Big economic problems in aviation
Thank you Dick Smith for that concise straight to the point letter. Having worked in the old Department of Civil Aviation in the early Seventies, nothing seems to have changed except more regulation. For example -and very minor in the scheme of things today is the difference between flying school operations manuals then (20 pages) and the huge volume (150 pages plus) of bumpf that pack out the covers of todays Ops manuals.
Heres another nail in the................
India and Australia agree that carbon tax on aviation is not good for Tourism PIB Press Release
India and Australia agree that carbon tax on aviation is not good for Tourism PIB Press Release
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Time for a re-calculation ??
We now have a situation where over $100 million has been spent on the regulatory reform process in the last five years, with basically no results at all. When I say no results – well, good results for the people in the regulator who have been paid very high amounts of money to spend thousands of hours on bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo, but without actually making a decision. Because of the lack of decision making, the current economic downturn will doubly affect aviation in this country. That is, the effect from the economic downturn, plus the effect of not having modern, efficient regulations which allocate our safety dollars effectively.
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Mr Smith's observations of the current malaise affecting the aviation industry in Australia and the risks, which are not inconsiderable, of further damage to the viability of aviation, are essentially correct. They are a starting point for considering, what is a regulatory issue and what is an economic issue and the two necessarily intertwine.
The waste of public monies with few new rules is nothing but scandalous. Any competent legal firm could have drafted a new set of rules in months for the government.
The failure to progress and implement new rules is the result of executive failure in Government to direct and ensure that the rules are made law. The current Government and current Minister must bear responsibility for this and be held to task for not ensuring the rules were introduced. Government has also not ensured that the rules we have changed and are to get are, are, but the internal concoctions of CASA staff and have not ensured they are genuinely international best practice. Why should'nt we have just introduce basicICAO rules or simply adopted Canada's or New Zealands rules if we are not completly happy with some facets of the FAA's FAR's. There is no reason why any of those established rules sets could have been mixed and matched. It is also the responsibility of Government to ensure that as a matter of economic and transport policy competition should be fostered and facilitated in the area of air traffic services.
This maladministration continues into the areas of Air Traffic Services, RFFS but also results in the aviation industry being burdened with a safety regulator that has failed to progress or remove rules that hindered the development and operation of industy in Australia, thus it has resulted in a crippled Australian aeronautical manufacturing industry reliant on bit piece work from overseas manufacturers and the loss of engineering and design innovation to the point it no longer exists. The last innovative firm Gippsland Aeronuatics is now in the hands of a foreign owner.
The broader picture for aviation is very mixed indeed. Small aircraft transport and to a significant degree, recreational aviation and travel is in terminal decline. Flight training is not insignicant nor is the growth in medium to large capacity airlines and demand for these aircraft and pilots very strong from Asia and particularly China, however, the training process is shifting more to simulator based learning and traing and thus there is a diminished reliance on 'training aircraft' to train pilots. Australia has no entre or presence in this 'booming market' in any real sense.
The cost of fuel will continue to increase. It is simply a matter of demand and the gradual withdrawal from the market of supply once exported, to satisfy domestic demand in the oil producing countries. World production has plateaued. Only very efficient operators with low costs can manage in such a malign cost environment.
These are all significant negative factors.
Back however to Mr Dick Smith's points and general argument, which I support fully, and I would agree that it is; until the job of rule and competive reform is finished and quickly the industry will not be able to withstand nor has it little prospect of surviving the impact of global events nor have any hope of being able to see and take advantage of whatever opportunities in technology and services and air transport to ensure it's long term survival, may arise.
The rule rewrite must be removed from CASA and directed by Government from elsewhere. This must be done without any further delay and be completed within six months. Asking CASA to do the rule changes is like asking an alcoholic to give up drinking - more hope than prospect of change and reform.
The waste of public monies with few new rules is nothing but scandalous. Any competent legal firm could have drafted a new set of rules in months for the government.
The failure to progress and implement new rules is the result of executive failure in Government to direct and ensure that the rules are made law. The current Government and current Minister must bear responsibility for this and be held to task for not ensuring the rules were introduced. Government has also not ensured that the rules we have changed and are to get are, are, but the internal concoctions of CASA staff and have not ensured they are genuinely international best practice. Why should'nt we have just introduce basicICAO rules or simply adopted Canada's or New Zealands rules if we are not completly happy with some facets of the FAA's FAR's. There is no reason why any of those established rules sets could have been mixed and matched. It is also the responsibility of Government to ensure that as a matter of economic and transport policy competition should be fostered and facilitated in the area of air traffic services.
This maladministration continues into the areas of Air Traffic Services, RFFS but also results in the aviation industry being burdened with a safety regulator that has failed to progress or remove rules that hindered the development and operation of industy in Australia, thus it has resulted in a crippled Australian aeronautical manufacturing industry reliant on bit piece work from overseas manufacturers and the loss of engineering and design innovation to the point it no longer exists. The last innovative firm Gippsland Aeronuatics is now in the hands of a foreign owner.
