AICC members - AHIA Missing in Action?
At present the Australian Helicopter Industry Association consists of more than 90 company members (one third of helicopter AOCs) and over one hundred individual members, plus links to HAI and other international associations; including NZ.
For more than a year or so the AHIA has had a CASA LO (Dale South) appointed from Standards to assists our various volunteer working groups; and AHIA has invited CASA to AHIA trade shows to form face to face panels to accelerate the reviews of legalisation. At the next Avalon Airshow AHIA is sponsoring conference hall space on 26 Feb '15 to host CASA (and also Air Service) teams to continue efforts in getting feedback running between the regulators and guys trying to make a buck!
AHIA volunteers are working with the TAAAF; SCC and other government committees. In particular the National Skills Councils tasked with rewriting engineering and aircrew training legislation - which CASA has to follow; but has not at this time; subject to interdepartmental tensions. That is why an RTO has to have two sets of operational documents - one for CASA and one for skills councils. (We are talking thousands of pages here).
Why bother? No RTO approval - no foreign students; or advanced training courses if required under various contracts.
The RW fleet makes up 14% of the register and 30% of the AOC list. And 25% of all GA accidents - a fact they are not proud of).
And AHIA has been advised by HAI members Australia is now second in numbers of registered helicopters in the Western World!
But the questions is - now they have such a large membership, a CASA LO and such good attendance at CASA talk fests and working groups doing excellent work; and ongoing work with the future Air Transport changes – why ignore the AHIA?
And a final gripe. The CASA Annual Report ending 30 June 2014 confirmed over the past decades CASA RW registrations grew at an average annual rate of 6 to 8%. Always at least twice the GDP growth, It was really good news for investors and industry workers.
But with the current uncertainties associated with the paralysis of the Government - CASA - industry interface the helicopter fleet has made an increase of only .06% over the past six months. . Almost zero and dangerously close to slipping into recession.. Why have the training schools gone almost into reverse and why are potential engineers not applying for courses?
So the AHIA, with their rapidly growing association and a good knowledge of the pot holes in the road ahead is not considered to be part of the AICC? Why?
More in the next AHIA e-newsletter 'Helicopters Australasia" a freebie - no advertising - do you want one for an update - just ask!