The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has called on the lease-owner of Bankstown and Camden airports, First State Super, to meet with them over the future of Bankstown.
In a letter to First State CEO Michael Dwyer AM dated 18 October, AOPA President Ben Morgan laid out some issues the association has with the operation of the airport before requesting a meeting.
First State Super and Altis Property Partners, bought BAC Holdco from Mirvac and Colonial First State for a reported $203 million in December 2015.
"AOPA are seeking to meet with you and your board in person to discuss the airport and your future plans for it," Morgan told Dwyer in the letter.
"We are seeking to understand your intentions and to set in motion a partnership whereby we can work together by assisting your organisation by increasing the value of your asset whilst developing and growing general aviation simultaneously."
The letter also lays out the problems AOPA believes are restricting the ability of GA operators to use Bankstown as a base, blaming most of the airport's woes on what it believes is poor management.
"Bankstown Airport is one of Australia’s most important general aviation assets and is integral to the future of flight training and aircraft maintenance for Australia," Morgan says. "Bankstown Airport has been the cornerstone of Australian general aviation and for the past 15 years has been subjected to considerable devaluation and destruction by its operators post privatisation.
"The AOPA maintains its head office at Bankstown Airport and has witnessed the impacts of this improper management has seen the large scale closures and bankruptcies of the businesses located on the airport. Past airport management has resorted to desperately seeking non-aviation commercial tenants to fill the voids, rather than work to establish a strong aviation strategy and masterplan for the asset.
"The result has been disastrous, with prospective aviation tenants now being turned away with regard to leasing opportunities."
AOPA believes that a successful future for Bankstown Airport can be achieved by First State Super and the general aviation community industry working together to find a sustainable balance between commercial interests and those of industry.
The full AOPA letter can be downloaded from the link below.
AOPA letter to First State Super