Airservices price plan criticised
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Airservices price plan criticised
Fri "The Australian"
Airservices price plan criticised
By Steve Creedy, Aviation writer
August 13, 2004
AIRSERVICES Australia's five-year pricing proposal for air traffic control and aviation rescue and fire fighting has failed to quell disquiet in the general aviation sector.
The air traffic control authority yesterday lodged a proposal with the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission that capped increases at 15 regional and general aviation airports at $8.67 per tonne landed, an increase of up to 16.8 per cent.
Increases in subsequent years would be limited to 10 per cent and en-route charges would be reduced by 10.3 per cent over five years.
The increases were significantly less than figures floated two months ago but met a sceptical reception from the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association.
AOPA president Ron Bertram said the proposals were still four to five times the expected inflation rate and heavily weighted against general aviation airports.
He said charges would be held constant after October at major airports used by airlines.
"The proposal clearly disregards government productivity policies and recent ministerial suggestions that several towers with very low traffic levels should be closed, as was Wagga Wagga several years ago, eliminating those costs," he said.
Airservices said it consulted widely on the charges, which allowed it to reach full cost recovery in the wake of the Government's decision to axe a $7 million annual subsidy from mid-2005.
Chief executive Bernie Smith said the consultation process generated more than 600 submissions and delivered "the long-term pricing picture" customers were seeking. "It reflects a very real and meaningful desire to achieve a balanced solution that accommodates all sectors of the industry," he said.
"Importantly, this proposal has been achieved without compromising the benefits of pricing on a location specific basis."
Airservices had initially mooted increases of up to 1000 per cent, sparking a wave of industry angst and calls to lobby local MPs.
Transport Minister John Anderson yesterday welcomed the Airservices proposal and said it reflected the real costs of providing services.
"Many users, particularly those at regional or general aviation airports, have been surprised at the extent of these costs," he said.
"However, there was never any prospect of regional and general aviation airport service prices being set to merely reflect the costs identified in Airservices consultation documents."
===========================================
Airservices price plan criticised
By Steve Creedy, Aviation writer
August 13, 2004
AIRSERVICES Australia's five-year pricing proposal for air traffic control and aviation rescue and fire fighting has failed to quell disquiet in the general aviation sector.
The air traffic control authority yesterday lodged a proposal with the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission that capped increases at 15 regional and general aviation airports at $8.67 per tonne landed, an increase of up to 16.8 per cent.
Increases in subsequent years would be limited to 10 per cent and en-route charges would be reduced by 10.3 per cent over five years.
The increases were significantly less than figures floated two months ago but met a sceptical reception from the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association.
AOPA president Ron Bertram said the proposals were still four to five times the expected inflation rate and heavily weighted against general aviation airports.
He said charges would be held constant after October at major airports used by airlines.
"The proposal clearly disregards government productivity policies and recent ministerial suggestions that several towers with very low traffic levels should be closed, as was Wagga Wagga several years ago, eliminating those costs," he said.
Airservices said it consulted widely on the charges, which allowed it to reach full cost recovery in the wake of the Government's decision to axe a $7 million annual subsidy from mid-2005.
Chief executive Bernie Smith said the consultation process generated more than 600 submissions and delivered "the long-term pricing picture" customers were seeking. "It reflects a very real and meaningful desire to achieve a balanced solution that accommodates all sectors of the industry," he said.
"Importantly, this proposal has been achieved without compromising the benefits of pricing on a location specific basis."
Airservices had initially mooted increases of up to 1000 per cent, sparking a wave of industry angst and calls to lobby local MPs.
Transport Minister John Anderson yesterday welcomed the Airservices proposal and said it reflected the real costs of providing services.
"Many users, particularly those at regional or general aviation airports, have been surprised at the extent of these costs," he said.
"However, there was never any prospect of regional and general aviation airport service prices being set to merely reflect the costs identified in Airservices consultation documents."
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