Australian Business Aircraft Association Launched

The Minister for Aviation, Mr. Peter Morris, officially launched ABAA, welcomed its foundation and looked forward to the input it would be able to make as he personally felt that those who are paying for aviation services should have meaningful input into the decision-making processes.

Mr. John Leard, the former Managing Director of ANI, gave the keynote address and said he was glad the lead ANI had given in being one of the first companies to operate a corporate aircraft had been followed up by more and more companies as they realised that it was not a plaything but a viable wealth creating tool which enabled key executives to operate more efficiently.

ABAA is being formed to promote and protect the aviation interests of major companies and organizations operating business aircraft in Australia and will consult with the government, their departments and the aircraft industry. However, it will not be a platform for industrial relations matters or the like. The ABAA would probably have only a couple of formal meetings a year but various working committees would look at such topics as operations, standards and safety; airspace and ATC; airport and the environment; and technical matters to produce policy papers which could then be jointly taken up with the DofA and industry.

ABAA see many areas where they can make a meaningful contribution and amongst others would like to work for equitable rulings on taxes and air navigation charges, greater discussion on changes to government policies, legislation, and rules and regulations for business aircraft operations, improvements in airways, air traffic services and navigation facilities, high standards of airport services, improvements in weather and communication services, as well as aircraft designed to meet their members’ special requirements and the best product support and maintenance standards. In this regard it was noteworthy that companies such as Garrett, Hawker Pacific, Pacific Aviation, etc. have joined as Associates or Affiliates.

ABAA will pursue some of its goals by itself but through membership of the Australian Aviation Council and a close working relationship with the General Aviation Association of Australia, it will combine with other bodies on areas of common ground when the combined strength of both associations would be to their mutual advantage. ABAA will also be looking to affiliate with the International Business Aviation Council whose members include the NBAA in the US and BAUA in the UK. Their wide and longer-term experience in this field should greatly assist ABAA in many areas.

The member companies of ABAA see many internal advantages of forming their Association as it will provide a forum for the interchange of ideas on aviation operational matters and bring members closer together on a personal basis. It will thus increase t:1e level of discussion and debate between this specific interest group and bring the presently fragmented ideas and/or frustrations under one umbrella organization so that something constructive can eventuate for the benefit of everyone. Another important objective is to gain wider recognition of the importance of business aviation to the economy of Australia in its ability to be a wealth and profit-creating tool.

Some major goals for the coming year are joining AVIAC, obtaining a reduction in fuel reserves for ABAA members, a reassessment of priorities systems for air traffic at capital city airports to place ABAA members on equal basis with APT and to disseminate Aviation Regulatory proposals to members.