– Steve Hitchen
From 14 exhibitors at a motor exhibition to 680 as a stand-alone event, AERO Friedrichshafen has billowed over the years to become general aviation's greatest dedicated exhibition world-wide. You need only ask the US and European manufacturers that would not dare skip it for so much as one year. And yet, AERO is only an apparition in Australia; our manufacturers don't have a presence. The reason for that is probably simply cost; shipping aircraft and banners to Europe is expensive and the exchange rate from the Aussie dollar to the Euro is hardly encouraging. That makes the investment required of Australian companies significantly higher than those of the rest of the world. But I have a dream. In my dream AMDA Foundation catches REX kero-burner to Canberra and convinces the government to fund a mission to AERO to showcase Australian products and manufacturing capability. With the MOSAIC regulations due to emerge by the end of this year, Australian designs prove perfect for the new LSA regulations and take the world by storm. It's a great dream; please don't wake me up.
The Federal Government now officially has an ADS-B problem: VFR aircraft owners have taken up the rebate offer with all the enthusiasm of a trip to the dentist. After two years of activity, less than 1500 aircraft owners had been enticed to register for the rebate. When you understand that recreational aircraft also qualify, the level of registration is appallingly low. This is somewhat of an embarrassment for GA advocates who told the department a rebate would encourage more fitment in VFR aircraft. For clarification: yes, a lack of equipment and engineers has plagued the program, but that hasn't stopped people registering, only claiming. ADS-B is considered the future of ATC surveillance, but the effectiveness is proportional to the number of ADS-B out units fitted to aircraft. IFR was no problem; a mandate solved that. A lack of VFR fitment is currently reducing the effectiveness of ADS-B separation, which is what the rebate program was designed to solve. And that is really the driving force behind AMSA, ATSB and CASA all wading into the debate this week with encouraging sounds about the value of ADS-B. This is a clear indicator that Canberra is more worried about the lack of engagement with the program than the lack of equipment and engineers. Both are obstacles that impede the program, and any solution that doesn't address both sides is condemned to fail again.
I rarely make comments on accident reports, preferring to leave that position to the ATSB and CASA. On occasion, something will happen that I believe needs more weight behind the message, and the emergency go-around at Gold Coast Airport is one such occasion. And here's the message that I think needs amplifying: the responsibility for the safety of the flight lies primarily with the pilot in command, not ATC. In this case the crew landed fast and long trying to comply with a confusing tower instruction, which ruled out a stable approach. The correct response to the instruction probably should have been "cannot comply" or even the Hanson-ish "please explain". In CTA we are obligated to comply with ATC to the extent of the safety of the flight, but not an inch further. That means you can't reject an instruction on the grounds of inconvenience, but you can if it presents a threat to safety. You may then get an alternative instruction you don't want, but at least it won't get you star billing in an ATSB investigation report. And there is nothing wrong with asking for clarification if you don't comprehend; they'd rather you do that than something bewildering that they weren't ready for you to do. Keep in mind also that a go-around is a proper operational procedure that tower controllers handle every day without spilling their coffee. If you need it, use it.
After my speculating last LMH about the impacts of the Australian Grand Prix dates on Avalon, AMDA Foundation contacted me to say the logistics company had "plans in place" to ensure this is not an issue. That's good to hear, but if you need a hotel room in Melbourne between 13-28 March 2025, I'd still be booking it now!
May your gauges always be in the green,
Hitch