– Steve Hitchen
Rob Walker's appointment as RAAA CEO is a blinder of a move that keeps a good operator in the aviation community. As Stakeholder Engagement Manager at both Airservices and CASA, he has a very firm grasp on what general and regional aviation needs to go forward. And now he has the ability to get things done without the constraints that come with being part of a relentless bureaucracy. Not that the job will be easy; all the advocacy in the world comes undone in the face of political imperative. However, Walker is a man that people listen to, which will stand the RAAA in good stead on advisory bodies such as the General Aviation Advisory Network (GAAN) and, ironically, CASA's Aviation Safety Advisory Panel, which Walker himself set up. Although his brief will focus on the priorities of regional airlines and airports, I expect Walker will also take to the negotiating table the interests of general aviation where there is no clash with RAAA policy. I might be putting policy in the mouth of the RAAA here, but as they have branded themselves as "the preeminent aviation association" in Australia, it's fair to believe that GA has a place within the RAAA.
Group G is nearly here! CASA has issued a new approval for RAAus to administer aircraft with MTOWs in the 601-760-kg range, and RAAus is saying they will be ready to start taking registrations by 25 March. It all sounds brilliant, but will it deliver the benefits to RAAus and GA that are being touted? There are several reasons why someone would want to register their aircraft in the RAAus Group G category: loss of medical, higher BEW for home-builts, cheesed-off with CASA. These are the big three. But in the absence of those, there is little reason to expect an exodus of RV, C150 and Victa Airtourer owners from GA into Group G; very few will swap letters for numbers just for the hell of it. If you build it, they won't necessarily come. And right now, the manufacturers' don't have a standard to build new aircraft for Group G other than full type certification, which costs a motza. Remember also that Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) can't be registered in Group G because the definition of LSA doesn't permit MTOWs over 600 kg. And there is another thorn in the side of this project: the SAAA. Whilst RAAus is trying to lure RV owners to their books, the Sport Aircraft Association of Australia will be pulling in the other direction. The SAAA is on record as saying they don't believe RAAus should even exist let alone be permitted to register amateur-built aircraft with MTOWs in the Group G range. So there are obstacles at the moment, but the idea is sound and eventually will find its place in the GA community. Time and patience will be necessary ingredients to Group G's success.
Congratulations to the aviation people who were honoured with gongs in the Australia Day Honours list. It's always good to see people recognised, but each year there seems to be so few in light of the good work being done by so many. The reason behind this, I feel, is that people aren't being nominated, or the nominations are half-hearted. As a community, general aviation needs to get its act together and put together some irresistible nominations for next year to make sure deserving people aren't being overlooked. After all, it is the quiet hard-workers that make GA what it is.
May your gauges always be in the green,
Hitch