The Australian Aviation Associations Forum (TAAAF) has today released their 2022 Aviation Policy Paper ahead of the federal election in May.
TAAAF is an alliance of some of Australia's largest aviation assocations designed to present a collective voice to government on issues effecting aviation. Traditionally, TAAAF issues a policy paper in an election year to give all sides of politics an indication of the forum's position on key aviation issues.
"Ahead of the upcoming election, the TAAAF is pleased to provide a policy paper to both sides of government," said TAAAF chair Jeff Boyd.
"TAAAF members have outlined the most significant steps that need to be taken as a priority by the incoming Federal Government to return a workable and efficient platform to the Australian aviation industry."
TAAAF focused their paper on high-end issues that are having the greatest impact on the health of the industry, several of which have been echoed in recent submissions to the senate inquiry and the General Aviation Advisory Network strategy paper.
On top of the list is the culture within CASA.
"The effectiveness of performance based regulation relies on the culture within industry, and perhaps more importantly, within the safety regulator; a culture requiring a greater level of maturity, accountability, transparency and flexibility," TAAAF believes.
"Therein lies the problem. TAAAF members’ experiences of interactions with CASA do not show it to have these characteristics."
TAAAF cites administrative delays caused in part by under-funding, paying lip-service to the industry feedback and diminishing expertise as part of the problem, recommending a complete review into CASA's culture.
"TAAAF members are therefore calling for an independent review of the way CASA does business—its organisational culture. This review should be carried out by an independent firm and not, as has happened in the past, by political appointments too close to the regulator or to industry."
On the matter of aerodromes, TAAAF accuses many operators of exhibiting "monopolistic behaviour", whilst charging excessive fees and restricting access to certain aviation activities.
"Aviation businesses are finding it difficult to maintain tenure at airports such as Moorabbin in Melbourne and Bankstown in
Sydney," the policy paper says. "For TAAAF members, such as flying training schools, this is a critical issue for their ongoing viability."
As a solution, TAAAF states that the Airports Act 1996, which is currently under review prior it's planned sunset in 2024, should reflect better security for aviation businesses based at airports covered by that legislation.
TAAAF also tackled issues of a lack of industry consultation over the burgeoning drone and vertical-lift markets, skills shortages and engineer qualification pathways; and called for greater government support for aviation design and manufacture in this country.
"Over the past 40 years we have witnessed an attrition of Australian aviation manufacturing companies, enterprises that
have been forced to move off-shore, or have been taken over by overseas companies, due, in the main, to the lack of a level playing field with overseas competitors," TAAAF states.
"Greater government support is needed to attract higher volumes of work off-shore and enhance visibility for businesses in the global export market, similar to the support observed in the US, New Zealand and Europe."
TAAAF acknowledges the volume of work that the industry has already done on the issues covered in the policy paper, but says what is needed now is significant action .
"Many of these issues have been the subject of considerable ongoing discussion, but TAAAF is calling for the incoming government to take timely action to address these concerns.
"This policy paper identifies some quick wins, as well as areas requiring more significant, long-term action."
Both the Coalition and the Australian Labor Party (ALP) have made their aviation positions clear ahead of the 21 May election, with the Coalition issuing the Aviation Recovery Framework last December and the ALP declaring their intention to develop another White Paper should they be elected to government.