What’s in a name?

It is now fitting that AAAA – known universally as ‘four As’ – has taken the next step and changed its name to the Aerial Application Association of Australia Ltd. In recognition of its proud history and the legacy of the many members which have contributed to the industry over many years, the Association will still be known as ‘four As’.

The aim of this relatively subtle change is to be an even more inclusive association, recognising AAAA’s coverage of not just agriculture but also firebombing and other fire support work.

The association will continue to strongly represent its members involved in agriculture and will still be a driving force behind reform of the Commonwealth and state/territory governments’ chemical control-of-use system. AAAA will also continue its commitment to research to support the ongoing development of aerial application, including identifying new opportunities for members.

Agriculture will always remain the ancestral root of the organisation, but as the industry itself is changing, the association needs to broaden its appeal and its area of operations. While AAAA has been working in the firefighting arena for over a decade, the new name highlights the importance of diversity to the industry – and the need to keep growing with the needs of members.

Recent ‘fire’ work with CASA has already led to an extension of the Part 61 transition exemption EX 114/14 and a significant improvement in the likely classification of firebombing and other fire work into alternate pathways through either Part 137 or Part 138. Both of these are significant wins for the industry, CASA and commonsense and highlight the importance of a united industry response to government initiatives.

As a further signal of the ongoing maturing of the fire sector, AAAA recently ran the inaugural Aerial Firefighting Operator’s Conference in Albury, with over 50 operators in attendance.

The aim – and achievement – of the event was to kick-start the

In such a hazard-rich low-level environment this is no small achievement.

development of a strategic approach to firefighting representation based firmly on the needs of members – and especially those investing in the sector.

AAAA will be taking the outcomes of that meeting and developing a strategic approach to engage with the state/territory fire agencies and the National Aerial Firefighting Centre.

Of course, AAAA’s work with CASA and ATSB will be the ongoing trademark of AAAA’s approach of cooperation wherever possible.

A recent publication by the ATSB at AAAA’s instigation is a useful annual summary and review of all aerial application accidents and incidents during 2014-15. In what will hopefully become an annual publication series, the improving accident trend in aerial application is clearly apparent, as is an accident rate comparable to recreationalaviation and private/business/sport aviation. In such a hazard-rich low-level environment this is no small achievement.

However, the safety trend leaves no room for complacency and plenty of room for improvement. In six of the seven accident categories used in the analysis, the pilot had median flight hour experience in excess of 4,000 hours, a figure that points at the importance of ongoing professional development and a constant sense of unease and attention that should accompany every flight.

Wirestrikes still account for nearly 60 per cent of reported accidents in the sector, making AAAA’s well-regarded wire risk management safety course a mandatory item for any pilots operating at low-level – especially because of the significance of human factors in wirestrikes. AAAA is also working with CASAthrough the Sector Risk Profile to try to improve the marking of wires and the availability of wire network mapping from power companies.

A copy of the review – coded AS‑2015-031 – is available from the ATSB website or from AAAA.

If you are operating in the firefighting sector and would like to understand more about what AAAA can do to support your company, please contact the association.

Across Australia, teams of professionals are preparing themselves for the coming summer agricultural and fire seasons. It should be a considerable comfort to know that the ‘new’ AAAA has their back.