At the cross roads

To take each point on its merit and offer some potential ways forward – assuming that there is in fact an industry and government appetite to keep producing Australian application pilots – it is critical to start with the disgraceful lack of access for most pilots pursuing a CPL or an application rating to either HECS or VET Fee Help debt programs.

Almost every other profession – either university or vocational training based – has achieved government support for training by facilitating candidates’ ability to create a debt to cover that study or training and then repay it over time, or a direct partial subsidy of training costs.

Aviation has failed to achieve equality and is now confronted with the obvious outcome of such policy neglect.

Aviation is now confronted with the obvious outcome of such policy neglect.

The nonsensical situation that CASA-approved flying training schools are unable to offer this access highlights the delink between CASA, the Department of Infrastructure and the Department of Education for decades. For LAME training, the situation is even worse, with CASA regulations leading to the shut-down of key training providers and a crisis of training capability that will take at least three years to untangle.

The answer is straight forward but will require an engaged Minister and Department to champion aviation access to a system that most other industries take for granted.

The disastrous new CASA Parts 61, 141 and 142 have massively ramped up paperwork, cost and complexity for zero positive outcome. These Parts must be subject to a full independent review to better align Australia with standard international practice. The review must take account of achieving funding support, simplifying training pathways, removing unnecessary cost, improving CASA systems and delivering pilots that are competent and ready for supervised operations.

The economic imperatives of aerial application, where efficiency in delivery and service is at least partly driven by competition with ground-rig applicators as well as other aviation companies, has led the industry to use larger turbine-powered aircraft.

While a number of operators are working closely with insurance providers to provide a suitably risk-managed approach to putting relatively inexperienced pilots into turbines, this is a significant departure from previous practice.

It is important to recognise the industry is in transition in the way it provides operational training and experience and there are already success stories demonstrating the use of turbines in this way can be managed safely.

That brings us to the industry’s own problem – an unwillingness on the part of many operators to engage inexperienced pilots. This may be due to previous poor experiences with investing in ‘new’ pilots to only have them leave for greener pastures as soon as temptation (or advancement) is put in their way, or the increased costs and loss of productivity that comes from having to invest in people and take a longer term view.

For some it may be as simple as wanting a free ride on the coat-tails of those who are genuinely committed to the future of the industry.

Add to this mix the massive fluctuations in the agricultural seasons that drive the sector’s ability to offer seats, provide opportunities or, contrastingly, being forced to lay people off due to drought and a lack of work – and the challenge presents as a Gordian knot.

However, the fundamental short-sightedness of not bringing younger people through comes home to rest in the simple question for business owners – who is going to buy your business when it is time to retire?

AAAA is convinced that the sector provides a fulfilling career for any pilot with the right attitude. It is the people in our industry that make it a special and fun place to work.

Our challenge now is to work with government to get equality of access for aviation training and remove impediments to more cost-effective training, and for the industry to better support young people wanting to make their contribution to aviation, agriculture and firefighting.