And now for the hard work

The real proof of any commitment to improving the aviation industry will of course be in the Minister’s actions over the coming months. In many ways it is refreshing to enjoy the clear post-election efforts of most Ministers not to play the 24-hour news cycle game just yet.

The industry is certainly looking closely for action rather than words to signal new and fresh management taking charge of aviation regulation in Australia.

The commitments from the now-government to aviation were clear and reasonably forthright – even if lacking in detail. The Coalition aviation policy was widely welcomed by industry as marking a new way forward that would hopefully remove many of the impediments to progress that had characterised the government-industry relationship in recent years.

However, the promised external review of aviation safety and regulation is yet to be populated. It will also take considerable time and resources – not to mention a less hostile senate – to repeal the package of carbon tax legislation that underpins a six cents per litre fuel impost on the aviation industry for no environmental gain.

The establishment of a formal Aviation Industry Consultative Council to meet regularly with the Minister is another excellent idea, but again one that has no meat on the bones yet. Patience is a virtue, but after years of mediocre or downright destructive policies, it would be nice to actually see a new trajectory established early in the life of the new government.

One of the first acts of the new Minister will likely be a new statement of strategic direction to CASA under Section 12A of the Civil Aviation Act 1988.

AAAA strongly believes any such direction should include a significant reshaping of the way CASA approaches the regulation of general aviation and especially aerial work functions. Overly complex regulations and interpretations have driven costs up in these sectors for no identifiable improvement in safety – DAMPS, maintenance licensing and approvals, flight and duty times, pilot licensing – are all more complex than necessary and no recent or proposed changes have fixed any identifiable safety issues.

There has been a wholesale loss of vision in the regulatory reform process whereby changes are not being made to achieve any clear goals

. . . after years of mediocre or downright destructive policies, it would be nice to actually see a new trajectory established. . .

and there is no quality assurance based on such useful concepts as safety, clarity, simplicity, consistency or reduced cost.

The Coalition commitment to revitalise the former General Aviation Action Agenda is also a very welcome initiative.

Unfortunately, in its current form (available on the Department of Infrastructure website), the previous GA Action Agenda is in need of serious rivitalisation – if it is worthwhile resuscitating at all.

Perhaps better to pull together the key associations working in this area already and identify a handful of key priorities that are supported by more than just ‘industry and government working together’ statements. Real resources and positive changes are required to give GA the opportunity to grow – and not just in purely aviation policy areas.

AAAA views the role and composition of the CASA board as instrumental in directing a new culture at the regulator. Aviation industry experience should be a key feature of any new appointments precipitated by the new Minister’s policy to expand the CASA board to six.

While this will require amendment of the Act, a lengthy process at the best of times, this may present a real opportunity to make meaningful additions to the legislation, including the role of fostering and promoting aviation. While there has not been a change to the CASA board as happened with NBN Co (seemingly within hours of a new government), industry will be closely watching developments as a bellweather of the new government’s ‘open for business’ performance.

Before the election, the combined aviation associations, through the Australian Aviation Association Forum, published a significant policy document that provided a blueprint for any incoming government on how to significantly lift the quality and effectiveness of government involvement in aviation.

It was very gratifying to see that the Coalition aviation policy adopted many of those initiatives and that the Coalition was always willing to listen to industry. This is an excellent example of what can be achieved by associations working together to find the common ground that benefits all aviators and the community.

Hopefully, that same approach will permeate all levels of the bureaucracy as well as our elected representatives.