Is aviation infrastructure?

It seems our political parties are simply not aware of the contribution aviation makes to the economy, or the critical role it plays in business, health, tourism, agriculture, or emergency services. There is certainly no sign of improvements in supporting, fostering or even efficiently regulating the industry.

Most disappointing is the lack of a plan to move aviation forward so as to increase the growth of the industry and jobs on offer.

This is not about subsidies or pleading a special case. This is about identifying that the aviation policy vacuum for the future is damaging the national interest.

The Rudd government’s aviation white paper was extremely short on vision and concrete plans, and was more of a description of what the industry did and an outline of existing directions and existing policies. It remains an historic missed opportunity. The Coalition’s aviation policy was released without any comprehensive consultation with industry on what was needed for the future.

It is difficult to understand why aviation seems to be treated as the poor policy cousin of ports, rail and roads.

Perhaps Ministers are being advised that there are few votes in aviation, or that aviation policy is full of risk and short on return. Perhaps the view that just keeping the Minister off the front page and out of controversy is justification enough for doing nothing. Perhaps there is simply no appetite for genuine engagement with industry and the hard work necessary to polish and deliver comprehensive improvements over a long period of time.

Whatever the reason, the outcome is a bad one for Australia. Instead of being the ‘air-minded nation’, perhaps we are the ‘air-headed nation’ that thinks aviation will continue to be there without any significant policy attention.

Some likely results include calls for closure of airports where buffer zones have been eroded by weak government and greedy developers, difficulty with maintaining access to cities and health care for rural and regional populations, safety being compromised by inefficient regulators, and increasing and often unnecessary cost pressures on aviation businesses.

Simply judging current aviation policy in the light of more coherent and comprehensive policy approaches to other government priority areas shows a marked difference in approach, style, content and outcomes.

Perhaps a look at aviation policy settings by an organisation such as the Productivity Commission could unearth some useful initiatives that could be built up into an improved national aviation policy. A genuine policy engagement with industry would similarly be novel and full of potential.

But most likely the real issue is a lack of political will and appetite for aviation reform – a function of the current tactical approach of political parties to make themselves small targets by offering little that is bold, imaginative or controversial.

The potential long-term rewards of improving aviation policy in Australia are significant. Our geographic position in the world and the relative scarcity of our population should point to aviation playing a key and increasing role in keeping Australians connected – to the rest of the world, to our markets, and to each other.

Whoever forms Australia’s new government must take aviation policy seriously – not because aviation is ‘special’ – but because it is a vital part of Australia’s infrastructure.

Integrated Management System Underway

The first 13 aerial application companies have embarked on the implementation of their Aerial Application Management System (AAMS) at a two day training session held in Goondiwindi, Qld, in July.

Twenty five companies have already signed on to the latest AAAA program, with new registrations coming in regularly. Training days to get new sign-ons started will be held over the coming months in every State.

Initial feedback from participants is that this program is a great innovation based on sound business principles, offers some great easy-to-use management tools and is flexible enough to cope with everything from a one person micro business to a multi-aircraft, multi base operation.

The program, based on an integrated management system approach, combines regulatory compliance, risk management, business development and safety culture elements. After independent audit, companies will have systems to manage flying safety, product stewardship, logistics, OH&S, human resources and management issues.

AAAA has already initiated discussions with a range of government regulators and contracting agencies, insurance companies and industry stakeholders for recognition of the accreditation. AAAA has also appointed a project manager to support companies in their pursuit of the accreditation.