Dick Smith farewelled his Citation yesterday with a "wake" at Bankstown Airport. The aircraft is off to the USA where it can operate in skies more conducive to the cost of the upgrades and maintenance it requires. One problem it seems is that general aviation in Australia is losing more and more momentum, enticing specialist maintenance companies to close local branches. A case in point: Dick had to send his life raft to Singapore for servicing because the local agent shut down. The cost of doing that exceeded $6000. To be fair, Dick did try to sell the Citation in Australia, but in the end had no option but to dispatch it to the States where costs are lower, regulatory hurdles are easier to climb over (or just plain absent) and the industry has a greater energy. This is not only a rich person's problem; the lower end of GA is also at risk of losing the support of overseas companies that no longer consider it viable to operate in Australia. The biggest threat, of course, is fuel. Will the energy in the local industry decline to the point that it's not worth the fuel companies shipping avgas here anymore? We talk a lot about how regulation is strangling the industry, but I believe a lack of support for GA is just as big a threat.
Dick's other issue was the requirement to go to ADS-B; the Citation simply couldn't do it. Avionics manufacturer Rockwell Collins has apparently gone home to the USA and at least one local company declined to do the work because they considered the aircraft couldn't be made compliant no matter what they did. Although many in the industry have been prepared to simply declare Dick wrong about that, the company that declined has more expertise in avionics than most in Australia. If they say it can't be done, I am prepared to accept their word for it.
So, with that in mind, VFR pilots around Australia are probably getting nervous over the news that CASA has started a project to entice owners to equip with ADS-B voluntarily. May I say, in the style of Corporal Jones, "Don't panic!" Firstly, CASA has the power to mandate ADS-B for VFR, but has not done so, electing instead to recognise the cost of doing so and explore low-cost non-TSO options. Has anyone noticed that this is almost a completely new approach from CASA? When was the last time a project started with the words (paraphrased of course) "This could be expensive, so we're going to see if we can change regulations to make it cheaper"? This is more significant that most people realise, because it is the industry that showed CASA how this could be done, and CASA has followed the path they were shown. You may call this "consultation"; I call it "participation", which is what the general aviation industry really needs and really wants. If the industry had been allowed to participate in Part 61, you wouldn't have had the regulatory mayhem that we have today.
I spent an hour yesterday morning talking aviation over a large mug of Cappuccino (I'm sorry, I just won't call it a "mugguccino") with CASA's new Stakeholder Engagement Manager Rob Walker. His job is piivotal if there is to be reform in CASA's relationship with industry. Let's get real: we distrust CASA so completely that we disengaged from them and are now very wary about going back! Walker has to build trust where not only did none exist, but there was quite a stockpile of distrust ... there still is a stockpile of distrust. Graeme Crawford in charge of the Aviation Group and Tracey Frey at the head of the Sustainability Group also have massive jobs, but all is for naught if Walker can't get the industry to engage. If that's the case, the status quo will remain, which is that CASA will have no idea what they are trying to regulate. Sorry about the pressure, Rob.
Matt Hall's getting closer to the form that took him to second place in last year's Red Bull Air Race World Championship. In Hungary last weekend he scored his first podium of the year in the rain-shortened Budapest round. Whilst many competitors failed to cope with the conditions and racked-up penalties, Hall flew fast and clean. It bodes well for the next round above Ascot Racecourse in the UK on 13-14 August. Hall raced well there last year to take second place when many around him stumbled, and he has to be confident of another good result this year.
For those keeping up with Lachie Smart's solo flight around the world, the young lad has fetched-up in the city of Niagara Falls, where local mayor Paul Dyster presented him with the key to the city. Not only that, he also proclaimed 20 July 2016 "Wings Around the World Day", complete with a citation that says:
I, Paul Dyster, as Mayor of the City of Niagara Falls, NY do hereby recognize Lachlan Smart for his vision and courage as he circumnavigates our earth and inspires the youth and all ages to set goals and follow dreams. I proclaim July 20, 2016 as Wings Around the World Day, in the City of Niagara Falls, NY in honor of this brave young man, and encourage our youth to follow Lachlan’s progress and hold onto the hope and faith in order to cultivate our own new dreams.
You're doing us very proud, Lachie. Onward to Toronto, now, young man ... the North Atlantic awaits you.
May your gauges always be in the green,
Hitch