Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester has today announced a study into the state of the general aviation industry in Australia, to be completed by 30 June 2017.
The study, to be carried out by the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE), forms part of the government's response to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Project Eureka and a policy released earlier this year by The Australian Aviation Associations Forum (TAAAF)
“I am keen to remove barriers to growth in this vital part of the aviation industry including reducing costs and regulatory burden,” Chester said. “General aviation has a rich history in Australia and I'm confident it can have a prosperous future. This study will help get the public policy right to support growth in the sector.
“The BITRE study will cover a range of issues, including assessing the key drivers and influences on the sector. That means identifying trends, what the economic, demographic, and regulatory factors behind these trends are, as well as outlining the key challenges facing the industry."
Representatives of the general aviation community are expected to get the chance to contribute to the BITRE study.
Chester also announced that the General Aviation Action Group will act as a reference group to BITRE, and that the group would in future report directly to the minister responsible, rather than through the Aviation Industry Consultative Council.
The terms of reference for the study are:
- define the scope, and provide an overview of, the GA industry
- profile significant sectors of the GA industry, including case studies of particular GA businesses
- examine trends in GA activity over the past decade including amongst different types of GA operations
- identify the key economic, demographic and regulatory factors behind these trends
- undertake a comparison of the Australian GA industry with comparable aviation nations (e.g. USA, Canada, NZ)
- outline the key challenges facing the GA industry, and
- outline opportunities for the GA industry and Government to respond to these challenges.
The full scope of the BITRE study including a statement of purpose is available on the Department of Infrastructure and Transport website.