Tamworth industry rally - friday 6 may 2016
 

INDUSTRY RALLY TAMWORTH AIRPORT

** YOUR INDUSTRY NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT **

1 PM - FRIDAY, 6TH MAY 2016
HANGAR 6, Tamworth Regional Airport NSW, Australia.

To the Australian Aviation Industry,

YOUR INDUSTRY NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT - 6th MAY 2016

I am calling on the support of all pilots, aircraft owners, aviation business owners and operators to attend our industry rally in Tamworth, on Friday 6th May 2016.

This is your opportunity to be seen and to be heard!

The industry’s leading associations, peak-bodies and aviation personalities, will be in attendance. All standing with the pilots, aircraft owners, aviation businesses and operators of our industry - united in the call for change.

We are calling on the government take immediate measures to end the regulatory nightmare that has destroyed our charter, flight training and maintenance industries. Made Australia uncompetitive on the global aviation stage. Eroded essential air services connecting regional Australia, disconnecting townships and isolating communities.

A regulatory nightmare that has forced an entire industry into collapse and thousands of hard working men and women into bankruptcy.

In attendance, representing the government will be;

The Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Barnaby Joyce
The Department of Infrastructure and Transport, the Hon Darren Chester
The Chairman of the Board, Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Mr Jeff Boyd.

For too long, the Australian aviation industry has been disenfranchised the right to economic prosperity through failed policy and excess regulation and compliance costs. We are an industry failed by political rhetoric and empty promises by the Labor, Liberal and The Nationals alike.

Our industry has been pushed to the wall, lives destroyed, families broken, retirements ruined and homes lost.

A prosperous future for aviation in this country can only be assured through a regulatory framework that is balanced, fair and representative of the needs and aspirations of industry itself. Most importantly, it must be accountable to industry, the people it is there to serve.

I am calling on each and every aviation participant that cares for this industry to show their support and attend. We can no longer afford to sit back and watch the destruction of our industry. Stand with us as we call on government to take action.

Help send Canberra a clear message

Show your support. Fly in or drive in. Contact your aviation networks, email, sms, phone. Lets send the government a clear message, that enough is enough.

Thank you for your support, and I look forward to seeing you all at the event.

Best regards,

BENJAMIN MORGAN
Chief Executive - Aviation Advertiser

Telephone: (02) 8215 6292
Mobile: 0415 577 724
Email: [email protected]

Mailing Address:
PO BOX 465
Edgecliff NSW 2027
Australia.

RALLY COMMENCES AT 1PM, 6TH MAY 2016
HANGAR 6, TAMWORTH AIRPORT

EVENT SCHEDULE

1pm - Arrival

1pm-2pm - FREE BBQ lunch and drinks - Sponsored by Aviation Advertiser & AOPA

2pm - Government representatives arrive

2pm-2:30pm - Closed door meeting between Government and Industry Associations

2:30pm-3pm - Short presentation to rally from industry representatives

2:30pm-4pm - Open Q&A between rally attendees and government

4pm-6pm - Tamworth AeroClub Post Event Drinks

I don't mean to be rude but as per your last event can you actually expect a reasonable turnout on a weekday and at relatively short notice?

I really wish you much success, Benjamin.


But sadly, I think that Barnaby will attend and say all the right things. After all, he is fighting to retain his seat at the upcoming election.


And after the election, nothing will change.


I recently re-read Bill Pike's: "Open letter to Mr John Anderson" in the Jan/ Feb 2003 AOPA magazine. He was fairly passionate then regarding CASA. But thirteen years later, nothing has improved. Quite the opposite in fact.

Gerry. Can you re publish it here?

Regarding the timing of the event, it was confirmed only a couple of days ago, that the Deputy PM, Minister for Infrastructure & Transport, and the Chairman of CASA would be available on the Friday 6th May 2016 in Tamworth. Given they are now in the election cycle, we take what we can get. So it's happening in one week, Friday 6th May 2016 from 1pm.

I along with many others am giving up my time to be there - demanding that our industry be heard. I call on each and everyone of you to show your support and stand with us. We have an opportunity here to set the stage for change. Come along, engage with your representatives, and support the call for change.

If you genuinely want a future for small to medium sized aviation in Australia, then we are going to have to fight for it. We can no longer arm-chair debate the issues. We must stand up and be seen and heard.

I could, Dick but it's pretty lengthy..

"Dear Minister,

There are a number of matters that are presently of great concern to us, and I beg your indulgence while I bring them to your attention.