The broader picture for aviation is very mixed indeed. Small aircraft transport and to a significant degree, recreational aviation and travel is in terminal decline. Flight training is not insignicant nor is the growth in medium to large capacity airlines and demand for these aircraft and pilots very strong from Asia and particularly China, however, the training process is shifting more to simulator based learning and traing and thus there is a diminished reliance on 'training aircraft' to train pilots. Australia has no entre or presence in this 'booming market' in any real sense.
The cost of fuel will continue to increase. It is simply a matter of demand and the gradual withdrawal from the market of supply once exported, to satisfy domestic demand in the oil producing countries. World production has plateaued. Only very efficient operators with low costs can manage in such a malign cost environment.
These are all significant negative factors.
Back however to Mr Dick Smith's points and general argument, which I support fully, and I would agree that it is; until the job of rule and competive reform is finished and quickly the industry will not be able to withstand nor has it little prospect of surviving the impact of global events nor have any hope of being able to see and take advantage of whatever opportunities in technology and services and air transport to ensure it's long term survival, may arise.
The rule rewrite must be removed from CASA and directed by Government from elsewhere. This must be done without any further delay and be completed within six months. Asking CASA to do the rule changes is like asking an alcoholic to give up drinking - more hope than prospect of change and reform.
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Refer FAA charter compared to CASA's charter....They dont give s....t, nor do they have to!!!.
Now consider a bureaucracy with no constraints, totally unaccountable, even to the law and staffed to a large extent by incompetent imberciles and one see's the seeds of rampant endemic corruption.
There are some very fine people in CASA, Its a tragedy that their efforts to foster and encourage the industry are treated with contempt by their masters, with clueless ministers who would rather abrogate their responsibilities and stick their heads in the sand.
CASA as an organisation is now so corrupt only a royal commission has any hope of sorting it out, which aint gunna happen, because the big boy's in the industry have the political clout, and money, to keep them at bay. The little bloke aint got a snowballs chance in hell of generating any sort of political momentum for change, so things will continue on that slippery slope to oblivion.
It was good while it lasted
Now consider a bureaucracy with no constraints, totally unaccountable, even to the law and staffed to a large extent by incompetent imberciles and one see's the seeds of rampant endemic corruption.
There are some very fine people in CASA, Its a tragedy that their efforts to foster and encourage the industry are treated with contempt by their masters, with clueless ministers who would rather abrogate their responsibilities and stick their heads in the sand.
CASA as an organisation is now so corrupt only a royal commission has any hope of sorting it out, which aint gunna happen, because the big boy's in the industry have the political clout, and money, to keep them at bay. The little bloke aint got a snowballs chance in hell of generating any sort of political momentum for change, so things will continue on that slippery slope to oblivion.
It was good while it lasted
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grip-pipe, some interesting comments which warrant a response.
While Mr Smith's opening post is interesting his premise is market forces should rule. He has always tried to get the cost of maintaining the infrastructure necessary for the airlines off the back of GA. However, that infrastructure is a necessary part for all Australians and the cost of it should be borne by all Australians, whether they fly or not. There is a point here for government as well as they continue to foist user-pays on a limited sector of the population or sell-off yet more infrastructure which does not belong to them, they hold it for all Australia.
It is a big call to say there is maladministration in Air Services and RFFS and I think you are confusing the issue with the train-wreck that is CASA. When I look at the mid-air collision between the DHL freighter and the Eastern bloc pax aircraft over Switzerland I begin to question privatised ATC. I really believe there is no room for penny-pinching when it comes to safety and I have yet to see a private company that hasn't looked to cut corners when it comes to the cost to the bottom-line of safety.
The regulatory reform is a total debacle but why blame the present government when it has been an on-going issue for over 20 years. The level of obstruction and delay that has come out of CASA should have raised alarm bells years ago but all government wants is a quiet time without the clamouring of the public. Aviation, for the non-involved, is a non-issue.
The population generally don't care what happens so long as cheap fares are available. I would have thought that the tumbrils would have started rolling down Northbourne Avenue after the Lockart River crash but barely a peep. The media ran all over it for a couple of days with their human tragedy stories but when the issues came to light over the ineptitude of our regulator and the airline concerned there was nothing. No outrage, no calls for resignations, no calls for government ministers to be accountable. They didn't care.
While CASA continues to portray itself as the only body with any expertise in safety then the debacle will continue. It needs a very strong minister with good advice to sort that one out.
The bottom end of the sector is declining and has done so for some time and will continue to do so. It is economics at work. The GA sector is an ageing group and flying is no longer seen as an exciting thing to do. There are too many competing attractions.
The bottom line is that aviation is an infrastructure that needs to be supported by all the population and the only way that can be done is through the government. CASA should be cleaned out and totally restructured with much closer control from above.
While Mr Smith's opening post is interesting his premise is market forces should rule. He has always tried to get the cost of maintaining the infrastructure necessary for the airlines off the back of GA. However, that infrastructure is a necessary part for all Australians and the cost of it should be borne by all Australians, whether they fly or not. There is a point here for government as well as they continue to foist user-pays on a limited sector of the population or sell-off yet more infrastructure which does not belong to them, they hold it for all Australia.
