Opinion: A New Vision for Post-COVID Aviation

The aviation industry is fast becoming the building block of exciting and innovative plans for the state of NSW and the foundation is connection. Sydney Metro Airports has confidence in a full aviation recovery and a vision to create a thriving and diverse destination that connects aviation, commerce and community. 

The transformation taking place at Bankstown Airport will improve the experience, surroundings, and amenity within the Airport Precinct for general aviation operators, their customers and the community. General aviation sits firmly at the centre of this transformation, with safety and security always having the overriding priority at Bankstown Airport.

The NSW aviation sector is fortunate to be the benefactor of significant investment. The multimillion-dollar improvements being made by Sydney Metro Airports at Bankstown include the refurbishment of the airport terminal, new airfield ground lighting, hangar and apron upgrades, and much more to progressively upgrade assets and modernise the airport. 

It is a priority of Sydney Metro Airports to support the organisations that are part of the airport, we have done so during the pandemic, and now we are taking things one step further. We strive to provide our partners with an environment they can feel proud of and is welcoming for their customers.

Our goal is for our aviation partners to succeed, and we’ll do that by growing aviation opportunities and providing synergies by attracting high calibre aviation businesses to share their space. Our partnerships approach means we have strong relationships with our aviation operators and we work with them to help them achieve their goals. It is heartening to see a number of our operators currently expanding their operations.

Bankstown Airport is the home to several organisations that provide crucial services to the community. We are a hub for emergency services, not for profits, general aviation and flight school training. We are proud of the work they do and to be a part of facilitating the essential services they provide. 

Sydney Metro Airports have invested in:

• The premier facility for the NSW Police Force Aviation Support Branch (POLAIR) servicing the whole of NSW and facilities for emergency services; 
• A TOLL NSW Ambulance Aeromedical Crewing Excellence (ACE) Training and Helicopter Operations Centre; and 
• The refurbished and extended facilities for both the Newborn & Paediatric Emergency Transport Service (NETS) and for National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS).

We have also witnessed some services in general aviation expand on the back of the pandemic, one of those services is private corporate charters and destination charters. This as a business opportunity that we see continuing to grow in the future. Another is advanced aviation technology such as Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS). 

In the Airport Precinct commercial warehouses and aviation hangars co-exists side by side. Commercial activity planned by Sydney Metro Airports supports the growth of the aviation industry, guaranteeing a secure aviation sector that ensures NSW can access essential aviation services.

The Bankstown Airport Master Plan 2019 forecasts the airport will contribute $1.64 billion per annum and almost 1,700 new jobs to the NSW economy over five years, with almost 4,000 jobs created over the next 20 years. 

At Sydney Metro Airports, we are aligned with the Australian government’s ‘Thrive 2030 Strategy, The Re-imagined Visitor Economy’. Many of our operators are part of the visitor economy and together we are committed to providing “world-leading services and visitor experiences to consumers while delivering significant and sustainable benefits to the Australian community” (Thrive 2030 Strategy).

The vision for general aviation at Bankstown Airport is to become the Ultimate Gateway. In a first for the airport, we have a plan to open the Airport Precinct to the community and welcome them to become part of the aviation experience. 

I envisage a future where you can fly or train, sit down and have a coffee with a friend or play a round of badminton, take your children go-karting, shop at the best retail outlets or take a walk, cycle or run around the AirWalk. All while enjoying the spectacle of small aircraft and helicopters that make up a part of the aircraft movement on a daily basis.

General aviation is about to take off, and the sky’s the limit.