I am faced with an Eight hour drive to Narromine. I have yet to try for accommodation and I won't use a tent again. I last went in 2015, it was worthwhile....just..

my interests are:

- the C of A issue process for experimental.

- getting a few hours in a Savannah or equivalent if the opportunity presents.

- update on MPC refresher training.

- maybe learning something and maybe buying something.

- looking at the pretty aircraft.

I note an entity called "air ventures" is running the event. Who are they? What happened to SAAA? Is there even going to be any presence from SAAA? RAA? CASA? AsA? Is this 'event" going to be anything more then a crummy airshow in a country town in the middle of nowhere?

That is 16 hours driving and I am starting to feel that maybe its not worth the effort after reading this thread.

I suppose Narromine was chosen because its equally hard to get to from anywhere.

Sunfish:

What you say is what this event should really be all about.

Everyone seems to be overtaken by a desire to make this airshow something it's not possible to be.

Other factors - Accommodation, location etc etc are real issues to many people. A smaller event that re-focuses on what RAAus, APF, SAAA have as their core interest and values is probably a good thing.

Hi, I'm assuming the same organisation that ran OzKosh last year. From the airventure website. AirVenture Australia

WHAT'S HAPPENING?
It's more than just planes. It's a celebration of flight!

RAAus, SAAA and APF are pleased to bring you AirVenture Australia (AVA) 2017. Building on the success of 2016, this year’s event is certainly designed to offer something for everyone. An assortment of seminars for young, old, experienced and novice aviators. A comprehensive aviation exhibition space where if you can think of it, you’ll find it. Top all this off with an airshow that will blow your sock off and you will start to see why AVA 2017 can’t be missed. Sign up now for updates, or visit again soon. Tickets on sale August.

My understanding is that SAAA last ran the event in 2015 as "Ausfly". Since then it has been run by a separate group of people, many of whom were the previous organisers. This was to allow the event to transition from being an SAAA event to being an event for all the different aviation groups. The event receives support from SAAA, RAAus, APF and others...

With this background I can understand why they wanted to change the name from Ausfly but it would be good if they could at least come up with something that doesn't cause confusion with everyone you talk to about the event.

Exclusive sponsorship's are not new or uncommon. But it should only relate to sponsorship, not other commercial dealings.

If Air Venture are refusing to deal with AvPlan commercially (ie not allowing AvPlan to take a display booth) at the direction of a third party (ie Ozrunways), then this sounds very much like third line forcing to me which is against the trade practices act and actionable in the Federal Court.

Frankly, I think its a naive and clumsy move by both AirVenture and OzRunways in such a small community as aviation. Its guaranteed to disenfranchise someone.

Ozrunways would be justified in wanting a marketing advantage from being the major sponsor (and if their assertion is correct only sponsor), but there are many smarter ways to do it.

I count 14 sponsors on previous AusFly posters. Are OzRunways really the only ones prepared to return as sponsors?

Doesn't seem to me that OzR 'directed' anything. They were offered exclusivity as the quid pro quo for paying a lot more money in sponsorship:A tip for the future, OzR: In matters commercial, no kind act goes unpunished.

My point is that exclusivity of sponsorship is one thing and a fair go. Refusing a different commercial relationship (ie renting a trade display stand) is a different thing.

The smarter strategic thing is to refuse AvPlans sponsorship, sell them a trade stand then for Ozrunways to use its sponsorship relationship to swamp AvPlan's visibility.

The Ozrunways sponsorship of AirVenture is commercial not philanthropic. Otherwise they wouldn't care about the prominent branding they are getting or excluding competitors.

I have no concern with OzRunways sponsorship of Air Venture. I am quite agnostic. But it doesn't look like it's been done very strategically.

Perhaps other sponsors can't see the value in it - If that's the case, the organisers need to re think the whole thing.

Even if someone has crossed the line vis a vis the Trade Practices Act, no one is the winner and it drags everyone down.:ugh:

OzRunways has withdrawn major sponsorship of the event and will be a regular attendee.

Official statement here:
https://www.facebook.com/OzRunways/p...03117613107528

Wow, what a shame that OzRunways have had to withdraw.

Now at least everyone knows that Avplan will step up to the plate with the same sponsorship now that the event has lost it...

I think Old Akro summed it up very neatly; there are no winners in this debacle. I've used both programs at various times and don't have a horse in the race, but I think we would all be the poorer if there wasn't the competition between them.

"had to withdraw"? Reads to me they chose to withdraw.

RA Aus have made a statement on their facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/RAAus/posts/1911710245750869

Better late than never. OZrunways peeps shouldn't have had to defend themselves against the lynch mob without the support of the organisers. All rather badly handled IMO and a pity if this means the event can't go ahead as I'm sure a lot of work would have gone into it so far.

Exactly.

Wasn't AOPA going to the event? Are they still going?

Is Paul Bennett going? No? Why?

Is the head of RAAus an ex F111 driver?

Is the Minister for Transport's Aviation advisor an ex F111 Navigator, ex Liberal Party candidate for the ACT elections, and the wife of Darren Chester's Chief of Staff?

I do hope you're not suggesting that political interests and connections may explain otherwise inexplicable behaviour, HL?

Political interests and connections would never influence these matters.

I don't know anything about RAAus's leadership but I am certain that they have no National Party links.

I am sure there is no National Party influence.

I am sure that the dots you have connected in your mind are, in reality, totally unconnected.

Nothing to see here.

Just as things couldn't get any worse for Australian GA, the manufacturers of both excellent EFB systems turned against one another..

Oh they've been sniping at each other for years - that's fine in my book, a bit of commercial competition is healthy, but the greater pity is that the aviation community has rushed to choose sides.

Talking about sides, I can't help noticing that this thread was earlier locked, despite a generally polite discussion. Did the way the discussion was headed not suit someone?

Reading the Facebook pages of both company's of late has been some what laughable. So many are so easily to be offended, and the loss of a few ignorants, with their pitchforks in hand, here and there will not affect either's bottom line. In a month or so no will will remember these events and business will go along as usual.

The statement released by RAAus does seem to put some solidarity to the OzR story... Kind of hard for AvPlan to defend against that. The real sadness is that one individual has taken it upon themselves to get involved beyond their needs and basically ruined the security of the event.

And perhaps, maybe it's just not a viable event in the first place..?

Can MilFlyer please step back in and revise his posts?

Especially the line "Of course. The RAAF Roulettes are about to pull out on the basis of your PR stuff-up. I call bull****. The show will go ahead with or without you. You know that. I know that. AirVentures know that."

Looks like without them it may indeed not go ahead after all despite what you claim to know.