[Peetwo]

Sen Rex Patrick - "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY!" - Part II

Via Facebook and/or email:

MAY DAY EVENT - SENATOR REX PATRICK
THE FUTURE OF AUSTRALIAN GENERAL AVIATION

Hosted by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia
Sunday, 1st May 2022:  Commencing 11:00am

Attention Australian Aviation Industry Participants,

I warmly invite you all to attend my MAY DAY EVENT hosted by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia, kicking off from 11am on Sunday 1st May 2022, at:

AOPA Australia Headquarters
Hangar 120, 10 Stinson Crescent
Bankstown Airport NSW 2200
Australia.

General aviation is in crisis and is but a shadow of the aviation industry it once was.  The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is largely responsible for what has been a death by a thousand cuts.
Over the past 20 years the Parliament has held inquiry after inquiry, with the feedback from industry remaining consistent throughout.  Despite the unified pleas for change, CASA have wrought havoc on the aviation industry, forcing a never-ending parade of regulatory change that has destroyed businesses, reduced industry competitiveness, and dramatically undermined the sustainability of small to medium sized aviation.

The Parliament reacted to the decline when it passed the Civil Aviation Amendment Bill 2019.  This Bill sought to ensure that in developing and promulgating aviation safety standards, CASA must consider the economic and cost impacts on individuals, businesses, and the community.
Sadly, little seems to have changed.

The Parliamentary ‘nutcracker’ doesn’t seem to have cracked the over-regulation walnut, so it is now time to reach for the Sledgehammer.

Having worked tirelessly with industry and having watched things go from a cautionary PAN PAN to an outright emergency MAYDAY,  I am ready to answer the call on Sunday 1st May, where I will propose a powerful sledgehammer that can be used to finally sort things out so that general aviation may recover and thrive.

Come take part on Sunday 1st May (from 11am).  I am very much looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible, with a lunch-time BBQ and refreshments for participants.

Sincerely,

REX PATRICK
South Australian Senator

BENJAMIN MORGAN
Chief Executive, AOPA Australia
Mobile:  0415 577 724
Email:  ben.morgan@aopa.com.au
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REGISTER YOUR ATTENDANCE
To assist with event catering and equipment hire, participants are encouraged to register their attendance, by emailing:  ben.morgan@aopa.com.au
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EVENT DATE AND LOCATION
Commencing 11am, Sunday 1st May 2022 - AOPA Australia Headquarters (FalconAir Hangar)
Hangar 120, 10 Stinson Crescent, Bankstown Airport NSW 22200, Australia.
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WHO SHOULD ATTEND THIS EVENT
• Recreational, Sport, General Aviation and Commercial Aircraft Owners
• Recreational, Private and Commercial Pilots
• Flight Training Businesses, Charter Operators, Maintenance Businesses
• Aviation Industry Associations, Peak Bodies, AeroClubs & Flying Groups
• Aviation Industry Supporters
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INVITED INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia
• Aircraft Maintenance Repair Overhaul Business Association
• Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association of Australia
• Australian Federation of Air Pilots
• Sport Aircraft Association of Australia
• Australian Beechcraft Society
• Cessna 182 Association
• Australian Mooney Pilots Association
• Australian Piper Society
• Lancair Owner Builders Organisation
• Australian RV Aircraft Association
• AngelFlight Australia
• Wagga City Aero Club
• Central Coast Aero Club
• NSW Sport Aircraft Club
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INVITED MEDIA
• ABC Television
• ABC Radio National
• Channel 9 News
• Channel 7 News
• The Australian
• The Australian Financial Review
• Australian Flying Magazine
• Australian Aviation
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Facebook comments so far:

Keith Page

That is very good plan however if it is just another talkfest guess what, same result as all the previous. The attendees can make policies and motions and every other movement they can dream up the result will be the same. The fix is not another regulation.

The government of the day they are the managers of aviation not CASA. CASA is only the overseer who follows up on the managers directives, till that one is sorted well well still the same rot.
Quite simple the transport minister has to start lopping the tree from the top.

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Sandy Reith

Keith Page couldn’t agree more, it’s always Parliament’s responsibility and 34 years of disaster for Australia’s General Aviation prove beyond doubt that the model of an independent monopoly corporate regulator cannot work.

The only proven model is the Westminster system which has a responsible Minister in charge of a Department. Without the element of political oversight we will never achieve reform and regrowth of GA.

Unfortunately in Australia we seem to have a naive belief that the independent body, a taxpayer funded government body will altruistically govern in its area in some perfected manner, a type of government with no political input. In other words why vote at all? The problem being that human nature isn’t that perfect. CASA has become a self serving make work salary factory.

New CEO Pip Spence commenced 17th May ‘21, CASA’s ‘20-‘21 annual report shows her total remuneration for the six weeks to (presumably) 30th June to be some $230,000. Extrapolating this will be a base salary of $1 million plus, yet not one real reform after 11 months.

Until and unless aviation is put into a regular department little progress or halt to GA decline will occur.

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Keith Page

Sandy Reith I think our crop of pollies want to not own the blame for a poor decision. Their only concern voted back in next time.

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Lorraine MacGillivray

Keith Page and Sandy Reith I agree however I also believe or need to believe that we can continue to be cynical and negative, which is easy and warranted, or we can fight back. I am trying my hardest to be there because we need to take this opportunity to show our force as an industry. The CEO for a start if she cares about the industry, drain the swamp. I have been exerting pressure for over 2 years and I will not quit until the power mongering, abusive, over reaching individuals are held to account for what they did with the Bristell. CAsA pick and choose who they want to persecute. Play judge jury and executioner. Are protected by CAsA Legal who facilitate running the employees agendas. The flying public in this country should be afraid. Because as I say this is the same organization that governs our airlines. It is time to stop it and them and let the media know what is going on.

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Keith Page

Lorraine MacGillivray you mentioned the line “the organisation that governs” here we are the government should be governing not CASA, CASA is the overseer not the manager. We have to get the government to manage that will be a big job. Look at all the enquiries in last number of years regarding CASA and their shenanigans. Simply put these functions were only talkfests as nothing has happen.

The government of the day has to get out and manage instead of being popular with no mistakes just to cadge votes.

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Lorraine MacGillivray

Keith Page I agree

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Keith Page

Lorraine MacGillivray the big question, “How do we get the transport minister excited??”

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Lorraine MacGillivray

Keith Page I think we are slowly. I think May Day with AOPA will help facilitate that interest. And if the right information gets to the media then they might run with it. I am going to give it my best shot.

MTF...P2