RAAA weighs in on Moorabbin MDP?
Via the Yaffa:
![[Image: moorabbin_encroachment2.jpg]](http://yaffa-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/yaffadsp/images/dmImage/StandardImage/moorabbin_encroachment2.jpg)
RAAA throws Weight behind Moorabbin GA Operators
3 March 2022
The Regional Aviation Association of Australia yesterday wrote to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Barnaby Joyce urging him to reject Moorabbin Airport Corporation's 2021 draft Master Plan.
The master plan outlines airport developments for the next five years, and includes provision for removing more aviation infrastructure, a possibility that worries tenants who say they are not being offered suitable alternatives.
RAAA CEO Steve Campbell penned a forceful letter to the minister pointing out where the power to refuse the master plan lies.
"We believe this is in violation of Division 5 of the Airports Act 1996 (the Act) which has clear obligations for Federally leased airports to be used as airports," Campbell said. "Moorabbin Airport continues to restrict aviation activities to promote non-aviation commercial development. Under Section 81 of the Act, you may refuse to approve the Master Plan."
Section 81 of the Act states: In deciding whether to approve the plan, the Minister must have regard to the following matters: (a) the extent to which carrying out the plan would meet present and future requirements of civil aviation users of the airport, and other users of the airport, for services and facilities relating to the airport concerned
"With an estimated 25% of commercial pilots that were trained in 2019 coming through Moorabbin Airport flight training schools, it is clear that any reduction in ability for these operators to conduct their business will have a direct effect to the number of pilots coming through the system," Campbell said.
"This reduction will only add to the ever-increasing gap on supply of pilots for Australian airlines and commercial operators. There are also a number of aviation support businesses under threat such as vital maintenance organisations who are also slowly getting squeezed out of their leases and hangar space."
The Department of Infrastructure and Transport released an Aviation Recovery Framework in December last year, which included plans to revitalise GA and also revisit the Airports Act 1996 including the regulation an approval process for master plans at federally-leased airports.
Campbell referred to the framework in the letter to the minister and noted that approving the Moorabbin master plan would send a message to GA that the government would not uphold the intent of the Act.
"The Moorabbin Master Plan that is currently in its final phase before approval is sought from you, has become a line in the sand for GA and their ability to continue at urban GA airports such as Moorabbin," he said.
"It is our fear that your approval will be the death knell for many GA operators at the airport and will signal to the GA industry that this government will not uphold the intent of the Airports Act 1996.
"A refusal to approve the Master Plan however, will send a clear signal to the aviation industry prior to the upcoming election that this government is prepared to stand up for GA and provide confidence to those essential GA businesses to continue to provide critical resources for our aviation industry."
The master plan has met with significant opposition from the Moorabbin Airport Chamber of Commerce and Kingston City Council.
Submissions to the Moorabbin master plan closed in October last year.
Better late than never I guess but do I smell a RAAA/TAAF aviation policy in the making??
MTF...P2
Via the Yaffa:
RAAA throws Weight behind Moorabbin GA Operators
3 March 2022
The Regional Aviation Association of Australia yesterday wrote to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Barnaby Joyce urging him to reject Moorabbin Airport Corporation's 2021 draft Master Plan.
The master plan outlines airport developments for the next five years, and includes provision for removing more aviation infrastructure, a possibility that worries tenants who say they are not being offered suitable alternatives.
RAAA CEO Steve Campbell penned a forceful letter to the minister pointing out where the power to refuse the master plan lies.
"We believe this is in violation of Division 5 of the Airports Act 1996 (the Act) which has clear obligations for Federally leased airports to be used as airports," Campbell said. "Moorabbin Airport continues to restrict aviation activities to promote non-aviation commercial development. Under Section 81 of the Act, you may refuse to approve the Master Plan."
Section 81 of the Act states: In deciding whether to approve the plan, the Minister must have regard to the following matters: (a) the extent to which carrying out the plan would meet present and future requirements of civil aviation users of the airport, and other users of the airport, for services and facilities relating to the airport concerned
"With an estimated 25% of commercial pilots that were trained in 2019 coming through Moorabbin Airport flight training schools, it is clear that any reduction in ability for these operators to conduct their business will have a direct effect to the number of pilots coming through the system," Campbell said.
"This reduction will only add to the ever-increasing gap on supply of pilots for Australian airlines and commercial operators. There are also a number of aviation support businesses under threat such as vital maintenance organisations who are also slowly getting squeezed out of their leases and hangar space."
The Department of Infrastructure and Transport released an Aviation Recovery Framework in December last year, which included plans to revitalise GA and also revisit the Airports Act 1996 including the regulation an approval process for master plans at federally-leased airports.
Campbell referred to the framework in the letter to the minister and noted that approving the Moorabbin master plan would send a message to GA that the government would not uphold the intent of the Act.
"The Moorabbin Master Plan that is currently in its final phase before approval is sought from you, has become a line in the sand for GA and their ability to continue at urban GA airports such as Moorabbin," he said.
"It is our fear that your approval will be the death knell for many GA operators at the airport and will signal to the GA industry that this government will not uphold the intent of the Airports Act 1996.
"A refusal to approve the Master Plan however, will send a clear signal to the aviation industry prior to the upcoming election that this government is prepared to stand up for GA and provide confidence to those essential GA businesses to continue to provide critical resources for our aviation industry."
The master plan has met with significant opposition from the Moorabbin Airport Chamber of Commerce and Kingston City Council.
Submissions to the Moorabbin master plan closed in October last year.
Better late than never I guess but do I smell a RAAA/TAAF aviation policy in the making??
MTF...P2