Reece

Is the Department of Aviation’s Right to Suspend Licences Orally a Serious Breach of Privilege?

Intimidation is a terrible word. It is an even more terrible word when it is used in context to describe the relationship between a major Australian industry and its governing body, the Department of Aviation.

The threat of intimidation to those who actively disapprove of the policies of the DofA are, of course, well known. Dick Smith’s book, “Two Years In The Aviation Hall Of Doom”, has detailed many such instances which have gone completely unchallenged by the Department. This writer has spent years hearing tales of woe from operators who were desperate to see change in line with that of the major overseas nations. I have seen good people lose their jobs because the plane they were tasked with selling suddenly did not comply with Australian certification requirements because it was a little over 12,500lb! We have tried to write about these things in the past but on each occasion, the people involved have refused to be quoted, for fear of reprisal by a government Department that is all-powerful in its ability to cause an operator severe financial hardship in the long term.

This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.

Login

Become a Member

To continue reading the rest of this article, please login.

Username or Email

Password Forgot password?

Keep me signed in on this device.

If you check this box before you log in, you won’t have to log back into the website next time you return, even if you close your browser and come back later.

If you check the box above before you log in, you won’t have to log back into the website next time you return, even if you close your browser and come back later.

---

or

---

Login with a Passkey

To unlock all Australian Aviation magazine content and again unlimited access to our daily news and features, become a member today!
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.

PRINT

$49.95 for 1 year Become a Member

See benefits

• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website

MOST POPULAR

PRINT + DIGITAL

$99.95 for 1 year Become a Member

$179.95 for 2 years Become a Member

See benefits

• Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
• Access to the Australian Aviation app
• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
• Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
• Daily news updates via our email bulletin

DIGITAL

$5.99 Monthly Become a Member

$59.95 Annual Become a Member

See benefits

• Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
• Access to the Australian Aviation app
• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
• Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
• Daily news updates via our email bulletin

View more offers and details