National infrastructure

It was pleasing that Ministers Albanese and Ferguson attended and spoke, as well as National Party Leader Warren Truss and a range of government and opposition members.

Coalition member and commercial pilot Sussan Ley spoke succinctly on how aviation is an essential tool in the bush.

She and government member Ed Husic also announced the formation of the bipartisan Friends of Aviation parliamentary group.

Against this exciting atmosphere a number of aviation leaders from around the country discussed the imposts and opportunities facing regional aviation.

Chairman of the RAAA and Airnorth Michael Bridge challenged Minster Albanese’s assertion that the July 1 carbon tax, new security costs and the closure of the en route scheme will have only a minimal affect on ticket prices.

Mr Bridge again reinforced the long-held industry view that major tourist trunk routes should be disaggregated from regional aviation statistics. If they were, the picture would change significantly. Over 50 per cent of regional RPT routes have been lost in the past 25 years and the hours flown have remained largely steady. This does not align well with the rosy picture often painted in government reports.

Outside of government issues, the summit noted that fuel prices again were heading worryingly north and perennials such as pilot and engineer shortages were canvassed extensively. An interesting issue raised by a major aviation training company was that Generation Y workers are likely to change professions, on average, every seven to eight years.

This could increase massively the pressure on a training sector barely keeping up with demand, although this is now being tempered by a high Australian dollar. However, it’s still possible the industry may have to train at four to five times the current rate.

While acknowledging the expanding fly-in/fly-out sector, there was plenty of discussion on how regional RPT, freight and charter could be resurrected.

It was obvious delegates did not accept Australian aviation’s somewhat diminished status and that infrastructure must not be allowed to decline any further.

It was noted also that the federal budget should not be used to impose new costs on regional aviation. Rumours that the length of time for aircraft depreciation should be extended will not help an industry trying hard to upgrade to new equipment.

Such a move would make it more difficult to buy new aircraft at a time when other countries are strongly supporting their aviation industries. It was not lost on delegates that Brazil recently has overtaken the UK as the world’s sixth- largest economy. The former has made extensive long-term government and private sector investments in its aviation products and is now reaping the benefits.

Delegates were vocal about regional aviation’s ongoing access to the Sydney basin and particularly Kingsford-Smith Airport. It was pleasing that Minister Albanese did not support further restricting regional operators’ access to Australia’s major gateway.

The summit was never short of energy and vision.

Parliamentarians attending were left in no doubt that the industry expects to be heard – indeed demands it. There was a sense that regional aviation is renewing its commitment to regional communities and is looking for government leadership, not roadblocks.

Delegates also argued that regional aviation provided the major cities with efficient, safe access to regional Australia, its markets and its emerging resources. In short, regional aviation is essential national infrastructure that will continue to underpin Australia’s economy throughout this century.

This is the message the RAAA will be taking to all political parties as we approach the federal election in 2013. n 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.

Over 50 per cent of regional RPT routes have been lost in the past 25 years and the hours flown have remained largely steady.