I was appalled recently when discussing the examinations process with a very senior member of the section writing the rules to hear him say, to my horror, in response to my plea that the system be more simplified like that in the United States: "you wouldn't want anything that easy out here would you"?

Minister, that IS what I want! Flying a Cessna 172 between two properties in the Outback is not rocket science: There is little reason to be required to know the difference between stoichiometric ratio and the saturated adiabatic lapse rate to safely perform this task. CASA just loves hurdles, (such as AOC's for example) and I believe that our examination system is more in the nature of a hurdle than performing any useful task.

Our exams system has been put in the hands of a monopolistic private body, and one operating for profit. Any person wishing to become a pilot pays its rates, which are many times those applicable tin the United States. This is a dreadful state of affairs. Who in CASA authorised this? Were tenders called? It is surely appalling that the pilot licence exams should have been gifted to a monopolistic private body, operating purely for profit, which has resulted in the exclusion of all flying training organisations from supervising commercial and ATPL exams.

The exorbitant rates charged are mandatory - the hopeful pilot has no choices available. Even the private pilot is forced into this uncompetitive system, where price-fixing is irrelevant, because there is untrammelled authority in the monopoly to set whatever rates it chooses.

What is wrong with the many highly-qualified training organisations throughout Australia having the right to compete with the private provider, as occurs in the rest of the commercial world?

On another note, I understand that your department proposes to allow councils to redevelop ex-Commonwealth airfields given them under the ALOP scheme some years ago, (accompanied by a grant as I remember) into non-aviation activities.

This would be a sad day for aviation. One only has to observe the residential development permitted under the arrival and departure ends of runways to see how irresponsible some councils can be in aviation matters. Many councils are very responsible, but each airport would require only one anti-aviation or even corrupt council to see that airport turned into windfall profits at the expense of aviation, and so be lost forever.

Developers are always lurking, and their power is great. Councils must not have such temptations put their way.

AOPA suggests that where councils wish to reduce the burden they claim the airport is to them, (and in my opinion it is the inefficient way that councils administer the airport that is often the problem,) local aviation bodies should be asked for expressions of interest to run the airport for the benefit of aviation.

I emphasise that I'm not asking for them to be privatised. AOPA would be happy to work with your Department to achieve and administer such a scheme. Anything would be better than thrusting the possibility of windfall profits under the nose of some councils."
................................

That is only a small part of Bill Pike's letter. I'm getting sore fingers typing it. And thirsty. But, Dick if you are prepared to send me a slab of Coopers Pale Ale, then I'll provide the rest...

Things are heating up for the Rally... Looks like there will be strong attendance by a range of industry leadership.

Ben, All good if that is so.


But please don't get too carried away with any exaggeration that cannot be supported by facts. (And also remember that there is a Federal election just around the corner.)


So what do you realistically expect to achieve?


Perhaps always be aware of those who may attempt to stroke your ego and possibly duchess you accordingly??


(Dick, I do prefer not to be mercenary but my offer of the slab of Coopers Pale Ale is still available to you..)

Absolutely correct - the federal election is now here...

As such, the issues that are negatively impacting our industry need addressing. At just about every level, the CASA regulatory framework is damaging small to medium sized aviation enterprise.

What needs to be changed? The entire platform.

It is the small Australian family-owned businesses that will service the National Party's key constituents.

...and it is small Australian family-owned businesses that are damaged by European-style over-regulation.

If the Government is serious about "innovation" and regional development (and we know Malcolm Turnbull loves his cities and his busses, trains and trams) they need to examine the system to achieve the policy outcomes.

More power to your arm, Ben.

Some paradigm issues that I suggest you take into consideration in your strategic thinking, so that any momentum you build and effort you are making are focussed where it may have some chance of having some effect.

The practical reality is that while ever the Coalition and Labour effectively take turns in government, they both win every election. Each 'side' merely takes its turn to feast on the treasure of the body politic.

These days, the job of the bureaucracy is to protect the relevant minister. Whether that happens to result in something that's in the public interest is a matter of mere coincidence. The bureaucracy is effectively now a support system for the political advisers for the ministers who come and go, no matter to what party they happen to belong. The political advisers decide whether the minister is happy or sad, and that determines whether the bureaucrats keep their jobs.

Both 'sides' effectively abdicated their responsibility for the aviation industry to the bureaucracy a couple of decades or so ago. This makes ministers and their advisers happy, because they can disclaim responsibility for aviation regulation on a bi-partisan and 'public interest' basis. That's why the bureaucracy proceeded to build (and continues to build) the enormous, complex mess that is the aviation regulatory system. My view is that it is now impossible for anyone to work out what the amalgamation of the Civil Aviation Act, 1988 regulations, 1998 regulations, Civil Aviation Orders, Manuals of Standards, Directions, Determinations and, most importantly, exemptions, actually means as a matter of practicality. It's now mainly a life support system for all the people who build and continue to build on the mess: The bigger the mess, the longer it will take them to clean it up (on six figure salaries, year after year).

