Dick Smith - Wagga RSL Media Presentation - Thur 26th April
 

PUBLIC PRESENTATION BY FORMER CASA CHAIRMAN DICK SMITH - DAMAGE TO AUSTRALIAN AVIATION

THURSDAY 26TH APRIL 2018 - 11AM to 1PM
WAGGA WAGGA RSL - CONFERENCE CENTRE

AOPA Australia member, Dick Smith, will be addressing a public gathering in the city of Wagga Wagga. Come hear about the staggering damage which is being inflicted on the general aviation industry in Australia and particularly on aviation in the bush.

Hear how Australia can become a world leader in flight training and recreational aviation.

AOPA Australia members are all encouraged to attend this event.

The AOPA Australia Members Coach will be departing Bankstown Airport, Thursday 26th April at 5am - sharp. Please call (02) 9791 9099 to reserve your seat - be quick as places are limited.

I reckon that the city of Wagga will come to a stop when Dick and Ben arrive.

(Thank goodness that I realised being a member of AOPA was a complete waste of money 15 years ago.)

I reckon that 15 years ago you were correct. I agreed with you.
"This time it's different" and I stumped up and re-joined a couple of years ago.

The other charter operators I know all agree that Regional Aviation Assoc Australia don't give a tinkers about Charter operators - god knows their new CEO said as much to me about 18 months ago.

Gerry111 I don't know what sector of GA or ultralights you consider yourself to be a part of, but AOPA is actively representing the GA industry now and I urge everyone to get behind them.

Gerry. Sorry you are so angry.

It’s clear that AOPA is becoming effective politically like AOPA in the USA.

AOPA in the US is second only to the National Rifle Federation as an effective lobbying organisation. Watch out politicians!

Dick, I'm not angry at all. Perhaps I'm pretty frustrated though?

(I've been around GA during the last 25 years of CASA "reforms" and well before then.)

If you really think AOPA Australia is becoming as effective as AOPA in the USA at lobbying, then you are simply deluded. We could learn a lot from them.

No. Not as effective. But clearly more effective than it was.

What do you think is the best way forward?

Negative campaigning in marginal electorates is the only approach that will succeed. CASA and the Department will wear you down in endless committee meetings if you engage wth them ("what precisely do you mean Mr. Smith?"). You will die of old age before the institution changes that way.

The only way forward is for a frightened Government to instruct PM&C to fix the CASA and give AOPA what it wants. You need lessons from the attack dogs of the CFMEU.

Dick

If you want to maximise the leverage you have, you need to spend minimum time defining the problem (commonly called “whinging”) and spend maximum time defining the cause of the problem and what you consider to be the solutions, in words of one syllable.

Purely hypothetically, because these things need to be your earnest opinion...

The problem: Destruction of General Aviation in Australia. Small businesses providing pilot training, passenger transport and aircraft maintenance services cannot survive in the current regulatory environment. Regulatory over-kill, security over-kill and airport charging over-kill mean that Australia is not training enough pilots to meet demand and people are being driven out of aviation as a means of private transportation. Our regional and remote aerodromes are ghost towns compared to what they should be.

The cause: Bipartisan neglect and abrogation of responsibility for promoting and enhancing civil aviation in Australia.

The solution: Do not vote for the major parties until they have done the following things:

- changed the Civil Aviation Act to say....

- done this about the regulatory reform program....

- ceased granting 457 visas for pilots

- enforced airport leases

- make ATCers wear pink bunny suits

- whatever you want to put on the list.

As I say, Dick, you need these lists to contain what you believe.

The only suggestion I can give you is that if you back one major party over another, you are doomed to perpetuate the problem. The problem is the cosy duopoly. They always win when one or the other always gets a turn at the trough. Threaten the duopoly and you’ll get pink bunny suits on demand.

Thanks. Good advice. Everyone keep watching. I have not given up on this.

I am fortunate as I can afford the costs and don’t have to earn money from Aviation.

However I am proud of our country and don’t believe these highly paid bureaucrats should be allowed to damage it. Even if they are doing so un intentionally.

[QUOTE=Dick Smith;10125552What do you think is the best way forward?[/QUOTE]

Perhaps keep a tight rein on Ben at Wagga? For only he has been known to fall for being duchessed, when the limelight fell his way.

Surely you jest? Spencer never fallen for that one?

Gerry111 Im really interested, exactly how have I been duchessed?

BEN MORGAN
AOPA Australia Executive Director

By Aminta in WEU perhaps? :hmm:

I heard a rumour that Ben heartily congratulated CASA when they announced Class 2 medical reforms. Only to now find those promises to be rather empty.

Gerry. Are the reforms going ahead? Do you have evidence that they are not?

Here's an example perhaps Dick.

We were told that all DAMEs would be able to issue a Class 2 medical for the whole 2 year period or whatever, themself.

Well that's only true, IF they do some online training thing and apply to become a "DAME 2" So we've all been conned, again.

I await to see how they "aviationise" the Austroads drivers medical standard, just like when we were all conned last time over the Driver's Licence Medical - "aviation" to which the average GP said WHAT THE?

Good luck with your meeting Dick, It's a bit far for me.

Can it be broadcast live on Facebook, too short notice to get there.

The announced medical certification ‘reforms’ are, as a matter of practicality, mostly a scam.

Oh OK.
So we should all just have a cup of tea and forget about it then. You're right.

No. My apologies if that’s the implication of my post. It’s not intended.

I was merely trying to comment on the particular point raised by GIII: Care needs to be taken not to congratulate where congratulations are not due. CASA medical certification ‘reform’ is an area in which congratulations are not due.

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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