Senator Bridget McKenzie couldn't make it to Cairns for the 2026 RAAA Convention last week, instead sending a pre-recorded video. Although her presence wasn't as strong as other presenters, she nevertheless left the regional aviation community with a powerful epithet: "RAAA puts the reality of regional aviation on public record."
That sentiment, plus one of the strongest speaking programs at any aviation gathering for many years and the presence of 50 exhibitors, exposed the growing importance of the Regional Aviation Association of Australia to the nation-wide health of the industry.
Over two days of the convention, delegates heard from politicians, upper-echelon aviation regulators, technology experts, mental health experts and industry insiders. The topics canvassed in the plenary sessions covered a wide array of issues concerning the regional aviation community, many of which had outcomes for all sectors of aviation, with a particular emphasis on the elephant in everybody's room: AI.
RAAA CEO Rob Walker was buoyant after the convention, citing very positive feedback from some of the 300+ delegates that attended the plenary sessions.
"The RAAA Convention 2026 was an outstanding success with members and attendees claiming it was the best ever," Walker told Australian Flying.
"Across every component from the presentations and panel sessions, the 50 plus exhibitors for the trade show and the wonderful social events, the event was truly one to remember.
"A major highlight was the AI presentation by Adam Spencer and the panel discussion that followed. The information sharing was incredibly valuable to our membership and was highly entertaining as well.
"Across the two days there were many relevant examples that prove that, as a vital sector of Australian aviation, we are hardworking, resilient and, in line with the convention theme, very much ‘stronger together’."
Opening with a speech from the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King, Day One quickly followed with a briefing from Cairns Airport about the key role the airport and city plays in connecting communities in Far North Queensland, then a keynote session from former Governor of the Reserve Bank and passionate aviator Glenn Stevens, which left delegates with unique and insightful perspectives on aviation and economics.
CASA Director of Aviation Safety and CEO Pip Spence and Airservices Australia CEO Rob Sharp had the hard tasks of following Stevens, before the star of Day One, media identity and AI expert Adam Spencer produced one of the highlights of the show with an energetic and vibrant presentation on the potential and pitfalls of AI. Following on, Spencer moderated a panel including Rachel Yangoyan from Qantas, Reece Clothier from CASA and David Trevelyan from Basair, discussing AI from a purely aviation stand-point.
Day Two opened with Senator McKenzie's video, and focused on human impact in terms of mental health, hiring for specific skills, safety culture and inspiring youth. Delegates heard from Maroomba Airlines' CEO Laura Benger on hiring from outside the aviation industry, ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell on the human influence on an outcome and teen pilot Byron Waller, on what motivated him to rise from a hospital bed and fly a GA aeroplane around the world.
Proving the RAAA is not all work and no play, a golf day and reef tour preceded the Convention, with an evening gala dinner inserted between the two days. The main features of the gala were the presentations of the Ansett Aviation Training King Air scholarships, and RAAA Life Memberships granted to Greg Atkin, Jeff Boyd, Scott McMillan and Michael Bridge.
From both information and entertainment points of view, the 2026 convention left delegates salivating for the next one in two years time.
"Looking forward we have announced our next RAAA Convention in 2028 will be in Adelaide," Walker explained. "There has already been massive interest from the membership, and we are very excited about what the next convention will bring."
Key Take-aways
AMDA Foundation
Avalon 2027 is the last one contracted to Victoria, but hopefully will be extended. After the accident last year, a 100-foot deck will be put in place and an air display safety forum has been established. AMDA will announce a grants program for general later this year.
Minister King
The department has extended Regional Airports Program and Remote Airstrips Upgrade Program. 250 million extra litres of jet fuel have been secured for Australia, but storage is reaching capacity. The government is underwriting shipments.
CASA
Flight operations regulations will be fully implemented by the end of the year. CASA is close to finalising foreign LAME recognition rules. Already 326 new engineer licences have been issued for the year to end of May. Only 292 were issued for the entire 12 months last financial year. Western Sydney's digital tower is presenting CASA with new certification challenges. CASA is now exceeding the 80% KPI for delivering services within the published time frame. Annual aircraft registration fees are not revenue-raising measures, but intended to give confidence in the register.
Adam Spencer and AI Panel
AI is becoming more capable every year. There is a quantum leap between Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) 3 and GPT 4. GPT5 can write computer code. AI being used in the workplace is on the rise, but often employers and manager don't know the extent. There is wide-spread misuse, which can threaten workforce development. Artificial Super Intelligence, once achieved, will be better at most things than people. AI can give capability to small aviation companies that is normally reserved for larger airlines, but there is a need to spend as much time on developing humans as we do with AI.
Senator McKenzie
The ALP government denied the regional aviation industry the chance to properly explore opportunities after REX went into administration. The senator said that the government was short-sighted and that the process of rescuing REX was opaque and failed to leverage the expertise of the regional aviation industry.
Mental Health Panel
Fatigue really is about mental health, and risk mitigation and safety measures need to be put in place. 56% of all operators report someone coming to them with a mental health problem. Dealt with properly, mental health doesn't necessarily ground a pilot. It depends on early intervention. Fear of CASA is a deterrent to reporting mental health issues, particularly among older pilots.
Lessons Beyond the Industry – Laura Benger and Panel
Maroomba Airlines in Perth recruited Laura from outside the industry to fulfil a skill need. Airlines need to look at what skills they need, then find the industry that is very good with that skill, and recruit from that industry. Operators need to recognise the value in taking on board someone who looks at things differently. Diverse experience sparks innovation. Don't recruit for what you know, recruit for what you don't know. Aviation doesn't have a pipeline problem, it has a visibility problem; people don't know they can join the aviation industry.
ATSB
Human capital is the essence of every business. There are lessons to be learned from the Seaworld helicopter crash and the Cloncurry Aero Commander crash where safety systems failed due to the human condition. We need to understand how one failure can escalate to a catastrophe, especially in high-liability organisations. Leadership has a role in strengthening safety culture.
Lessons for the Future – Byron Waller and Panel
At age 15, Byron Waller flew supported around the world after years battling Crohn's Disease. He believes that young people don't need pathways, they need inspiration and people who believe in them. Young people don't learn resilience if we remove all obstacles; they need to feel the disappointment of losing or failing. It is best to regularly allow a child to do something difficult in front of other people. RAAA should develop a mentoring program and schools program, supported by the entire aviation industry. The single biggest challenge to young pilots is not talent, it is access to the industry and community.
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