Disappointing, alas inevitable.
I reckon one of the big problems aviation faces is not being able to ‘compete’ for ‘space’ on an aerodrome; simply through a lack of development. Many of the small aviation businesses companies struggle to stay viable, let alone expand. Many who have the means to invest in an aviation business do not, for many reasons. Primarily because there are better, more secure investment opportunities. The competition for ‘investment’ hard cash is fierce and aviation businesses do not have a stellar track record. That said, there are some very successful aviation businesses which do well; but there is not a sufficient ‘volume’ of business competing for space on an airfield.
Vacant land, not earning a return for the owner is a tempting target for developers and the local council or whoever, is going to seriously consider an offer to ‘develop’. Its a sound fiscal argument, hard to deny. The best argument against non aviation development is that it is being preferred over aviation business development; that would be a hard to beat case. Aldi want to build a warehouse on a cheap lease of unused airport land; Pipedream Aviation want to build a hanger on the same vacant plot, IMO that would be a legally supportable action. But there is no Pipedream Aviation bringing jobs and revenue; just a vacant weed covered lot, sat idle for years on endless years.
The disincentives to investment in aviation are many; the time and cost involved to get a business going and keeping it going, stand alone are enough to send any investor and his cheque book racing to Aldi to buy shares in the warehouse.
It is a competitive world and if aviation want to keep their aerodromes they must compete for them. There is big money in ‘development’ and easily understood motives; not so for the aviation case.
Even so; it is a sad thing to see Archerfield, Hoxton Park, Bankstown and now Jandakot being whittled away, surrounded by more car parks, more suffer-markets and the associated fast food outlets. But ask yourself; if you won the lottery would you buy any one those airfields?
Toot toot,
I reckon one of the big problems aviation faces is not being able to ‘compete’ for ‘space’ on an aerodrome; simply through a lack of development. Many of the small aviation businesses companies struggle to stay viable, let alone expand. Many who have the means to invest in an aviation business do not, for many reasons. Primarily because there are better, more secure investment opportunities. The competition for ‘investment’ hard cash is fierce and aviation businesses do not have a stellar track record. That said, there are some very successful aviation businesses which do well; but there is not a sufficient ‘volume’ of business competing for space on an airfield.
Vacant land, not earning a return for the owner is a tempting target for developers and the local council or whoever, is going to seriously consider an offer to ‘develop’. Its a sound fiscal argument, hard to deny. The best argument against non aviation development is that it is being preferred over aviation business development; that would be a hard to beat case. Aldi want to build a warehouse on a cheap lease of unused airport land; Pipedream Aviation want to build a hanger on the same vacant plot, IMO that would be a legally supportable action. But there is no Pipedream Aviation bringing jobs and revenue; just a vacant weed covered lot, sat idle for years on endless years.
The disincentives to investment in aviation are many; the time and cost involved to get a business going and keeping it going, stand alone are enough to send any investor and his cheque book racing to Aldi to buy shares in the warehouse.
It is a competitive world and if aviation want to keep their aerodromes they must compete for them. There is big money in ‘development’ and easily understood motives; not so for the aviation case.
Even so; it is a sad thing to see Archerfield, Hoxton Park, Bankstown and now Jandakot being whittled away, surrounded by more car parks, more suffer-markets and the associated fast food outlets. But ask yourself; if you won the lottery would you buy any one those airfields?
Toot toot,