Ben, Have you ever applied for a medical to fly an aircraft in Australia? Perhaps if so, when and where?

There's quite a few of us, out there, that rely on CASA AVMED to allow us to travel around our beautiful country flying GA.

I will make a podcast and post it on this site a few days after the presentation

Dick

Dick. .. . is it okay to land at Bowylie?

No quite sure what you are attempting to imply Gerry111.... See attached

How about you show some transparency and post your medical. Let’s all see who the real Gerry111 is.

Dick and Ben,
Best wishes for the event tomorrow, wish I could be there, but just not possible.
Tootle pip!!

Very interesting to read the comments here. Many like Dick and AOPA are trying to bring issues of the failed CASA and various government policies and failed implementation to the public and therefore political arena while the sniping from a few that never actually do anything but that persist. I recall being in a Canberra meeting with the then Director, Col Freeland, who made the statement [after the tea lady departed the room] that general aviation is beset with factions and nothing will change until a clear agenda is put forth by industry. The year was 1989. Support your local AOPA and contribute good ideas please...

No guesses who the main protagonist of the factions was... :cool: :rolleyes:

see, I'm right! A nothing statement here. The industry deserves better to get up off the canvas...

Mr Smith - I've not always, or even often, agreed with some of your posts and views (particularly attacks on the RAAF), but your fight against the destruction of GA is to be commended to the highest level. Like the rorts that the governments get away with, the snouts in the trough, the sense of entitlement to use public money for their own benefit - they just do not care two hoots. The Bishops - Julie and Bronny - steely eyed defiance to any criticism of public fund usage - they make it so hard for the little man to affect morals and effect change. Thinking back to the early eighties learning to fly at Albion Park's South Coast Aero Club with Ron Berry and Shereen Verdon - great days with smiling instructors and a huuuuge social culture in the club. The place doesn't even exist now.

Well done Mr Smith and all those fighting the same fight.

Folks how about a prominent big billboard in Wagga so he and his constituents see it every day?

A picture of McCormack with the red crossed circle over him and a simple statement..

STOP THE LIE – UPDATE THE ACT
DICK SMITH WAGGA WAGGA PRESENTATION, THURSDAY 26TH APRIL 2019

The Dick Smith presentation in Wagga Wagga on Thursday 26th April 2018 was a great success and it was fantastic to see so many AOPA Australia members along with local Riverina constituents in attendance.

The venue was at capacity with only standing room available, clearly demonstrating the importance and genuine interest in the issues presented.Many thanks must go to the local media, who turned out en-masse to document and report.

I had the opportunity to speak with a number of newspaper and television reporters, who were all very eager to communicate our industry’s concerns.

A big thank you must go to Dick Smith, who clearly and passionately communicated our industry’s frustration regarding the lack of action and reforms from our political representatives.

The presentation exposed nearly three decades of inaction and neglect, along with explaining the damage to regional townships and communities. Utilising a range of key data, including charts provided by AOPA Australia, Dick highlighted that declines in general aviation flight training and maintenance, which are the result of government and political neglect, have now manifested themselves into an airline pilot and maintenance employment crisis.

For the first time in the history of Australian aviation, our general aviation industry is unable to meet the employment demands of the airline sector, struggling under the enormous weight of regulatory burden, which has rendered general aviation uncompetitive and unsustainable – should the current regulatory framework continue.

The outcome now is that the airlines are desperately seeking to bypass general aviation in Australia by importing foreign pilots and maintenance crews under 457 VISAs.

The AOPA Australia is deeply concerned for the future of our general aviation community and stands fully opposed to the wholesale granting of 457 VISAs for pilots and maintainers, which we regard as a bandage to cover the open wound of regulatory and political failure.

The AOPA Australia believes that Australians want the assurance that comes from being flown by Australian trained pilots, whom have earned the reputation as being the safest in the world, the source of these pilots is general aviation.

Dick has called on the Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack, to take positive action by reforming the Civil Aviation Act. The Deputy Prime Minister responded through local media stating;

“I’ve had a number of discussions with Dick Smith, and I appreciate that the industry wants to see changes made as soon as possible, but what I won’t do for anyone is rush policy change, especially when there might be safety implications”

“It’s all well and good to bind me to the Barnaby Joyce agreement, but the fact is Barnaby is not transport Minister anymore and, while I appreciate that he had discussions with Anthony Albanese, I was not in on those discussions.”

It wasn't a "nothing statement" at the time. To say the industry was fractured, and has remained so since, would be an understatement.

No wonder. LSP, incessant and completely unnecessary changes in procedures turning pilots off, user-pays, Affordable Safety, dictatorial attitudes, what did you expect? Of course there are other issues like drink-driving and smoking rules, but from the early 90s, the "industry" was going only one way. Down the gurgler. And instead of a united front engaging Canberra, what happened? Crash through or crash. Yep, crash it was.

TBM Legend, the AOPA Australia has a sponsor who is prepared to fund a sign as you have suggested. If you have a location in mind, could you let me know.

BENAJMIN MORGAN
AOPA Australia - Executive Director

AOPA membership sub just paid.
Thanks to Ben and to Dick and to all the others that are pushing this into plain sight.

I've been watching this with interest but I'm still not convinced targeting a Lower House MP is wise. It may give everyone a good feeling because you have a target but surely the more productive is going for a Senate seat. In our current Parliament we see time and time again the power of individual Senators. Right now we are watching the Bank Royal Commission unfold before our eyes and who got that up? That's right, a small number of Senators.

If an unknown group like the Motoring Action party can do it with such a small base, why cant AOPA?

Wunwing

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