Part of the safety net

Weather extremes are something for which all involved in aviation have a healthy respect.

Nature can unleash forces that can, at best, be endured but are sometimes tragically lethal. Often the most we can do is to prepare well and do what we can in response. Our regional aviation assets are part of this support response, in partnership with the ground based police, fire, rescue, health and volunteer services.

The regional airports, the operators, the aircraft, the people who train and supply them are all part of a system that is essential for the maintenance and growth of our regional communities. They are elements of a flexible safety net that can be activated in circumstances such as the recent floods. The large body of regional aviation assets developed over the last 100 years is something for which Australia can feel justifiably proud. However, we must ensure that this vital aviation infrastructure is not taken for granted.

Airports that close normally close forever. The asset is lost and the community has one less piece of transport and emergency infrastructure. In addition to the airport and aircraft, we need to continue to attract high quality young people to a career in aviation. Across all the aviation disciplines the first jobs are often found in regional Australia and they have provided many a city dweller with their first taste of the bush and country living. Not only does this often generate a deep affection for the bush, but provides an individual with an understanding of the challenges and hardships faced by those who farm the land and those who live in the country towns.

Throughout January flightcrews, experienced and new, have seen first hand how important their role is in a crisis. The helicopter crews in particular have been the last chance for some people cut off by rising floodwaters. It is again a reminder that while we can never control nature we must be ready to respond to emergencies with the best aviation assets that we can muster. The fixed wing crews flew through foul weather, sometimes experiencing lightning strikes, to deliver the vital goods and services. Engineering and ops staff worked around the clock in support of the flightcrews. If you speak to them they never see themselves as heroes, but as professionals applying their hard won skills to the best of their abilities.

There will be many lessons learnt from the Queensland floods. Gundagai NSW suffered a catastrophic flood many years ago with numerous lives lost. It is now a town in two parts providing a wide path for any floodwaters. It looks unusual but the town is safe and lives happily with its river.

It was a bitter lesson, but long term good came from it.

There will be much debate on how to increase the safety of towns and cities affected by floods. The answers are beyond the scope of this column, but there is no doubt that regional aviation will be there to assist the experts with their plans.

When people are injured, roads are cut, the power is down and food is running low, professional regional aviation must respond quickly. In future crises, regional aviation will play its tactical role and no stone will be left unturned across the industry to ensure that we are again ready.