Harnessing the future

Regional aviation carries a disproportionate load with respect to industry training and this will probably remain so for the foreseeable future.

Everyone has to start somewhere and that is often in a regional setting. The upside is that people early in their careers are keen and focussed. Many remain that way their entire careers. The downside is that regional carriers lose a significant percentage of their technical staff eventually to the majors. The high cost of such a turn-over rate can be alarming for the regional operators but, to their credit, it does not dilute their commitment to providing career entry opportunities.

Even with the burden of government over-regulation, monopoly service providers and problematic business tax systems, the aviation industry remains a great industry for people to join. We must never lose sight of this aspect. It is gold for our industry and should be respected. When you speak to a young pilot or engineer on a remote airfield, they are certainly not there just for the money. They will often discuss their long-term aviation goals even though their current environment may be relatively challenging. In short they see a professional future that engages them.

Our industry has resilience almost to a fault. Prospective pilots will spend extraordinary amounts of money and time on achieving their goals.

Engineers will keep working on aircraft in the most trying conditions and operational staff will take the calls at any time of day or night to solve the issues. It is these attitudes, passed down through the aviation generations, that underpin our industry and they remain relevant today.

The technology being rolled out or researched is exciting and should be exposed often to all those considering an aviation career. Third generation GPS, RNP, ADS-B, diesel and electric power plants, bio-fuels, composite applications, assisted take-off, hyper-speed and sub-orbital flight are just a few topics of many that could be used to interest the next generation of aviation professionals. There are also the new business aspects of aviation that may interest those with a financial or management leaning. The FIFO revolution has given impetus to these new fields and will continue to do so for some time to come. These are not just challenges but opportunities.

As someone said in a recent speech, aviation is now part of Australia’s DNA. The industry’s profile may be more muted than in the past but its strategic, economic and social importance remains significant. The onus is on our industry, and that means all of us, to market aviation and aerospace to young people at every opportunity. They will have ideas not yet dreamed of and their talents could easily be lost to competing industries.

‘The industry’s profile may be more muted than in the past but its strategic, economic and social importance remains significant.’

It is not just the big expos or conventions that can have the desired impact on young people but simply a quiet word of advice, showing a person around a hangar or an aircraft, even a useful introduction, can set them on a path to our industry. Money alone won’t solve these issues, but behaviour that is welcoming and encouraging to all who show the slightest interest in aviation will always be a winner in the long run.