[Peetwo]

Jandakot Airport & the JACC, DoIRD showdown - Here we go again

Warren Evans from the Jandakot Airport Chamber of Commerce (JACC) IMO can be regarded as an aviation logistics expert. Mr Evans was one of the many (300+) General Aviation stakeholders that made the trek (in his case very long trek) to Tamworth in order to voice their concerns and get a feel for what are the Nationals (if voted back in - Coalition Government) policy intentions for the promotion/survival of the GA industry.

Here is what Mr Evans said to ABC Radio New England at the Tamworth rally (from 00:27 to 01:51 min):

To follow on from the Sunny posted observations, here is three audio segments from last Monday's Kelly Fuller (ABC New England) radio breakfast show:

The aviation industry says it's going to the wall because of over regulations by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Around 300 pilots and members of the industry met with Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and the Minister for Transport Darren Chester on Friday afternoon to raise their concerns.

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Tamworth Aviation Protest 

Now some background to the JACC issues, firstly here is a link for their (IMO) excellent submission to the Forsyth review: JACC Western Australia - Australian Aviation Safety Regulation Review Input.

Jandakot Airport Aviation Community

 - JACC represents the Jandakot Airport community and conducts advocacy on their behalf.

 - Jandakot Airport is the busiest General Aviation Airport in Australia and the 3rd busiest in the world after Van Nuys CA.

- Current annual movements are 220,000 down from 460,000 (7 years ago) in Class D Airspace underneath the Perth CTA. A direct result of both the GFC and regulatory reform increasing aviation and airport costs without a corresponding safety improvement.

- Stakeholders include: Royal Aero Club of WA, China Southern WA Flying College/Revesco Aviation, Singapore Airlines Flying College, Royal Flying Doctor Service, Airflite Pty Ltd, Heliwest, Air Australia, Minovation and other aviation businesses servicing over 60% of the Western Australia aviation community. We estimate our members and associates represent over 30% of all GA in Australia. One member alone produces over 200 CPL/IR/Jet pilots annually and increasing.

As the single and only Secondary airport in Western Australia Jandakot Airport serves as the GA hub.

1 The structures, effectiveness and processes of all agencies
involved in aviation safety.

*Australian regulation is a product of post war proscriptive regulation and the Two
Airline Policy not repealed until the 1990’s. This hopelessly skewed the
development of General Aviation by effectively prohibiting to them the commercial
operation of Part 25 aircraft. The entire regulatory suite was built around airline
operations.
*A private Cessna 172 is required to operate under similar surveillance and
regulation as a B747.
*Root and Branch reform is required to put the whole process back on the rails.
*We should use tried and effective systems and not reinvent the wheel.
*By following a North American model, substantial savings can be made in the
funding of CASA coupled with a significant improvement in safety.
Everybody wins.
* The relationship between CASA and the ATSB needs to be reviewed as in manner of
the NTSB and the FAA.

2 The relationship and interaction of those agencies with each
other, as well as with the Department of Infrastructure and
Regional Development (Infrastructure).

*We refer to the recommendation contained in the Senate Enquiry into the Norfolk
Island accident and fully concur with their recommendations.
*This report appears to demonstrate the level of dysfunction within agencies.
*We believe the Dept. of Infrastructure and Regional Development when reviewing
and approving Airport Master Plans needs to address aviation and aviation safety
issues more comprehensively.

3 The outcomes and direction of the regulatory reform process
being undertaken by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)

*We have had over 20 years of reform which in spite of good intentions has created
uncertainty and confusion within the GA community.
*For example the US equivalent of Part 61 covers 100 pages, the proposed
Australian “equivalent” over 800 pages.
*In the US Congress and the FAA has been instructed to review Part 23 and simplify
maintenance; we appear to be on the road to further complicate maintenance.
* Does our Not Invented Here syndrome improve safety. NO!
*Does our NIH syndrome increase our costs and make us less competitive globally.
YES!

4 The suitability of Australia’s aviation safety related regulations
when benchmarked against comparable overseas jurisdictions.

*We need regulations that reflect the world’s most common practice in General
Aviation.
*We need to follow the practices that originate from North America where a more
appropriate GA system exists or look to the new changes being implemented by the
UK CAA.
*It would make sense to take a leaf out of New Zealand’s book and implement a
system that recognizes the size and nature of the country.

&..the JACC main issue:

5 Other safety related matters.

*Since the 1997 privatization of Primary, Secondary and Regional airport
leases, many airport leaseholders have placed more focus on commercial
development at the expense of aviation.
*This is in contravention of the Airports Act 1997, which clearly states
the primacy of aviation activities.
*Many airports including Jandakot have their future airside expansion
limited by excessive commercial development.
*Government must review Master Plans based on a 50-75 year
projection of aviation traffic growth rather than the current 4 year
Master Plan review with only a 20 year traffic projection.
*In reality this means a freeze on ALL future commercial development as
most Capital Cities are unable to accommodate new green field airport
development.
*More severe planning restrictions around airport zones must be
encouraged to improve safety.

OK from that a little over a year ago the JACC instigated legal action against the former miniscule Warren Truss and his department:

Aviation group wants Warren Truss to reconsider Jandakot plans
 
 Aviation groups are unhappy with development plans at Perth's Jandakot Airport.

Read more: http://www.afr.com/business/transport/aviation/aviation-group-wants-warren-truss-to-reconsider-jandakot-plans-20150323-1m5ebv#ixzz49FOIs8O3

As part of that legal action the good Mr Evans (expert) swore an affidavit on behalf of the JACC - http://jacc.asn.au/docs/warren-affidavit.pdf

Page 2 from Mr Evans affidavit: 

And the current progress of the JACC case? Still ongoing -
Here is a recent decision in relation to the case made by the AATA:  Chamber of Commerce Inc and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development [2016] AATA 270 (29 April 2016).
It all sounds oh so familiar - Archerfield, Bankstown, Moorabbin??? Also gives you a real perspective on the calibre of industry (expert) stakeholders who were quietly observing proceedings at the Tamworth Aviation rally, 6th May 2016 -     
MTF...P2