The Bureau of Infrastructure Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) study into the state of the general aviation industry is now expected to be finalised and presented to Minister Darren Chester by the end of October.
The study, commissioned in October last year, was initially to have been finalised by 30 June, but that was later extended to 31 August to enable more stakeholders to contribute.
A spokesperson for the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development (DIRD), which oversees BITRE, told Australian Flying on 1 September that the report was being finalised and was due to go to the General Aviation Advisory Group (GAAC) for review. However, no GAAG meeting was scheduled for the month.
Today, a DIRD spokesperson indicated that Minister Chester had been briefed on the status of the study and that GAAG would still have the opportunity to comment on the report before the final version was presented.
Australian Flying understands that much of the delay has been caused by dissatisfaction within GAAG over the way BITRE interpreted some of the data gathered.
According to sources close to the matter, BITRE briefed the GAAG back in July, but members considered the conclusions "did not reflect what GAAG members knew was reality" and that BITRE was asked to re-analyse the data.
Athough reports accused BITRE of "jumping to conclusions", the GAAG input was considered by others to be a constructive effort to help BITRE better understand the industry and the numbers.