The Federal Government today released a plan for the recovery of the aviation industry that includes several measures long thought to be critical to the revitalisation of general aviation.
The Aviation Recovery Framework, announced today by Deputy Prime MInister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce, is aimed primarily at recovery from the pandemic, but also acknowledges the condition of the general aviation industry and contains initiatives that have the potential to stimulate growth.
Among the GA measures are a review of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the regulations surrounding privatised airports, and subsidies to encourage owners to fit ADS-B to VFR aircraft.
The goverment will also extend the regional and remote airports funding schemes and commit $4 million to encourage women to enter the aviation industry.
“Aviation is integral to our national supply chains, providing essential services to regional and remote communities and connecting Australian businesses with international markets,” Joyce said.
“Importantly, general aviation is a key pillar in our strategy. This is in recognition of the many critical services it contributes to the sector, none more important than flight and maintenance training capability.
“The Framework builds on the assistance we have provided to date and will provide the policy and financial settings aviation operators need to recover strongly and grow on the other side of the pandemic.”
The overall framework has been built on six strategic priorities:
According to the framework, the initiatives will be phased in over the next two to four years, guided by advice from a new Strategic Aviation Advisory Forum, the make up of which has yet to be disclosed. The department has also noted that the framework builds on the work of the General Aviation Advisory Network (GAAN) and the Future of Aviation Reference Panel.
Among the measures that are thought to impact GA the most are:
CASA Director of Aviation Safety and CEO Pip Spence said today that CASA already had a reform agenda that was consistent with the announced framework.
“CASA has quietly begun working on a wide range of reforms that will benefit many people and organisations across the aviation community, particularly in the general aviation sector,” Spence said. “These align with the commitments made by the Australian Government today in their Aviation Recovery Framework.
“You will see concrete outcomes in the course of 2022 and beyond.
“Work is underway to make regulatory changes that will assist private pilots, general aviation maintenance, maintenance training, flying training, aerial work, aerial application and sport and recreational flying.
“We are developing a general aviation work plan for 2022 and this body of work will build a consolidated picture of all the activity we already have underway.
“We’re also continuing to look at what improvements and changes we need to make that will benefit other sectors in the industry.”
Among the reforms in development at CASA are:
The Aviation Recovery Framework document is available from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development website.
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