Here to help

Adversity always demonstrates the necessity of a network of operational airfields and having modern rotary and fixed-wing aircraft available for tasking.

In a country that will forever experience drought, fire and flooding rains, regional aviation’s ability to respond tactically and effectively comes into sharp relief. All the flight crews are highly trained and engineers and operational staff keep working until the job is done.

These aviation skills and assets must be maintained and developed. They are insurance against Australia’s sometimes unforgiving climate. They mitigate losses and can respond faster than anything on the ground.

If you are sometimes annoyed by the sound of a helicopter or a regional turbo-prop passing over, remember that same aircraft also can be used to save lives — perhaps your life — or deliver essential supplies.

Whether our political leaders understand it or not, the 21st century will be a time of spectacular aviation advances. Aviation essentially is applied science and engineering and it is showing no signs of slowing down.

Natural disasters tend to display how effective and flexible aviation and particularly regional aviation can be, so it’s a shame that it takes natural threats to demonstrate that aviation is a growing force for good.

This positive theme will be demonstrated very publicly by the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame at its inaugural Induction Dinner in Wagga Wagga on September 15. Never before have our aviation pioneers and industry leaders been honoured in this way, even though comparable aviation countries have been holding similar events for over 40 years.

Our aviation history is rich and the inductions not only honour the very deserving pioneers but can inspire the young to look more closely at our industry. Such an annual event is long overdue and is a great addition to the aviation calendar. I invite all readers to check the Hall of Fame’s website for the details.

I look forward to reporting on the outcomes of the 19 March regional aviation summit at Parliament House, Canberra. There has been strong interest from parliamentarians with the sessions and the dinner fully booked.

It is very timely that the industry is meeting en masse with our legislators to discuss regional aviation’s many challenges and opportunities. Unfortunately, there is little doubt that 1 July 2012 is a particularly inauspicious day for aviation with the carbon tax on aviation fuel, the new airport security charges and the closure of the en route scheme all becoming a reality on the same day.

Even with these government imposed roadblocks, there are still great opportunities for our sector in supporting the resources industry and, as has been mentioned many times, in becoming the leading aviation training country for the aviation professions.

Regional aviation is very aware of its long-term role in regional development and that its success is always linked to understanding the needs of regional Australia.

Whether it be responding to natural disasters, bringing people to their remote workplaces and returning them safely to their families or linking the city to the bush, regional aviation is essential transport infrastructure that only now is beginning to demonstrate its considerable potential.