bent on hammering GA into oblivion. The recent Regulatory Review Panel has seen fit to suggest a number of reforms that might go some way to redressing the ills that have bedeviled GA for many years. We hope Mr. Skidmore will control CASA and help put General Aviation back on the map where it should be.
Maybe Canberra will once again have a flying school, airline pilots might be taken off the 457 visa list, and CASA might finalise the 25 year process of regulatory reform, reform that New Zealand did in five years. Maybe the taxpayer will get value for money and maybe GA will once again prosper, what is sure is that many skeptics will be watching.