GA Airports in rapid decline and where is AOPA?
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Its just defies belief doesn't it. Ignoring consumables, free lunches and whatever other miscellaneous costs might have been incurred, its the equivalent of having a team of 80 people, working for 27 years, each earning an average of $160K/year..! And its still nowhere near finished, and would appear that its NEVER going to be. All we have to show for it is a $350M clusterf**k. If this garbage had been dished up in the private sector, heads would have rolled years ago. What a shambles. What a disgrace. Dare I say, a national embarrassment..? 
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oh there is performance bonuses in the military, just called promotions.. usually given to those people cant stand, or stuff up, just to get them out of somewhere.
"Performance bonuses" do exist in the military; they are called postings. A relative in the Navy was given a rotten job to do. His performance bonus? Posting as a naval attaché afterwards.
Then there are the airforce postings. When I worked at CAC the grumble was that we were always up against it trying to sell a local product because the RAAF guys that were involved in the selection and management of the project were hanging out for overseas postings. The last thing they wanted was a "posting" to Fishermans Bend. Don't for one minute think that overseas suppliers don't know this either and milk it for all its worth.
Hang around enough messes and you will get "war stories" about the hospitality in Seattle, St Louis, Los Angeles, Phoenix, etc. etc.
As for CASA, I can easily believe we are harmonising with EASA just because of the number of European trips it will generate for CASA staff. Same with ADS-B we are providing the material for perhaps a dozen technical papers and a doctorate for someone and reasons to attend lots of seminars and conferences in desirable locations.
Then of course there are the thinly veiled bribes from suppliers: "We are holding a conference on thronomisters in Monaco next month and we really think you should attend".
Then there are the airforce postings. When I worked at CAC the grumble was that we were always up against it trying to sell a local product because the RAAF guys that were involved in the selection and management of the project were hanging out for overseas postings. The last thing they wanted was a "posting" to Fishermans Bend. Don't for one minute think that overseas suppliers don't know this either and milk it for all its worth.
Hang around enough messes and you will get "war stories" about the hospitality in Seattle, St Louis, Los Angeles, Phoenix, etc. etc.
As for CASA, I can easily believe we are harmonising with EASA just because of the number of European trips it will generate for CASA staff. Same with ADS-B we are providing the material for perhaps a dozen technical papers and a doctorate for someone and reasons to attend lots of seminars and conferences in desirable locations.
Then of course there are the thinly veiled bribes from suppliers: "We are holding a conference on thronomisters in Monaco next month and we really think you should attend".
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Dick Smith
I agree totally with Dick. GA as we knew it is dead and almost buried. I like Dick, have divested my "interests" in aviation. Get out at a loss before that loss turns to a financial disaster. AOPA once was the voice of aviation in Australia but now is no more than another expensive association who benefits nobody and takes all. We had our 45+ great years Dick but must retreat absolutely defeated .
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From what I've witnessed around the traps in GA, I would agree that the times they is tough.
I feel that the drive is toward less but larger organisations, similar to primary industry in Australia.
I feel that the drive is toward less but larger organisations, similar to primary industry in Australia.
For a start, is GA really ready to give its last gasp? I doubt it! Sure, BK looks like a ghost town but how many regional aerodromes are kicking along away from the high rent market? My home field is far from dead. MB sausage factories are still churning out product, Every weekend a certain little white S2B is turning and burning as only a little Pitts can do. Granted, the warbird side of things looks like it is in storage mode but hey, how many fields can boast a CA18, a P40 and an F4U as tenants, not to mention the number of Nanchangs, Yaks, Harvards of various marks, DH82s as well as an air force of RVs of various model...is this the sign of death?
The regulator hasn't won yet! Dick, you are no quitter. DO NOT START NOW!
The regulator hasn't won yet! Dick, you are no quitter. DO NOT START NOW!
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"I feel that the drive is toward less but larger organisations, similar to primary industry in Australia."
From a purely commercial point of view Eddie, they can make the organizations as large as they like. At the end of the day those organizations require paying customers, unless the government intends to subsidize them, which they will have to do for essential services.
Paying customers are not fools, they can compare, you can charter the same aircraft in the USA for almost half what it requires in Australia.
Are we any safer than the rest of world with our myriad of convoluted rules? Would appear not from statistics.
The mandarins can plot and plan all they like, in the end it will be self defeating, a perfectly good industry down the drain and perhaps a dramatic rise in road deaths.
From a purely commercial point of view Eddie, they can make the organizations as large as they like. At the end of the day those organizations require paying customers, unless the government intends to subsidize them, which they will have to do for essential services.
Paying customers are not fools, they can compare, you can charter the same aircraft in the USA for almost half what it requires in Australia.
Are we any safer than the rest of world with our myriad of convoluted rules? Would appear not from statistics.
The mandarins can plot and plan all they like, in the end it will be self defeating, a perfectly good industry down the drain and perhaps a dramatic rise in road deaths.
When you live....
Who says AOPA aren't actively pursing Australian GAs interests against over-regulation?
Oh, wait.... wrong AOPA......
Oh, wait.... wrong AOPA......
How can anyone NOT come to the conclusion that CASA actively hates all forms of aviation other than large civil airlines and the military?
Until the Act is rewritten to require a regulator to foster aviation, the decline will continue and its terminal.
Until the Act is rewritten to require a regulator to foster aviation, the decline will continue and its terminal.
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Public submissions for the Bankstown Airport Business Estate Master Plan have now closed.
To the best of my knowledge, I'm not aware AOPA submitted a comment.
Can anyone confirm otherwise & if so what was advocated?
Also, Bankstown and Camden airports have been sold for $203 million. Not sure how the new owners will view aviation and what will be its place in their long term plan.
To the best of my knowledge, I'm not aware AOPA submitted a comment.
Can anyone confirm otherwise & if so what was advocated?
Also, Bankstown and Camden airports have been sold for $203 million. Not sure how the new owners will view aviation and what will be its place in their long term plan.
