I congratulate you on your restraint Dick.:D

I am assembling a press-release covering the event and outcomes and will post this as soon as possible.

In the meantime - a quick overview...

Many thanks must go to AOPA, RAAUS, AMROBA and Dick Smith whom attended and stood together in the call for rapid and broad regulatory reform. It was great to see everyone shoulder to shoulder on the call to government.

Thank you Dick for providing transport for the association representatives, it was appreciated and valued.

Media coverage within the New England electorate has been fantastic, with all outlets taking a serious interest in the issues discussed. TV, Newspaper and Radio have all helped elevate the discussion.

We also received the support of a range of pilots, aircraft owners and aviation business owners whom attended from various townships to show support for the call for reform. I am still receiving emails and phone calls offering support from right across the country.

Importantly, a sincere thank you must be given to Hon Barnaby Joyce MP, for taking the time to discuss the issues via telephone (as he was in Western Australia for a cabinet meeting) and for giving a direct undertaking to now move forward with a meeting with the PM and the Department of Infrastructure.

I would also like to thank Mr Tony Windsor and his staff, who were in attendance to hear the concerns presented. Mr Windsor spoke briefly in support of the aviation industry. He and his office have invited us to present to them a more detailed submission.

Today was a start and by no means is the end of our efforts to build awareness. Lots of hard-work ahead.

More to come with the press-release tomorrow.

Absolutely!
 

It's in the paper so it must be true!

http://s26.postimg.org/67vume3ex/Flightrisk.jpg

Ben, what was Dick's response when you asked him about the VFR transponder impost in his to-be-introduced E airspace, and the extra millions cost to industry for controllers?

Flight risk: Dick Smith warning: ‘I’ll support Windsor'

By Rebecca Belt
April 12, 2016, 8:30 p.m.




http://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transfo..._h678_fmax.jpgSTAND STRONG: Dick Smith urges politicians to be tough and stand up to bureaucrats for the future of the aviation industry. Photo: Barry Smith






PROMINENT Australian businessman Dick Smith has thrown down the gauntlet to Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, vowing to back his rival, Tony Windsor, if he doesn’t take urgent action to deregulate the small- to medium-sized aviation industry.


A meeting of aviation industry representatives in Tamworth yesterday heard smaller aviation businesses had five years left if the industry wasn’t reformed and deregulated.


Aviation Advertiser chief executive Benjamin Morgan organised the meeting at Tamworth Regional Airport as a call to action for the industry as a federal election looms.


Mr Morgan had previously written to MPs, pushing for changes to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s regulatory framework.


“Excessive regulations are forcing operators to the wall,” he told the meeting.
“As an industry, we are almost unanimous as to where the problems stem from.”


He said this was forcing a wipeout of the industry.


“Our industry is in decline because both Labor and Liberal governments have failed at almost every level at providing a regulatory framework that allows for growth and prosperity,” he said.


Mr Morgan wants MPs to sit with those in the aviation industry and make wide-ranging and rapid regulatory reform.


“We only have about five years before there is so much damage done that it hits the tipping point and we can’t repair it,” he said.


He said those impacted the most would be regional and remote communities that had small to medium aviation operators as their link.


Mr Smith said New England MP Barnaby Joyce could be the industry’s saviour.


He said there were a range of prohibitive regulations for pilots of light aircraft, such as mandatory inspections for Cessnas that had owners investing more than what the aircraft were worth.


Mr Smith said he blamed the National Party for allowing bureaucrats to bring in these regulations through CASA, but said he was impressed with Transport Minister Darren Chester.


“Previously, ministers have been not tough enough and have been manipulated by bureaucrats, but I’m hoping Darren won’t be manipulated by bureaucrats,” he said.


“It’s almost at the point where it’s not saveable, but I’m hoping Barnaby will be ruthless and fire a few people and put some good people in. If they do nothing in the next four or five months, I’m going to come up and support Tony Windsor.”


Mr Windsor said industry representatives needed to find points of unity and use them to advance their position.


“It is time that all interested parties sit at the table to develop workable solutions to enable this vital industry to prosper, and crucially, to stimulate regional development,” he said.


Mr Joyce was at a cabinet meeting in Perth and could not attend the meeting, but welcomed the aviation industry to Tamworth.


“I'm eager to support an industry that contributes vital employment and facilitates business in regional communities,” Mr Joyce said.

Nice YAK ;);):ok::ok::D:D

Would be a hoot to fly :}

"Yak"s right...

Folks,
One of the speakers was a trustee of the National Party.

Having introduced himself as such, he made a very public statement calling on the Minister to legislate adoption of the Forsyth Report, as it is unlikely ( to say the least) that CASA will effectively adopt the meat of the Forsyth recommendations.

Tootle pip!!

"One of the speakers was a trustee of the National Party."


No doubt, he will get the regulatory reform sorted..

I think that's certain. Just look at what the National Party has done for aviation in the last 20 years - John Sharp, John Anderson, Mark Vaile, Warren Truss.

What could possibly go wrong?

And look who has been the puppet master pulling their strings since mid 2009.

CC