The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has accepted that general aviation has been in long-term decline in the wake of statistics released last week by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).
A spokesperson told Australian Flying yesterday that CASA was yet to go into the AOPA figures in-depth, but they didn't believe the decline was solely due to regulation.
"CASA accepts activity in general aviation has reduced over a lengthy period of time, although we have yet to do a comprehensive analysis of the data provided by AOPA," the spokesperson said.
"The reduction in activity is due to many economic, social and technological factors.
"CASA does not accept that the reduction in general aviation activity can solely be attributed to safety regulations or actions by CASA.
"However, as a part of the Australian aviation system CASA acknowledges it needs to do more to remove any unnecessary regulatory burdens to general aviation and to provide efficient regulatory services."
The statement went on to emphasise the changes CASA has made, which it sees as providing benefits to general aviation.
"We have started work on overhauling CASA’s service delivery systems and are working to develop a service culture within our workforce.
"Action is also being taken to provide new and improved training for CASA staff, we are revising and improving manuals, we now have a focus on relationship building and we are streamlining approval processes.
"All these changes will better support the safety regulatory requirements of the general aviation sector.
"CASA is committed to being a constructive safety partner with the aviation community and looks forward to working with everyone in general aviation to build a stronger future for this important sector of Australian aviation.”
Unlike the situation in the USA where the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has some responsibility for promoting the aviation industry, the Civil Aviation Act in Australia does not place a similar obligation on CASA, a situation that GA activists have been wanting changed for some time.