Positive by nature

While many sectors of aviation struggle from a business perspective, aerial agriculture really needs just one key ingredient – water. And with the continuing growth of aerial firebombing as a legitimate – some are now finally admitting essential – tool in the firefighter’s arsenal, the industry has a bounce in its step that hasn’t been seen for some time.

The agricultural recovery after the devastating droughts of the last decade continues to spell a better business climate for aerial applicators, as do recent changes to the level of the dollar which is only likely to make Australian agricultural commodities even more competitive in international markets.

The immediate challengeof a pilot skills shortage continues to worry the industry, but it has eased somewhat since the massive season that saw the breaking of the drought.

The key question needs to be how can we make it more affordable for young people to get into aviation as a career? $80-100,000 for a CPL from a CASA-approved flight training school with no recourse to HECS is simply a disgraceful policy that must be reversed. Yes, aviation is different in that it requires both academic achievement and very practical physical skills, but that is not a reason for the current approach that simply says to our young people – fund it yourself – up front.

For those of you thinking of leaving the industry in the next decade, who do you think is going to buy your business, pay goodwill if it is performing well and fund your retirement? If we don’t keep young people flowing into the industry, then we are only hurting ourselves.

Managing the new generations coming through is certainly not going to be a case of ‘business as usual’. A number of speakers at the AAAA convention, including Michael Ossipoff from Telstra and others in the popular ‘Innovations’ session, highlighted the important role technology is already playing and will play even more in the future. Who better to help our industry keep up to date than the very generations who have gained so much tech savvy over the last decade? The pictures that were being painted at the convention from products like Air Maestro and Agworld’s coming app for contractors make it clear – adapt or be left behind. We don’t have to imagine a world where an agronomist can check bugs in a paddock and order a spray job direct from an aerial applicator with an app – it is already here. Our challenge is to try and imagine our own futures with technology that makes us smarter, quicker and better for our clients, the environment and aviation safety.

Various convention sessions noted that the only real downside continues to be the poor performance of our regulators with their inefficiency and their inability to imagine ‘win-win’ scenarios. The concept that ‘if you win, I lose’ is now embedded in the CASA culture. Known as a zero sum game, this represents regulatory and business thinking of decades ago. It has never been the game for astute managers, regardless of whether they are in private enterprise or government.

The smouldering anger in the aviation community over the poor performance of its regulators – as highlighted in the recent Senate Pel Air investigation inquiry – means that regardless of the colour of government after the September 14 election, the aviation community is unlikely to meekly accept mediocre or downright damaging regulation.

Despite the assurances and bravado that aviation has never had it so good, people at the coalface know differently.

Thankfully, other players in the industry don’t see life as a zero sum game and AAAA was delighted to welcome a number of very positive announcements from QBE Aviation during the convention, including support of the Aerial Improvement Management System and the awarding of the inaugural QBE Aerial Application Scholarship to Dominic Maher of Griffith to investigate the use of simulators in aerial application training and checking. QBE Aviation is to be congratulated and supported for its commitment to making a real difference to aviation safety through these initiatives.

If you suffer from Kern’s three dragons of ignorance, apathy and isolation – ‘don’t know, don’t care – just leave me alone’ – there is no better cure than getting out of your workplace and giving yourself the time to think.

Whatever sector you are in, the power of a meeting such as the AAAA convention to revitalise, motivate, educate and connect you to the future direction of aviation is invaluable.

The industry has a spring in its step that hasn’t been seen for some time.