Some of them seriously believe they are making a positive contribution to safety. Many of the people in AVMED would fall into this category.

This abdication is also the explanation for why nothing changes despite all of the matters identified by Senate Committees and inquiries and reviews and coronials etc. Witness all those Senate enquiries that don't result in the Senators walking into the Senate and voting to give effect to the strong opinions expressed during Committee hearings. It's just pantomime.

Short point for you: Don't bother wasting energy on the tweedle dumb and tweedle dumber. The only glimmer of hope for GA lies in the laps of independents like Nick X.

Therefore, I'd suggest it would be very worthwhile finding out whether Tony Windsor has any knowledge of the plight of GA, any sympathy for the plight of GA and any inclination to use his vote to support change to improve the lot of GA. If the answer to each of those questions is 'no', meeting with and talking to Chester, Joyce and Windsor is - in my opinion based on the observation of the similar circumstances have arisen with depressing regularity over the last couple of decades and more - a complete waste of your and everyone else's time and energy. Focus has to be on the people who are actually prepared to legislate for change.

leady - completely correct. The only way to fix the mess is to break up CASA and start again with a clean slate, a new act and new people. It is not possible to fix this mess while remaining inside the system.

And don't forget to get rid of the puppet master Departmental "Secretary"

CC

A prosperous future for aviation in this country can only be assured through a regulatory framework that is balanced, fair and representative of the needs and aspirations of industry itself. Most importantly, it must be accountable to industry, the people it is there to serve.

Its really that simple.

Ooooh .... how do I break this gently....

It's not that simple. The regulatory framework is not there to serve the industry.

The regulatory framework is there to protect the public from the dangerous anarchy that would break out if the industry did not have the wise but firm straightjacket imposed on it by the experts in CASA.

But for the regulatory framework created by the masterpiece comprising the Civil Aviation Act, 1988 regulations, 1998 regulations, Civil Aviation Orders, Manuals of Standards, Directions, Determinations and exemptions, and all those wise people in CASA, you know full well that you would go wild and start doing stupidly dangerous things.

The wise but firm straightjacket is for your own, and the public's, good. Surely you feel safer as a consequence of Part 61 and are gagging at the prospect of the tsunami of safety that will happen under Parts 142/145?

Thanks Lead Balloon - food for thought I am sure - Nothing will work in aviation until such time that the regulator is accountable to industry - period. Only when the regulator is held to account, will balanced and sensible regulation be delivered.

I say again...

A prosperous future for aviation in this country can only be assured through a regulatory framework that is balanced, fair and representative of the needs and aspirations of industry itself. Most importantly, it must be accountable to industry, the people it is there to serve.

Maybe we all need to be reminded that the Safety Regulator is there, elected by the people, for the people...

Its 2016, not 1947. If we are indeed in the ideas boom and Australia is positioning itself for the next 50 years of economic growth and prosperity - then its time we took a good long look at our regulatory framework and how it plays the lead role in advancing aviation and encouraging investment and development.

Or.... we do nothing - and argue from the sidelines. Stick it out with what we have and watch an entire industry collapse around us.

Again, more power to your arm, Ben.

I earnestly hope you use that power to the best advantage.

My long experience and observation leads me to believe that using any power you might have to best advantage will not involve appeals to or correspondence with the Coalition or Labor. As those crusty old rockers The Who said: I won't be fooled again...

Has Tony Windsor been invited to this rally? I reckon he would talk more sense than the other 3 combined. Also it would be useful if he was made aware of all the problems faced by GA. Especially useful if he ends up holding the balance of power after this election.

Spoke to Tony W last night and yes he is coming.

Not sure what his position is on aviation, really, but the track record of the Nationals as Transport Ministers indicates a complete lack of testicular fortitude in the aviation department.

What a priceless photo!

Has anyone done a market study to establish why fred public/businesses are not using GA for transport or why people are not undertaking training? Is there any economic analysis to show cost breakdowns for GA businesses or aircraft operating costs? BITRE did such a study in 1995 when industry were blaming FAC charges and CAA cost recovery. In reality, based on data provided by GA organisations, those costs represented about 5%.. We need an update so that decisions and action are data/fact based. Report is at bitre.gov.au/publications/1996/report.
Research Report 95.

