[Peetwo]

Oz Flying today on PE release. :

(K. Lovell)



Project Eureka Papers released
13 Apr 2016

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association this week released the Project Eureka papers to the aviation industry.

Project Eureka is a brief to government containing a plan to revitalise the general aviation industry in Australia.

The 161-page document covers recommendations on regulation reform, ADS-B, competition barriers, flight training, user fees, structural changes, aviation medicine, airspace and more.

"AOPA is calling this Project Eureka because we see this as a last stand against inappropriate Government industry regulation; regulation that has decimated our once thriving GA industry," AOPA states in the summary.

"It may sound melodramatic to those not associated with the industry, but those of us who have been in the industry through the period 1960-1990 feel very frustrated that government bureaucrats, through lack of understanding of the need for businesses to be commercially viable, have failed this industry.

"Through Project Eureka, AOPA and the General Aviation community presents to Government the means to revitalise this important industry for growth of jobs and businesses; and for expansion of educational and training opportunities while encouraging greater technical innovation.

"Our proposals will, if accepted, reduce taxpayer liabilities and generate very substantial revenue, external and internal, into the future.

AOPA also recommends the government establish an Industry Trust Fund created from the sale of Airservices Australia to reinvest in new technology, university research and development.

The full Project Eureka papers can be downloaded from the AOPA website.

Hitch on the weeks events so far - The Last Minute Hitch: 15 April 2016 ..

..Normally dark clouds are not something we like to see in aviation, but there is a storm coming that could be of significant benefit. Aviation lobby groups are starting to smell the blood oozing from a wounded government that is staring down an unfriendly federal election, and they're taking advantage of it. AOPA's Project Eureka papers were released during the week following several meetings between the industry and the Department of Infrastructure and Transport. Then, with only three days' notice, a meeting was held in Tamworth attended by Dick Smith, AOPA reps, former New England MP Tony Windsor, general aviation people and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce via telephone. Now we hear that The Australian Aviation Associations Forum (TAAAF) is due to release a new policy paper on 28 April. All of this equates to a demand not only to be heard, but to be heeded. Naturally all of this need to be taken in context with the impeding election. Promises are easy before a poll, but apparently so hard to keep afterward...

Another CF for Hitch - hmm..he'd better watch those zits & waistline..


MTF...P2