And we're off! Albo has called the Federal Election for 3 May, six weeks downrange. This has caught many commentators (including this one) by surprise; the betting was on 10 or 17 May to give the ALP enough time to reverse the poll trends. As the government is now in caretaker mode, ministers and representatives can now safely fail to progress requests and promises, and all inquiries officially lapse. But the political parties don't enjoy that luxury, their main aim from here until 3 May is to convince the Australian public that their policies are the best path forward for the nation; that their promises are more than just a pocket full of mumbles. Over the next six weeks, we, the aviation community, should be pressuring our local members and senators over their ambitions or otherwise for general aviation. Whilst the ALP will rock back on the Aviation White Paper, the Coalition will be very keen to present a viability-coloured alternative policy. As of Monday morning, we'll be chasing that down, as well as trying to tap the independents for their positions. The chances of a hung parliament are increasing almost daily, and if that comes to pass, the independents will take on the role of kingmakers, just as they did in 2010. If that happens, their attitude to aviation will adopt a greater level of importance.
Archerfield Airport Corporation (AAC) turned in its second iteration of the draft master plan to Minister Catherine King in February. She rejected the first one because it didn't "clearly establish the strategic direction for economic and efficient development of the airport." As that criteria is probably the point of a master plan in the first place, King's decision to send it back was fair. I suspect AAC doesn't necessarily see it that way. But issues with the federal leased airports are not isolated at Archerfield; operators at most the of the metro GA airports have woes dealing with the corporations that hold the head leases. And the tunes are the same regardless of the airport: decaying infrastructure, unworkable lease conditions, encroaching non-aviation development, rising charges and lack of consultation and communication. Whilst some of the airports have displayed improving trends on some of these issues, generally, the aviation lease-holders don't have a lot of reason for optimism. And that is why there have been emerging calls for the minister to review all the head leases as allowed for under the Airports Act 1996. My advice is that since the federal government began leasing out the airports, the leases have never actually been reviewed to find out if they are still fit for purpose. Given the declining aviation environments at the airports, there is plenty of incentive to have a good look at the leases. The department has been approached to do that, but no commitment has been forthcoming. If anything, they have promised the opposite. I can predict one thing: the aviation companies are not going to go away on this, and the next minister needs to be prepared to deal with an energetic campaign. There is too much at stake for this to fade into history.
For the first time ever, the CASA Wings Awards were all presented at once, thanks to support from AMDA Foundation. CASA Chair Mark Binskin made the presentations this morning in the Chairman's Chalet at Avalon. A last-minute change of venue caught us off-guard and we weren't able to get the word out fast enough. For those who missed the awards due to this, we do apologise. That didn't take any shine off the ceremony nor smiles off the faces of the winners, who have contributed so much to general aviation over the years, and no doubt into the future. It was especially pleasing to see Georgie Arnold there, who, if she is an example of the younger generation of aviation, shows us that the future of general aviation in good hands. Personally, I was proud also to see the awards ceremony graduation from the first one in 2013, when an award was handed to the winner under a verandah of a local aero club with no-one but a photographer present, to a slick presentation embraced by AMDA Foundation and supported by so many in the industry.
With two days of Avalon still to run, it's pointless passing any analysis or opinion at the moment; there is still so much to come. As the layout is very different from the spectacular 2023 show, there were some who were predicting a problematic six days, but although there have been some glitches, many of the disasters prophesied haven't panned out. Getting into the show is, as always, an adventure, and I would suggest leaving yourself plenty of time to get to the gate and through security. Once inside, there is a heap of general aviation material and displays on the ground and a lot of loud-and-proud machinery in the air. Get down here and be a part.
May your gauges always be in the green,
Hitch