The bold text below is from the December 2005 issue of the leading American magazine, Flying.
It is all very sad. Australia could be a leader in recreational aviation with our good weather, low terrain and vast distances. However it now looks as though foreign pilots will spend their money elsewhere while our Aussie businesses close down. No wonder the Australian general aviation industry is in decline.
"End of an Era
Fallout from global security efforts continues to plague aviation companies. GOANA (Great Outback Air Navigation Adventure) Australian Air Safaris is the latest casualty. According to GOANA’s Mal Shipton, recently introduced legislation designed to improve Australia’s “homeland” security makes it virtually impossible for the company to continue to conduct its commercial operation.
Shipton said, that the legislation, the “Enhanced Aviation Security Package,” would require literally thousands of visitor permits every year (one for each visit to each airport by each individual), a pilot license acquisition procedure that will take an inordinate time even after you correctly answer every question in the nine pages of the application, and it won’t be issued until your arrival immigration details are verified “within 24 to 48 hours.” The cost has jumped from $60 to $175 with this figure expected to quadruple to meet the cost recovery objectives stated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Further, an initial security background check will cost $200 and there is currently a three-month backlog. Over a period of some 12 years, the company provided aerial safaris to participants who flew more than 40,000 flight hours in the GPS equipped 172s without a single injury, but the stiff new requirements have forced the company to sell its fleet and cease operation."
