Corporate Contrails, ABAA

Business aviation continued to grow and develop over the years until by 1986 it had matured to the degree where Australian corporations were operating highly sophisticated aircraft such as the Canadair Challenger. Gulfstream IIB, Falcon and even the Boe- ing 727. The industry now perceived a need for a collective voice to speak on behalf of the Australian business aviation community and inform the Government and public of the benefits of business aircraft and their roll within the developing matrix of the country.

In early 1986, a group of dedicated pilots from major Australian companies formed a steering committee for the Australian Business Aircraft Association Inc. It was proposed that this Association would be run along the lines of the very successful American NBAA and would also be a member of the International Business Aircraft Council. From the outset, it was recognised that for the ABAA to have the necessary influence, corporate management must be involved and it was therefore stipulated that of the two company delegates eligible to vote at ABAA meetings, at least one must be from management. The ABAA was formed and had its inaugural meeting on the 5th November 1986, refer to Margaret Thorn’s article, January 1987 Australian Aviation, page 40.

The elected Committee is Chairman: Sir Russel Madigan; Vice Chairman: Mr John Ross; Secretary: Capt. Ron Crump: Treasurer: Mr Frank Mainwaring: Members: Capt. Phillip Reiss, Capt. John South and Capt. Wally Epton.

The founding aims of the Association are – To foster the highest degree of operational safety and effectiveness of the business aircraft.

To promote and maintain an understanding of business aviation’s benefits to Australian society and to the economy as a whole at all levels of government – Federal, State and Local To assure a free flow of communication to promote mutual trust in the formulation of government policies, rules and regulations affecting business aircraft and their operations.

To promote the aviation-related interests of Australian companies using aircraft for the conduct of their business.

To provide information to the public and communications media on the benefits to every one of the use of aviation as a business tool in the modern Australian economy.

Sub-Committees Formed

The Committee has appointed Chairmen to six working sub-committees to facilitate the goals of the ABAA. Most of these sub-committees have met at least once and are making some progress. We spoke to three of these Chairmen to gauge initial progress.

Operations, Standards and Safety-chaired by Capt. Wally Epton, who advises that negotiations with at least three major hotel chains and two rental car companies have progressed to the stage where ABAA crew members can expect full airline discounts on accommodation and car rentals. This alone should go a long way toward recouping the membership fees. Capt. Epton has dedicated considerable time to the ABAA and his efforts on our behalf are very much appreciated.

Airspace and ATC chaired by Capt. Phillip Reiss, who has written to members and some of you may have been approached directly by Capt. Pat O’Donahue. They request where safety is compromised by the holding system, and I am sure you all know what we mean by that, that a 225 be submitted with a copy to the ABAA. Copies of DotA replies should also be sent to the ABAA.

Capts. Rob Scrivinor and Phillip Reiss have since had a meeting with Mr. Warwick Bigsworth (Superintendent of Airways Operations) and discussed our situation. Mr Bigsworth was advised that it was not our intention to persecute individual controllers, as we believe they are doing the very best they can with a bad system, rather to highlight the need to implement a better system.

Mr Bigsworth was sympathetic to the views of the ABAA and welcomed its input but restated that he was bound by regulations. The next step is obviously to influence those responsible for formulating and issuing the regulations.

Airports and Environments-chaired by Capt. John South, who has a reasonably difficult task, as perhaps do all the chairmen, but his is further complicated by the introduction of the Federal Airports Corporation, which is now in the formative stage. Understandably few people in the Department wish to make any commitments with possible major changes to the system just around the corner.

Ibac Membership

We have great pleasure in announcing that the ABAA has been welcomed as a member of the International Business Aircraft Council as of 3rd February 1987. Other members of the IBAC include the business aviation associations of the United States. Canada, the United Kingdom. West Germany, South Africa and the European Business Aircraft Association. All these associations, through IBAC. are able to pool their knowledge and experience for the mutual benefit of all business aircraft operations.

Canberra Meeting

The ABAA’s by-laws were accepted, with minor changes, at the Extraordinary General Meeting held on 6th March 1987 in Canberra. After the meeting, Capt. Wally Epton presented an interesting film “Impact Erebus” courtesy of an associate member, Capt. Granich of International Safety Devices Ltd. . Glenn Innes, New Zealand. Mr Edward McGann, President of Racal Megapulse Corporation, gave an informative briefing on LORAN-C as it might operate in Australia. We would like to thank Mr Ron Walker of Jet Direct Pty Ltd for hosting the facilities for our meeting and we would especially like to thank Ron, his wife Marion and all the people from Canadair, General Electric and Sperry for an absolutely magnificent and well-organised seminar on the Canadair Challenger. Everyone in attendance thoroughly enjoyed themselves and Jet Direct and Canadair deserve several sales for their efforts.

Members Please Assist

In establishing this ABAA newsletter it was decided to adopt a “news brief’ format which would allow short but concise discussions on various newsworthy topics hopefully of interest to ABAA members. To ensure continuity and a balance of content, we look forward to participation by members wishing to voice their opinions on any subject matter affecting the operation of business aircraft and especially welcome information from associate members who have news on any of their products. We would like to hear from anyone with information that will promote, protect and assist corporate aviation.

Please contact us at our Essendon address: Building 190, Essendon Airport Vic 3041. Ph: (03) 374 1777. Telex: AA35367. Fax: (03) 374 1511.