Advancing the cause

We were delighted to welcome $50.1 million to assist 64 regional airports with security upgrades.

The AAA has been in regular dialogue with the government on proposed security requirements and has highlighted from the outset the importance of support for the regions.

With 60 per cent of regional airports struggling to make ends meet, any additional costs can have a material impact on their operations.

The funding package announced as part of the budget will allow regional airports to implement security upgrades efficiently and consistently, without placing an unrealistic burden on ratepayers.

This is a great outcome for our members, while also ensuring the travelling public can be assured of the consistent and timely implementation of any required security changes in the future.

The AAA has also long been campaigning to Protect Regional Airports, calling for more funds in the 2018-19 budget to support their continued safe operation.

We were pleased to report our success in securing the extension of the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program (RAUP), with an additional $28.3 million allocated over the next four years.

Previous RAUP funding rounds were oversubscribed with deserving projects, and this new budget commitment gives local governments access to the funds they need to ensure their airstrips are safely and appropriately maintained.

However, there are many regional airports that are not eligible for RAUP funding that remain in genuine need of funding support. The AAA will continue its work in support of these members in the future.

While the AAA welcomes both of these funding packages, it remains an incredibly small proportion of the federal government’s total infrastructure investment.

With the government expected to spend $75 billion on infrastructure projects over a 10-year period, the critical role of air services to connect our big and diverse country must not be forgotten.

Regional airports remain a fundamental part of our national infrastructure network, and we must ensure our policy settings provide them with a sustainable future.

The AAA will continue to advance this cause for our members, as the Protect Regional Airports campaign continues in the months ahead.

‘It remains an incredibly small proportion of the govt’s total infrastructure investment.’

Convention time

A fresh approach for Australia’s premier aviation conference

The much anticipated details of the 2018 RAAA National Convention are now available.

The convention returns to the Royal Pines RACV at the Gold Coast during October 24-26 this year and we are pleased to announce a completely refreshed approach and program.

The changes are primarily as a result of feedback received from attendees last year. The theme for this year is ‘Raising the Profile’ and the program covers a range of topics to suit every facet of the industry, including four specialised workshops. These include topics include challenges and learning opportunities for charter operators who are required to transition to the new CASA regulations, two separate workshops on a new approach to safety management hosted by globally renowned safety specialist Sidney Dekker. With respect to these safety workshops, one is aimed at accountable safety managers within airlines and will cover human factors and just culture. The other safety workshop will be focussed on operational level staff.

The fourth workshop will focus on engaging and inspiring the next generation of young leaders to consider a career in the aviation and aerospace industry.

The RAAA is also pleased to announce that our annual scholarship opportunities are now open to the broader aviation community and will comprise of financial support in areas of pilot and engineer training and professional development.

The program will commence on the Wednesday afternoon with the traditional golf game, followed by the welcome function commencing again with another breathtaking aerobatic display by Australia’s Red Bull Air Racer Matt Hall. These two popular events then transition to two full days of industry, government and entertainment speakers to keep delegates informed, engaged and entertained.

Some key speaker organisations include the Association of South Pacific Airlines, University of Southern Queensland, Boeing and Qantas Flight Training.

The RAAA and its new event management company Encanta are working hard to deliver a memorable convention for all. Families are especially encouraged to attend. There are limited spots available for sponsorship and booth space for the tradeshow pavilion.

To secure your position and to purchase a delegate ticket please visit our new dedicated convention website: www.raaa2018.com.au

The RAAA is looking forward to welcoming all delegates and their families to the three-day event, which is sure to live up to its long-standing reputation as the premier Australian aviation conference of the year.

A priority right now

Training still at the heart of aviation

It doesn’t matter which part of aviation you are interested in, training remains a core activity deserving clear policy, cost-effective regulation and inspiring trainers producing a competent graduate.

Training should be about outcomes – safe pilots and engineers and enough of them so that our industry can sustain itself and grow.

A great training system doesn’t happen through neglect or luck. It depends on cooperation, a level playing field, knowledgeable participants, ‘customers’ who use the end product having a voice and a responsive regulator focussed on continuous improvement.

The lack of a consistent government debt-support scheme for aviation pilots – such as a CPL from a CASA-approved school that is not an RTO, or post-CPL ratings such as aerial application – is not available. This is a key national stumbling block.

The previous lack of cooperation between the Commonwealth Department of Education and CASA to boost aviation training rather than cripple it still works against the national interest. The result is skills shortages and industry having to look to short-term visa programs to try and remedy the shortage, while lobbying government for longer-term fixes.

The CASR Part 61 suite of regulations remains an impediment to a good training system, let alone a great one. Low throughput, specialised training such as aerial application or firebombing is particularly affected by being burdened with a complex approach that is neither practical nor cost-effective. The removal of the ATO/examiner indemnity will only compound shortages.

A taskforce to deal with these often straight forward issues cannot wait for the rest of regulatory reform to be completed. It is a priority right now.

There is work underway on all of these fronts and AAAA is hopeful of more improvements coming through a responsive CASA and a more interested Department.

For those who already have their licence to learn, ongoing professional development is as important to safety and longevity as it is to salary.

CASA recently approved AAAA’s chief pilot’s course, pending some further detailed work which is now underway. This is a great win-win story – for candidates, the industry, safety and CASA. CASA is to be congratulated on focusing on outcomes and the best way to achieve them.

Building on wins like this, a practical cooperative vision to deliver a world-class aviation training system would be a great initiative for a new Minister.

‘Part 61 remains an impediment to a good training system.’

Striking a balance

Aviation boards must have members with aviation experience

It is sometimes tempting for the aviation industry to ignore what is happening in the rest of the country and the economy. This is particularly true when writing for the aviation trade press. Our industry is complex and technically demanding. It is a full-time job just to keep abreast of the latest aviation challenges and opportunities. However, sometimes we need to look at the bigger picture.

The current Royal Commission into banks and financial services has revealed shocking levels of incompetence and unethical behaviour from some of this country’s most senior corporate boards.

There could be some lessons for the aviation industry. Generalists seem to be in the majority on many non aviation boards with technically competent people pushed to the fringes, or used as consultants only. The rise of the generalists has enabled them serve on a number of boards concurrently, no matter what the company’s core business may be. This is good for their bank balances and encouraged a career goal of multiple board appointments. As the Royal Commission is revealing this governance trend has not served the individual companies or its customers at all well.

Conversely, two volunteer aviation boards with which I an familiar and one volunteer staffed aviation board for which I work are made up of aviation people with deep technical and commercial aviation knowledge. They apply this long experience to the issues under discussion and are respected for it by the respective organisations’ members.

Board members of large commercial or regulatory entities need to be paid but it should not be a primary motivation. A balance needs to be struck where board members are appointed primarily for their technical and governance skills in order to understand what is placed before them and to make decisions in the best interests of the shareholders or the public. In short, board members should understand in depth the core business of the organisation that they lead. This is as true for the CASA and Airservices Australia boards as it is for any blue chip company.

Unfortunately, this balance has been lost and must be rectified. We urge government to consider very carefully future aviation board appointments and to strike the skills balance urgently needed.

Lastly, I would like to thank the fantastic team at AMDA for organising Rotortech 2018, which is being held just as this issue is sent to subscribers. These are the same people that bring you the Avalon Airshow every two years. They are an amazing group of professionals and the helicopter industry thanks them all sincerely.

Board members should understand core business.’