Fresh perspectives

This creativity also applies as to how each country develops solutions to enable particular types of aviation to flourish.

In Innsbruck, Austria, I observed sailplane operations, using a winch launch no less, next to a runway receiving international jet traffic. There was no panic, just careful procedures and appropriate cockpit equipment to ensure a safe result for two very different forms of aviation. In Germany, at one regional airfield, charter, GA, light sport, gliding, paragliding and aeromodellers all simultaneously engaged in their chosen aviation activity within a few hundred metres of each other.

Careful observance revealed the strict procedures required for such a mix, but the paradox was that close adherence to the procedures ensured the freedom for such diverse aviation pursuits.

Many readers will be familiar with Wittman Field at Oshkosh and its ability to handle 10,000 aircraft during a week. Three aircraft, anything from an executive jet to a light sport aircraft can land on one runway simultaneously if the carefully planned procedures are understood and adhered to. This is achieved with no acknowledgement by the pilot of ATC instructions to ensure chatter is kept to a minimum in a very congested environment.

The message is that almost anything is possible in aviation if people have the development of aviation as the primary goal.

If there are competing goals, such as inappropriate retail development, new housing estates on airport boundaries or airports being closed for drag racing, the ability for aviation to reach its potential is severely affected. The aviation industry is intensely aware that it does not live in isolation from the rest of the community. By the same token it does not ask that shopping malls, building sites and motorsport tracks allow aviation activities as a matter of right.

All involved in aviation in Australia, commercial and private, will need to defend and secure the aviation assets and freedoms we currently enjoy. In this country, aviation’s status has diminished for all the wrong reasons and we cannot afford any further backward steps. It will mean becoming politically noisy which is not always a relaxing way to be. But there is no choice if we wish our industry to reach its potential.

Our government aviation agencies must learn to foster aviation as well as carrying out their legislated responsibilities.

All of us are aware, many through bitter experience, that aviation can be brutal when corners are cut and the agencies have particular roles in this regard. By the same token, aviation and regional aviation in particular, is a primary driver of this country’s wealth and social development. It not only deserves fostering but is essential for the nation’s growth.

Convention time

Time is running short but don’t miss the 30th year celebrations of the RAAA. This will be a special event and not one to be missed by anybody interested in regional aviation.

See you at Coolum.

Australian Aviation is proud to be the official supporting journal of the Regional Aviation Association of Australia. The views in this column are those of the RAAA, and not necessarily Australian Aviation’s.