Vag: How about the fact that an ignorant media regards everything smaller than a B737 as some sort of death trap?

How about the fact that I spent $1000.00 for about three hours of dual in a C172 for some refresher training?

How about the fact that light aircraft are banned from national parks?

How about the fact that the tourist industry and CASA actively discourage air tourism or community based air activities like Angel Flight?

How about the fact that almost all local councils want aerodromes for property development and actively work to prevent aviation businesses from expanding?

How about the fact that Australians regard aviators as silvertails who deserve no consideration?

How about the fact that Airservices, Airlines and the RAAF regard GA aircraft as "air pollution"?

How about the fact that pilots are up for a $250 ASIC check every Two years? And the medical? And the flight review?

How about the fact that pilots face criminal charges if they breach a huge set of incomprehensible, draconian and nonsensical regulations that are administered by an ignorant, capricious, vindictive and corrupt regulator?


….and how about the fact that nobody in Canberra gives a flying **** about GA?

If I knew all this when I started, I would have bought a bigger boat instead.

To put all that another way, if the Federal treasurer had announced a $1000 annual tax on each aircraft in last nights budget speech, there would have been loud applause from all sides of Parliament (especially the Greens) and the media would accept the move without criticism on Wednesday morning.

Ben
You are forgetting something…..this is Australia. :=

We bring government and enterprise stifling to world record highs.



Sunny……GOLD. :ok: Unfortunately you are not wrong either.

Sunfish. You are correct. Get into boating.

I have not changed my view. That is get out of aviation now if you run a business otherwise even more will be lost.

I don't see any light on the horizon .

I would say another 5 to 10 years of CASA destructive cost increases before major change happens.

Such a sad and unnecessary loss for an industry I love.

This past week I have received enormous feedback and support from across the industry, with many leading organisations and individuals confirming they will be in attendance - Friday 6th May, Hangar 6, Tamworth Regional Airport.

What is absolutely clear is that our industry is fed up with the ignorance and inaction of both sides of government. We have been failed at every level possible. The industry has been bullied and intimidated into accepting a broken, disjointed and expensive regulatory framework. One that has systematically eroded our rights and destroyed an industry.

Australias leading associations and peak bodies have clearly communicated the warnings and dire predictions for two decades, yet government has done nothing.

Our safety regulator today, is just another Super Seasprite calamity. Hundreds of millions of dollars of tax payers money, wasted on a system which is being patched and cobbled together and will never fly.

Good on you Ben

Even when CASA was on the right path (yes there were pockets of progress in the times of Leroy Keith & Bruce Byron) it was white-anted by vested interests inside and outside of CASA, and then totally stuffed over by the Office of Legal Counsel.

Let's hope they're listening..

Highwaytohell,
Ain't that the truth, CASA's (and its predecessors) "Iron Ring" would make a great study for some academic -- morally ( and sometimes ???) bankrupt. Public administration, where the best interests of the nation,the public or the industry hardly rate consideration, and "Government" policy is a minor irritant that can be safely disregarded.
All under the impenetrable cloak of that "motherhood" to end all motherhood cover, "Aviation Safety".
Tootle pip!!

Tootle pip!!

needing a ride
 

Gidday folks, getting my way up there OK but looking for a cost share flight on the way home to Melbourne on Friday night. PM me if you can assist. Cheers. Glen

INDUSTRY CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO END THE
DESTRUCTION OF GENERAL AVIATION IN AUSTRALIA.

TAMWORTH REGIONAL AIRPORT, HANGAR 6 - FRIDAY 6TH MAY 2016 - From 1pm

The general aviation industry’s leading associations and personalities, will rally at Tamworth Regional Airport, this Friday, 6th May from 1pm. Calling on the government to take immediate measures to end the regulatory nightmare that is destroying Australia's general aviation flight training, charter and maintenance businesses.

In attendance, representing the government will be;

The Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Barnaby Joyce
The Department of Infrastructure and Transport, the Hon Darren Chester
The Chairman of the Board, Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Mr Jeff Boyd

Small to medium sized aviation businesses across Australia are being forced into closure through excessive regulatory costs - imposed by the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

Throughout the past 25 years, the industry’s leading associations and peak bodies have furnished the successive Ministers and Civil Aviation Safety Authority management with dire warnings, clearly demonstrating the damage being inflicted on industry through excessive and expensive regulation.

All efforts by industry to date have been blatantly ignored.

The general aviation industry has been bullied and intimidated by CASA into accepting a flawed and expensive european EASA regulatory framework which is totally unsuitable and incompatible for Australia’s general aviation needs and future.

