Corporate Contrails

A recent example was a Westwind (440kts), operated by the Woodger Group, which departed Canberra for Sydney behind an F27 (220kts) of Air New South Wales which was also bound for Sydney. The Westwind overtook the F27 some 10 miles from Canberra on climb. The F27 was given a shortened track to Sydney and by the time the Westwind was approaching Bindook the F27 was well behind. The captain of the Westwind was instructed to enter the holding pattern at Bindook so that the F27 could overtake him. Subsequently the Westwind had to adjust its approach profile so that it could remain behind the much slower aircraft in front. Apart from the fact that it held up arrival for a business meeting, the Westwind would have been shut down with passengers departed for the city by the time the Fokker docked, had reasonable airspace management been effected.

Overseas delegates to the ABAA conference in December 1987 were horrified to hear of the existence of such a discriminatory priority system.

Facilitation for International Business Jets

We are pleased to say that prior to publication of the January 1988

Corporate Contrails that we received an encouraging reply from the DATC concerning the ABAA request for streamlined procedures. Hopefully this will result in a better understanding of business aviation needs within DATC.

Essendon Airport – The Future

During December 1988 the Minister of Transport and Communications, Senator Evans, announced the result of the role study into the future of Essendon Airport. The ABAA has campaigned for the retention of Essendon as an integral part of the Melbourne Airport ‘scene’ and now look forward to a more secure future for its members.

Essendon has the potential to be the foremost business aviation airport in Australia and with so much potential for development the ABAA would foresee the incorporation of modern facilities for the corporate sector. It has quick access to the city and moreover is capable of improvement into a totally environmentally acceptable airport. We will be keeping a close watch on the implementation of recommendations contained within the Ministers report and indeed hope that we will be consulted on future development plans. Many of the very old buildings at Essendon which are in a state of decay create a bad impression of Melbourne generally and surely the time has come to present a modem and efficient image to both users and public alike.

The most pertinent remark made about the future of Essendon has been repeated by many industry leaders “What a pity that Sydney does not have an Essendon Airport”.

1987 Abaa Conference

The 1987 ABAA Conference was held in Melbourne on the 2nd/ 3rd December 1987. It was attended by over 100 delegates from Europe, North America, and the South Pacific.

It is difficult to encapsulate in a few words the excellent papers delivered by such distinguished speakers as the Minister for Transport and Communications, Senator Evans QC; John Winant, President Emeritus of NBAA and Corporate Secretary of IBAC; Wes Willoughby, Regional Director Vic/Tas DATC; Bill Swingler, Chief Executive Officer, Federal Airports Corporation and Captain Phillip Reiss of Westfield, to name but a few.

The theme of the conference was Australian Business Aviation – The Future and over 20 speakers gave all delegates an insight into the future of both business aviation on a national and global scale and the future direction of aviation administration in Australia.

The tone of the Conference was set by the Chief Executive Officer of the ABAA when he said:

“It is imperative that the authorities consult with the ABAA over a range of significant matters. The ABAA welcomes the establishment of the FAC and CAA only if they are responsive to the needs of the business aviation community.

Copies of the major papers delivered at the conference are available and it is intended to publish a document containing the papers for distribution to interested parties.

John Winant, in his keynote address, advised: “The ABAA has been formed at a unique time in the evolution of Australian aviation. Deregulation is a major undertaking and I submit to you that there is no way in which all its effects can be accurately predicted or made subject to control. One of the consequences which was not envisioned in the United States, and therefore can be predicted to occur elsewhere, is that so much attention will be given to ironing out the problems of commercial carriers, both old and new entrant, that the needs of vital aviation segments such as business aviation will become forgotten. Priorities can be badly skewed in such an environment.

I caution you, and do it most seriously, to do all you can to avoid that situation. It can hurt you, and hurt you badly if you are not constantly aware of the threat and working to avoid it.

While these issues are extremely serious and require a vast amount of persuasive, statesmanlike, credible action on the part of business aviation interests, they will be brought to reasonable conclusions. A magnificent opportunity exists right now in the wide ranging changes which your Government has under way in domestic aviation policy and in the institutions through which policy will be carried out.

Creation of a Civil Aviation Authority and a Federal Airports Corporation are daunting tasks, but the process of getting them under way opens up the opportunity for consultation and participation on a scale which comes only once or twice each century. ”

He also advised that combined employment of all member companies within IBAC is more than 23 million, and gross turnover is the equivalent of 2600 million US$.

In summary the 1987 ABAA Conference was considered by all who attended a positive contribution to the future development of business aviation in Australia and presented the business aviation community in a most professional manner. Support for the conference was given by airframe, engine and equipment suppliers who also had high level teams present to interface with their customers.

The 1988 Conference of the Australian Business Aircraft Association will be held in Surfers Paradise on December 1st and 2nd, 1988. It is intended that the conference will be held in conjunction with a trade show and manufacturers and sales organisations wishing to demonstrate their aircraft will be able to do so at the nearby Coolangatta Airport. Full details will be made available in due course though the best way to ensure space and reduced delegate fees for the conference is to join ABAA prior to the event.

Abaa Annual General Meeting

The 1987 Annual General Meeting was held in December 1987 under the Chairmanship of Sir Russell Madigan, and the following decisions were reached: • A reduction in annual subscriptions would be made for the 1987/1988 year;• amendments were made to the constitution to allow Committee discretion to admit members where it is considered in the interest of the ABAA;• that the ABAA would, during 1988, embark upon a public aware_ness campaign; and • that funds would be allocated to ensure attendance at meetings of IBAC.

1988 Priorities

The priority for 1988 is that the ABAA use all of its resources to overcome the unfair response that we have received from the DATC with regards to landing priorities. Our industry leaders are becoming increasingly agitated that the Department of Transport and Communications seem to be unwilling to address this matter.