It is a big call to say there is maladministration in Air Services and RFFS and I think you are confusing the issue with the train-wreck that is CASA. When I look at the mid-air collision between the DHL freighter and the Eastern bloc pax aircraft over Switzerland I begin to question privatised ATC. I really believe there is no room for penny-pinching when it comes to safety and I have yet to see a private company that hasn't looked to cut corners when it comes to the cost to the bottom-line of safety.
The regulatory reform is a total debacle but why blame the present government when it has been an on-going issue for over 20 years. The level of obstruction and delay that has come out of CASA should have raised alarm bells years ago but all government wants is a quiet time without the clamouring of the public. Aviation, for the non-involved, is a non-issue.
The population generally don't care what happens so long as cheap fares are available. I would have thought that the tumbrils would have started rolling down Northbourne Avenue after the Lockart River crash but barely a peep. The media ran all over it for a couple of days with their human tragedy stories but when the issues came to light over the ineptitude of our regulator and the airline concerned there was nothing. No outrage, no calls for resignations, no calls for government ministers to be accountable. They didn't care.
While CASA continues to portray itself as the only body with any expertise in safety then the debacle will continue. It needs a very strong minister with good advice to sort that one out.
The bottom end of the sector is declining and has done so for some time and will continue to do so. It is economics at work. The GA sector is an ageing group and flying is no longer seen as an exciting thing to do. There are too many competing attractions.
The bottom line is that aviation is an infrastructure that needs to be supported by all the population and the only way that can be done is through the government. CASA should be cleaned out and totally restructured with much closer control from above.
I wonder how much fuel is wasted every day because the CTA steps are too steep ? 
I curse
a particular name everytime I can not descend on the ideal (most economical) profile.
This only seems to be a problem in Australia and not an issue overseas.
I curse
a particular name everytime I can not descend on the ideal (most economical) profile.This only seems to be a problem in Australia and not an issue overseas.
I wonder how much fuel is wasted every day because the CTA steps are too steep
Add to the list holding due traffic when there is really bugger all around compared to the rest of the civilised world. How about we start building a few more runways at particular airports rather than building car parks and shopping centres. That Perth draft plan was a case in point. They predicted a doubling in traffic in the next 10 years but said the place doesn't need a parallel runway. Yet they are running on slot times at the moment. What happens when they double the traffic?
Not to mention Sydney......Where do you begin at that place?
"Your Safety Will Be Enhanced, And It Will Cost You Less".......
(Quote from around 12/12/'91).....
Wot more can I say....??
Cheers
(That's a thumb-up.....right up...!!!)
(Quote from around 12/12/'91).....
Wot more can I say....??
Cheers
(That's a thumb-up.....right up...!!!)
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Well after two years since Mr Smith first posted these views the situation has not changed. With a meagre 65 replies in all and despite Goblledock's recent kick-start no further real interest by others who are part of PPrune and aviation in Australia.
This indifferent malaise affecting the community of aviators is significant. Those who are professionals and those who own or run aviation businesses will in time regret as the industry withers and dies. Thus enough said.
This indifferent malaise affecting the community of aviators is significant. Those who are professionals and those who own or run aviation businesses will in time regret as the industry withers and dies. Thus enough said.
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grip-pipe, trying to get agreement in the aviation sector is akin to herding cats...........only harder. The public don't care a rat's anus and the aviation community would rather whinge but don't ever expect action.
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All correct.
With one exception. Where is the "industry Voice". (Vox Populi).
It's pointless to wait for the Easter Bunny (no jokes Joyce), Santa or even the mindless creature we call a government to step in, wave a magic Willy and make it all go away.
Pisspotical logic.
No one, except the industry cares. No one except the industry can fix it.
No, really, it's true.
Tired of hearing the same pitiful whines, croaks and whinges from a bunch who talk it up, but, in the end run away to protect their own rice bowls at the threat of CASA breaking wind.
Get a voice, tell 'em to sod off, sort it out. Or, shut up. Two choices, no options.
Individually, no chance, not enough political horse power, never enough money, too busy, too tired or 'doing just fine' and ; never, not once, just a glimmer of the old entrepreneurial 'chutzpah' which has, in the past created all the things we love about the 'game'.
' Nuff said Joyce, whip up the horses.
It's pointless to wait for the Easter Bunny (no jokes Joyce), Santa or even the mindless creature we call a government to step in, wave a magic Willy and make it all go away.
Pisspotical logic.
No one, except the industry cares. No one except the industry can fix it.
No, really, it's true.
Tired of hearing the same pitiful whines, croaks and whinges from a bunch who talk it up, but, in the end run away to protect their own rice bowls at the threat of CASA breaking wind.
Get a voice, tell 'em to sod off, sort it out. Or, shut up. Two choices, no options.
Individually, no chance, not enough political horse power, never enough money, too busy, too tired or 'doing just fine' and ; never, not once, just a glimmer of the old entrepreneurial 'chutzpah' which has, in the past created all the things we love about the 'game'.
' Nuff said Joyce, whip up the horses.