CASA’s decision to implement the european EASA platform over that of the United States FAA system has been totally unsupported by the general aviation industry and has increased regulatory compliance costs to unaffordable levels. It has made Australian general aviation uncompetitive globally and is forcing flight training, maintenance and charter businesses into closure.

CASA has demonstrated that it is unable to make the right decision for Australia’s general aviation future. CASA are ignoring the qualified consensus of industry.

The general aviation industry stands firm, calling on the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport to direct the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to immediately discontinue the EASA regulatory implementation and to accept the qualified consensus of industry to harmonise with the Federal Aviation Administration regulatory platform of the United States - the worlds largest and most successful general aviation economy.

We now call on the Liberal/National Government to bring and end to this dark chapter and to re-position Australia’s general aviation industry, to create jobs, growth and opportunity.

Best regards,

BENJAMIN MORGAN
Chief Executive - Aviation Advertiser Digital Group

Telephone: (02) 8215 6292
Mobile: 0415 577 724
Email: [email protected]

Mailing Address:
PO BOX 465
Edgecliff NSW 2027
Australia.

CAsA , Iron Ringers and the GIGANTIC CON job
 

As we all have seen over the past 25 years, ANYTHING can be done in the name of "safety", the holiest grail for top tossers in NON Aviation House to collect the blood of the GA, destroying individuals, businesses and the whole damn industry. :mad::mad:

Please tell those 'higher ups' that show, that CAsA is colossaly expensive and IRRELEVANT. Way past time for GA that has reached its limit of patience,to either get the demanded changes (FAA or NZ)or ignore the rotten place once and for all.

My PHD thesis subject will be.."Witchcraft and Voodooism in CAsA Customary Regulation with a view to Destroying General Aviation."

Among the many internal subjects will be the CAsA Code of Conduct ( big joke) Staff quality, illegalities undertaken, allowed by and protected by the senior management (sic) and bureaucratic systems.:mad:
And these are just the funny pages.

Hopefully by the time this opus is completed it will be of historical significance only. CAsA will have been totally shredded, and a new Aviation division of DOIT, staffed with people with an interest in and knowledge of aviation, AND GA so there WILL be a future for GA. :ok:

What else is there.? Anarchy??

Aroa........Hear hear!!:D

There is an election coming up..

I seriously doubt any of these people will give any kind of **** about what happens and is said in Tamworth.

If that's the case, let them be seen as such.

Even if they are seen as such, and 100% of the attendees are 100% passionate of showing it at the ballot box, nothing will change.

I used to think they listened………

The only thing that gets there attention is when they get 30+ emails, letters, phone calls and face to face visit requests PER DAY on the same topic for several weeks or months. Only then will they chat among their colleagues and ask are you getting all this noise? If the answer from several of them is yes, they start listening.

If all each MP gets is a few folk at a meeting, they nod and smile and say yes we will take that on board.

There are not enough people employed/participate in aviation in Australia to be noticed. Not enough in TOTAL, let alone active enough to demand attention.

Sadly to think otherwise is delusional and once I was.

From Jeff Boyd regarding CIR prof checks, "We will be changing the rules in the next few weeks so that multiples checks on different types are not required."
On ADSB, "I was always against ADSB as deputy chair, but now that it's in place, we can't just roll it back, it has to be unpicked. We will issue exemptions for aircraft that need not yet existing technical developments if you approach me."
Aminta Hennesy brings up good points on price gouging by airport real estate greed, cost of ADSB, ridiculous maintenance requirements (new aircraft needing cables changed every six years), ambiguity on Part 61 rules, Part 141/142 complexity.

Anything come out of the meeting?

Having attended the gathering, one thing struck me. The age of the attendees. No disrespect but if this is representative of aviation in this country then we're in more trouble than I thought.

Chester and Joyce were like deer caught in headlights, at least Joyce didn't pretend he knew any answers.

Jeff Boyd, to his credit answered the hard questions, I like what I heard from this bloke BUT it beggars belief that a board or a minister or deputy prime minister CANNOT direct a rouge DAS in desperate times. Whatever it takes Jeff, this has to change.

Jeff mentioned that the board was looking to align Part 61 with kiwi regs, he mentioned that there were multiple exemptions in the pipeline and changes to Part 61.

I want the mongrels who imposed this disaster on us held to account. Aminta's question on NVFR was typical of the last 12-18 months of this ****pile, CASA FOI's still unable to answer questions on their own regs, but still, the idiots who caused this disaster are not held to account.

Some more comment would be good. Who else said what?