Seizing the moment

This does not mean competing with Boeing or Airbus, or trying to rebuild all of our international routes. Rather it is analysing carefully what are Australia’s future domestic and international aviation opportunities, what are our real and achievable export goals, what are the costs and where should private sector and government funds be best spent.

The vital role played by GA, charter, business aviation and Australia’s helicopters must not be ignored any longer. These diverse, often tactical operations are essential to a large country with a relatively small, dispersed population. Regional RPT has toRegionsfight hard to have its voice heard but for these other important sectors their role and message is often lost in the noise surrounding the challenges trumpeted by the major trunk route operators.

Let’s not forget FIFO and air freight. We must never take these operators for granted. Such operations are world leaders in supplying skilled labour and essential supplies to the resources industry, one of the key drivers of our economy. The FIFO and logistics operators are on the job 24/7 and will remain so for many years to come. From humble beginnings they have become key planks of the Australian aviation industry and must be fostered at every possible level.

There is a sense that finally we have a real chance to turn the industry around. We have had good years in the past, so why not again? This does not necessarily require more taxpayer dollars but it does require a forensic analysis and immediate removal of every unnecessary burden, whether it be red tape, over-regulation or unnecessary security costs.

On the Airservices horizon there is the ongoing development of the next generation air traffic management systems. These will hopefully bring further fuel burn, operational efficiencies and safety gains to our commercial operators. This is one area in which the Australian industry has an opportunity to excel given that the alternative of en route

From a government and industry cooperation perspective this is obviously a red letter year.

and approach inefficiencies can seriously damage an operator’s ability to remain profitable and open to further growth.

The industry has never been more united in its call for change, including a new dialogue with the government’s aviation entities. We are not starting from a low technical base and we still have advantages in niche aviation areas. These can be further explored and exploited.

While the Badgerys Creek announcement was welcomed by most sectors in aviation, let’s not stop there. Just to Sydney’s north there exists another large population base that is somewhat under-serviced. There have been discussions but what more can be done at the local, state and federal level in cooperation with the private sector? New aviation infrastructure is not cheap but tends to be a good long-term investment if the initial settings are correct.

Make no mistake, 2014 could be one the most important in Australia’s civil aviation history. If we get it even half right we have the chance to rebuild and grow. Getting it wrong is not an option.