Australian Aviation — December 2017

DECEMBER 2017 AUSTRALIAN AVIATION 75

MIKE HIGGINS

From the Regions CEO - RAAA

Pilot shortage bites
Aggressive and ongoing pilot
recruitment strategies, particularly
from international airlines, has seen an
increasing pressure on regional airlines
who are losing senior and experienced
pilots. As the recruitment spreads to the
major carriers, the trickle-down effect
has seen further pressure being applied
to our sector.
And in a double whammy, the
latest government reform to Australia’s
temporary and permanent sponsored
skilled migration programs had a
significant detrimental impact on our
short to medium pilot staffing plans.
The government announced in 2017
that fixed-wing pilots, rotary-wing
pilots and Avionics engineers were no
longer eligible to be included on the
Skilled Occupation List. Needless to
say the RAAA and others lobbied for
an opportunity to present some data to
support our contentions that there were
in fact critical shortages in these skilled
occupations. We have had a partial
win in that these occupations are now
included on the Short Term Skilled
Occupation List (STSOL).
However, this is still far short
of where we need to be. These
occupations are required to be included
in the Medium and Long Term
Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). The
RAAA will continue to advocate for
the industry and we hope to reinstate
these skilled occupations to the
MLTSSL by January 2018.

A positive step
CASA has recently appointed a new
senior aviation advisor, reporting
directly to the Director of Aviation
Safety (DAS).
This is very good news indeed as
we now have improved confidence
that the DAS will be receiving high
quality advice from someone who
has relatively recent airline industry
experience along with a broad
understanding of the many facets of the
aviation industry.

Convention success
The 2017 RAAA Convention on the
Gold Coast was excellent again. Find
someone who attended and find out first
hand just how important this event really
is. It’s not too early to start planning for

our 2018 event!

One of the many wonderful

presenters was Jason Harfield from

Airservices. Jason reported that the

Accelerate program had delivered

all its promises and the results are

now there for everyone to see. While

recording a 4.5 per cent growth in

annual income last year, it achieved a

15.2 per cent cut in expenses compared

to the prior year. This resulted in

annualised savings of $177 million and

delivered an underlying net profit after

tax of $59 million.

The old Airservices had a ratio

of five support staff for every four

operational workers. Accelerate has

turned that around so now there

are four support staff for every five

operational workers.

Importantly to RAAA members

these efficiency and productivity gains

have produced a reduction in total cost

per flight hour by nine per cent on the

previous year. In real terms this means

that after flagging a 15 per cent price

increase over five years, including an

eight per cent increase in the first year,

not only did Airservices not raise its

service prices after all, but it will also

hold these price levels right through to

the end of 2019.

At that time, with continuing

growth, they may be well-positioned

to consider a price reduction, while

still delivering on all their service

commitments. That means, as a

minimum, a price reduction in real

terms of around 10 per cent over the

next five years! This is a great good

news story and a sensational way to end

our conference.

TAAAF on the up

The Australian Aviation Associations

Forum (TAAAF) continues to see

exponential growth of 25 per cent in the

last five months, and there are now over

20 participants.

The TAAAF is an alliance of the

majority of Australia’s major aviation

associations to ensure the industry

presents a united voice to government

on key aviation issues and policy,

characterised by expertise and a

wide representation of people and

organisations committed to aviation.

Visit the website at http://www.taaaf.org

to learn more. Perhaps your association

could consider an application to join

with us?

A growing member base

The RAAA membership has continued

to grow in 2017. We continue the

important work of advocating on behalf

of the industry on issues ranging from

education and training, airport security,

457 Visa Scheme Changes, CASA

reform and individual member issues.

The RAAA would like to

acknowledge our most recent new

members: Oz Runways, Southpac

Aerospace, RMIT Flight Training,

Devonport Airport, Tasman Cargo

Airlines, TracWare and Airflite.

For further information on these

topics, contact the RAAA office:

[email protected]

Winners of the 2017 RAAA pilot

and engineering scholarships

were announced at the RAAA

Convention in late October.

SETH JAWORSKI

Airservices CEO Jason

Harfield addresses the RAAA

Convention.SETH JAWORSKI