D C Bell to ABAA Members
UPDATE NOVEMBER 2009 

Membership

43 companies are now members of the ABAA. Our members operate about 60% of the business jets based in Australia.

Annual General Meeting and Business Aviation Seminar

The 2009 AGM was held in Sydney 22nd June and a fifth successful Business Aviation Seminar was held at the Hyatt, Coolum Queensland, 30th September 2009.

Business Aviation Activity and Economic Outlook

The global economic downturn over the past 2 years has impacted negatively on business aviation activity throughout the world, with flying down 40% in some countries. Unemployment has risen dramatically in the USA aerospace industry with significantly fewer business aircraft being manufactured this year compared to the past 5 years or so.

Australian business aviation activity has suffered less than overseas due to many factors including security issues and the increasing desire of the business community to avoid the major airlines.  The recent strengthening of the Australian dollar and an increase in business confidence will be helpful in the immediate future, together with an investment allowance, which is of assistance to some buyers.

Advocating Business Aviation 

The Washington DC based National Business Aviation Association launched an initiative called No Plane No Gain in February 2009.  This, and similar programs from major business aircraft manufacturers advocating the many benefits of Business Aviation, have helped reverse negative publicity, particularly in the USA.

Business Aircraft Numbers

Turbine powered (jet and turbo prop) business aircraft numbers in Australia have increased significantly over the past 5 years from about 150 aircraft in 2004 to over 250 aircraft in 2009.

Business jets have increased from 80 aircraft in 2004 to 142 aircraft in mid 2009. These include 117 on the VH register, 20 on the N register and 5 RAAF VIP. Most these aircraft are used for private, corporate and government business and charter operations, with about 25 aircraft being deployed for activities such as freight, airline training, law enforcement, medical retrieval and target towing.

National Aviation Policy

The Australian Government’s Aviation Green Paper was released December 2008. This was preceded by a Discussion Paper, which was released April 2008. Our submission included matters such as: access to airspace and airports; ageing aircraft and the need for an investment allowance; security at regional airports and the Sydney Airport curfew.

The ABAA provided additional written feedback to Minister Albanese in our submission February 2009, as the Government moves toward the White Paper and the Development of a National Aviation Policy. This submission concentrated on the operation of business jet aircraft at Sydney and Adelaide airports during the curfew. It was necessary to mention various anomalies and inconsistencies regarding the approval process.

Airservices Australia

Following recent meetings with Airservices Australia, the ABAA is pleased to report  that ATC staff now have a improved appreciation of the high performance characteristics of business jets and their ability to adapt quickly to changing ATC circumstances. This will enable better flow of airline traffic and business jets in Australian airspace.

The ABAA was represented at the Airservices Australia Industry Consultation Forum in Canberra, June 2009. An important outcome of these meetings was the need to improve efficiency in Terminal Manoeuvring Areas (TMA), particularly at Sydney. Also, it was agreed that Airservices Australia needs to implement technology improvements more rapidly in order to improve flow rates.

CASA Regulations

The ABAA has been represented on the CASA Standards Consultative Committee since 2003. Activities mainly relate to the review of Australian Aviation Regulations.

Following a recommendation by the ABAA, CASA announced in March 2009, that two new Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASRs), would be dedicated to business/corporate activity. These will be CASR Part 94 for fixed wing aircraft and CASR Part 96 for rotary wing. These new CASRs have low priority and will receive attention after all other CASRs have undergone regulatory review. 

IS-BAO

The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) developed an International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations in 2002. IS-BAO has since been embraced by over 100 operators worldwide. IS-BAO takes the management principles of ISO 9000 and tailors them to business aviation.

The core of IS-BAO is a Safety Management System, which advocates proactive management of risk. Australian operators would begin the registration (certification) process by ordering an IS-BAO manual from the ABAA. Operators who sign up for the program not only receive the set of standards, but a wealth of associated material.

Fingerprinting Service for Air Crews Training in USA

With sponsorship from FlightSafety International, the ABAA took the initiative in 2007 to arrange for a USA National Air Transport Association approved fingerprinting service to be available in Australia for pilots and crew members who plan to attend USA Flight School and Simulator Training.

Ms Toni Remedios of Sydney completed her training in July 2007 and was then approved by the USA National Air Transport Association to collect and process fingerprints needed to comply with USA security requirements introduced in 2002. Up to October 2009, over 130 candidates have been fingerprinted with an approval rate of 100%. Approval from TSA is often less than 5 days.

David C Bell