The Australian General Aviation Alliance (AGAA) has written to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Michael McCormack outlining the findings and recommendations from the general aviation summit held at Wagga earlier this month.
In a covering letter signed by summit chairman Geoff Breust, AGAA urged the Minister to accept the conclusions and pointed out some of the benefits to be gained from a healthy GA industry in Australia.
"On behalf of the delegates, I urge you to accept the Findings and Recommendations and work with your Parliamentary colleagues, including the Opposition, minor parties and Independents to enact the consensus changes and allow the industry to move forward and achieve the best possible outcome for Australia," Breust says in the letter.
"Australia is in a unique position for our industry to benefit substantially from the huge demand for pilot and engineer training not only for our aviation industry but also for our neighbours in Asia and the world. The Australian economy and community benefits from a healthy general aviation sector and we must not let these opportunities pass because of impractical and overly burdensome regulation.
"The Summit delegates were very clear. No one wishes to see our world class safety record and performance diminish. What is needed is practical, outcome-based regulation designed to foster and develop our industry while maintaining our high level of safety as demanded by the community.
"The consensus on immediate changes to the Civil Aviation Act will provide direction for the regulator to move forward. A full review of the Act and subsequent regulations over the coming few years will build on this reform."
Following the success of the general aviation summit, AGAA has announced a rapid growth in membership and that another summit will be held on 8-9 July 2019.
Formed initially with only three members – AOPA Australia, the SAAA and AMROBA – AGAA has published a list of 16 associations that have joined the alliance. The membership now comprises:
- Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia (AOPA)
- Airtourer Association
- Sport Aircraft Association of Australia (SAAA)
- Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA)
- Australian Maintenance Repair Overhaul Business Association (AMROBA)
- Australian Mooney Pilots Association
- Cessna 182 Association of Australia
- Cessna 200 Association of Australia
- Cirrus Owner Pilots Association of Australia
- Colour Vision Deficient Pilots Association
- Experimental Light Aircraft Association of Australia
- Gliding Federation of Australia (GFA)
- International Comanche Society Australasia
- Lancair Owner Builders Organisation
- Your Central Coast Airport Association
- Regional Airport Users Association
The full letter including the findings and recommendations can be downloaded from the link below.