– Steve Hitchen
As much of the east coast of Australia is belted by yet more rain, I have the luxury of staring out my hotel window across the sun-coated Swan River in Perth. It almost makes me feel guilty ... almost. I was lucky enough yesterday to take a nice new G1000 Seminole from Airflite at Jandakot south to about Mandurah and back. The reason was work, but save for a few inland showers the climate was very much playing weather. The aircraft was supposed to be a trainer, but the crisp handling and smooth feel of a new PA-44 made the aircraft a joy to get my hands on. In the next print issue of Australian Flying I will be justifying my day out with a feature on asymmetric cruising, something the Seminole is particularly adept at. Thanks to the team at Airflite for making it happen. It was my first time operating from Jandakot and you all made it such a great experience.
Has the senate RRAT inquiry into the GA industry been one expensive and painful waste of time? Started in early December 2019, back when only epidemiologists knew what a coronavirus was, it dragged on for over two years thanks to COVID and other priorities before presenting an interim report in March then disappearing into abeyance. So far the ALP government has shown no signs of wanting to resurrect it and taking it to a conclusion. We can speculate about the reasons, but there are two that seem to have the most evidence in their favour: the ALP wasn't whole-heartedly behind the inquiry in the first place, and persisting with it could interfere with their ambitions for another White Paper. It was the Nationals and the independents that drove the hardest for the inquiry, and the GA community (including this title) added weight to the impetus, determined to hold CASA to account. There was blood and biting; sniping and protest. But in the midst there was some very good work done that highlighted some issues holding the industry back. The recommendations of the interim report were not misaligned with the previous government's Aviation Recovery Framework, which told everyone that we were on the right track. So where are we at now? After five months the inquiry is dormant and the ALP has shown no desire thus far to wake it from its slumber. This puts GA in a precarious position. The problems are now known; in many cases the solutions are known as well, but without a final report carrying significant reform recommendations, all we have is an interim report on a matter that neither the previous government nor the existing one wanted to inquire into anyway. With bated breath we wait to see if our endeavours are acceptable to the government, or if the government remains determined to embark on a path to find solutions that better fit their policies.
How good was it to see that the consultation for the CASR Part 67 review garnered 600 responses! Way to go, GA, that's how you do it. A lack of response to consultation is too often interpreted as apathy, but in this case CASA has no option but to understand the level of engagement GA has with the concept of self-declared medicals. Clearly there are many out there that have skin in the game and are prepared to tell it like it is. If all CASA consultation papers got this level of response, GA's messages would get stronger and louder. It also makes it easier for CASA to adopt policies more in line with what we need. Well done, GA community.
All of a sudden there are only three weeks left until nominations for the 2022 CASA Wings Awards close. By now the only thing you should have left to do is a bit of polishing on your submission before send it through the online system. Last year we had one of the largest responses we've ever had, and the judging panel is looking forward to having their eyes opened to the contributions of passionate people.
May your gauges always be in the green,
Hitch