THE "G" AIRSPACE TRIAL HAS BEEN TERMINATED.
   BLACK SUNDAY, SUNDAY THE THIRTEENTH.
   UNIONS STEAL THE 'FREE IN G'

 The Class "G" airspace trial in the air corridor between Canberra and
 Ballina, NSW has been prematurely terminated.

 The announcement of the termination occurred after a BASI report was
 issued expressing concerns about some parts of the trial. AOPA agree
 that fine tuning was required. The BASI report did not justify the BASI
 recommendation to terminate the trial.

 In fact, BASI specifically did not make a finding that the new system
 was less safe that the old system, but never-the-less recommended a
 cessation of the trial, and a return to the old system, this despite
 previous BASI reports on the very serious shortcomings of the old system.

 In the much publicised Williamtown incident, RADAR was the reason one
 aircraft was aware of the other, yet the radar service is now withdrawn
 as we revert to the old system.

 Dick Smith, well known for championing ICAO Airspace, was overseas at
 the time, and returned to Australia after the announcement was made, has
 said that the trial demonstrated the feasibility of the new system but
 acknowledged that there could be improvements.

 Similar opinions have been expressed by such senior aviation executives
 as Doug Gillies of Qantas, and Gerry McGowan, Chief Executive of Impulse
 Airlines based at Williamtown, in the middle of the trial area.

 AOPA supports the airspace trial. Many of our members flew in the
 airspace during the trial and saw how good it was. Many of our airline
 pilot members also reported that to us too. After all, these
 professional pilot members are not members of the Australian Federation
 of Air Pilots, a small aviation union, (formally a big aviation union)
 the remaining rump of the justly famous '89 domestic pilot dispute. You
 will recall AFAP was the union that was ill-advised enough to take on
 that wily old bird, and seasoned industrial campaigner - Bob Hawke, at
 the height of his powers.

 Pilots who took the trouble to understand the new system, or those who
 were already familiar, from overseas experience in USA, CANADA or UK,
 really appreciated the lower workload.

 All the reports of high workload effectively stemmed from self-imposed
 requirements. NOT CASA REQUIREMENTS. Many reports of congestion on the
 National Advisory Frequency (NAF) were a combination of lack of
 familiarity by some and deliberate sabotage by others.

 For the first time, many pilots were being warned by radar of aircraft
 which otherwise they had no idea existed and were in the vicinity.

 THIS RADAR COVERAGE HAS BEEN AVAILABLE FOR MANY YEARS.
 AS OF TODAY, THIS RADAR HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN, EXCEPT IN AN EMERGENCY.

 AOPA has very great reservations about the BASI comments. The system was
 passed as an improvement in safety by experts from the UK National Air
 Traffic Service, to name but one. AOPA calls for the educational
 problems to be corrected and new system to be re-introduced as soon as
 possible.

 It is crucial for everyone to see that the new system is the right one
 and the improvements in safety maintained, and teething problems not
 used as an excuse to return to the grotesquely out of date, expensive and
 seriously flawed system of old. How absurd that Flight Services
 Officers should to be sitting in rooms passing bits of paper to each
 other and making a few inspired guesses.

 Figuratively speaking, in the next room, radar is available. Different
 room, different frequency, different union. That's what they are doing.

 AOPA represents the interests of you, the General Aviation pilot and
 aircraft owner. We also represent the interests of many members who are
 the owners and operators of businesses in General Aviation such as
 flying schools, aircraft builders, warbird owners, repair facilities
 and of course many airline pilots and employees who see us working for
 the betterment of aviation. All individuals and businesses who have to
 pay their own way.

 AOPA believes we must press on with "G" airspace as part of the
 modernisation of our whole aviation structure. We delude ourselves about
 safety, we cannot afford to forgo the benefits of hard won experience
 of the rest of the world. We kid ourselves about our record, we can and
 must do much better, more of the same old thing will not achieve that.

 MORE OF THE SAME OLD THING WILL ONLY CONDEMN
 US TO MORE OF THE SAME POOR SAFETY RESULTS.

 This country cannot afford the number of air traffic controllers who
 operate the absurd and out-of-date system that the new system replaces.
 We simply cannot afford to pay for ten times as many air traffic
 controllers per aircraft as exists in the USA - and the USA, not
 Australia, has the World's safest aviation system.

 AOPA's agenda is safe affordable flying for everyone, including the
 fare-paying passenger. The fare-paying passenger should not be fleeced
 by unnecessary overcharging stemming from union featherbedding and
 outmoded work practices, and receive a third grade service to boot.

 These outmoded work practices have serious safety connotations, just
 have a look at so many BASI reports.

 The Freedom To Fly Responsibly, Without Unnecessary Cost And Restriction
 Is Our Agenda. We Have No Other Agenda. This Has Always Been Our Agenda.

 WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN PRESERVING JOBS, WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN
 TURNING OUR BACKS ON THE WORLD'S BEST PRACTICE.
 THE SCARE CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN ORCHESTRATED BY THOSE WHO'S JOBS ARE
 THREATENED, AND PILOTS WHO DO NOT PAY THEIR OWN WAY. A PARTICULAR GROUP
 OF PILOTS WHO DO NOT BELIEVE YOU EVEN HAVE THE RIGHT TO USE AUSTRALIA'S
 AIRSPACE TO SHARE THE AIRSPACE WITH THEM.

 These are the same small group who fought against the introduction of
 "E" airspace.

 Class E AIRSPACE is NOW A PROVEN AND UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS.

 THE WORKING PROFESSIONAL PILOTS AMONGST OUR MEMBERS, WHO INCLLUDE SOME
 OF AUSTRALIA'S MOST EMINENT AND EXPERIENCED AVIATORS, WERE VERY HAPPY
 WITH THE "G" SYSTEM, AS IT WAS SETTLING DOWN.

 WE WANT THE BEST FOR AUSTRALIA AND WE WILL FIGHT FOR IT.

 We will continue to press for the "G" airspace to be introduced. It is
 safer, more efficient and suited to the air traffic mix in Australia.
 AOPA wants nothing more than truly safe Australian skies.

 We Will Continue To Work For That, And We Will Succeed, Because We Are
 Right.

	WATCH THIS SPACE! 	DECEMBER 1998