|
Last Updated: Jul 19th, 2010 - 10:01:18 |
Government NAS & statements
Comments on NAS
Following are just some of the statements made by the Government (or Government authorities), the airlines and industry bodies in support of NAS.
The first quote shows that Qantas supports the National Airspace System (NAS). This is from a letter dated 18 February 2002, from David Forsyth (the then Executive General Manager Aircraft Operations at Qantas and current Board member of Airservices Australia) to The Hon John Anderson MP (the then Minister for Transport and Regional Services):
“Qantas therefore supports further development of the NAS on the basis of it receiving final safety case approval from CASA and there being no major financial disadvantage to Qantas.”
Of course, CASA did approve the final safety case and it was shown that there was no major financial disadvantage to Qantas - note how they are obsessed with cost.
From a media release issued by Minister John Anderson dated 13 May 2002:
“The Government has decided to adopt the National Airspace System (NAS) as the model for reform of Australian airspace, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Regional Services, John Anderson, announced today.
The model was developed by aviator and businessman, Mr Dick Smith, and Qantas. The NAS proposal was selected following an examination by the Special Aviation Reform Group (ARG) which comprised a panel of industry leaders.”
On 3 July 2003, the then Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Angus Houston (now an Air Chief Marshal and the Chief of Defence) was a member of the Aviation Reform Group and wrote to the ARG’s Chairman and Secretary of the Department of Transport, Ken Matthews. His letter stated:
“… it is my understanding that the Australian NAS that is currently being implemented should be consistent with the United States NAS model, as stated by the Deputy Prime Minister.”
Following is a second quote from Qantas. This is from a letter dated 5 August 2003 from David Forsyth to Dick Smith:
“I confirm that Qantas remains committed to the NAS.”
To show Airservices’ initial support for NAS, following is statement from the then Chairman, Air Marshal Les Fisher, in a letter to me dated 25 May 2004. It is obvious that Airservices must have supported NAS if they were going to get someone for a year to assist with “the safe and timely implementation of NAS reforms”.
“I can assure you that Airservices Australia has sought expert assistance from FAA and we have been advised that an appropriate FAA staff member will be provided in the near future, on a year’s secondment, to assist with the safe and timely implementation of the NAS reforms.”
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s Chief Executive, Bruce Byron AM, stated the following in a letter dated 26 August 2004 to the Airservices Australia Chief Executive, Bernie Smith:
“By reversing some of the elements introduced in NAS 2b, further progress towards the improved airspace system would seem difficult to achieve.”
From the Coalition Government’s current transport policy, ‘Building our national transport future’, dated 15 September 2004 (just before the last election):
“A Coalition Government will continue to modernise Australia’s airspace system through the continued staged implementation of the National Airspace System (NAS).
The National Airspace System has already been found by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to be safer than the system we have today. Furthermore, it will deliver improved air traffic services and greater flexibility for instrument flight rules aircraft, especially in regional Australia, greater freedom of movement for visual flight rules flights, and simpler, standardised procedures that will make flying easier.
It will also encourage greater participation in the aviation industry, creating jobs in the aviation industry and in regional communities that depend on it.”
Following is a quote from an address by the former Minister for Transport and Regional Services, The Hon Mark Vaile MP, at the Safeskies Conference on 27 October 2005:
“The Government is undertaking an important programme of airspace reform, which will make our airspace safer and bring it into line with the US system. The next step is the introduction of new procedures for operations at non-towered airports.”
From a speech by The Hon Warren Truss MP, Minister for Transport and Regional Services, at the Australian Airports 24th National Convention and Industry Exhibition, 14 November 2005:
“Let me also take this opportunity to talk about the National Airspace System:
The next stage – commonly known as NAS 2c – will see the implementation of uniform operating procedures at all non-tower airports.
The final scheduled NAS reform is on track to introduce four new airspace types that can provide more freedom of movement for civil aircraft operating in airspace that is generally acquired for Defence purposes.”
From a letter from Minister Warren Truss’ office to a constituent dated 10 April 2006:
“The Australian Government’s airspace policy, the National Airspace System (NAS), is designed to introduce the benefits of the US airspace model in an appropriate and safe manner. In May 2002, the Government decided to change the structure of Australian airspace in a manner consistent with the airspace architecture in the US, the world’s leading aviation nation. The US airspace model is safe and proven, and handles air traffic levels that are 20 times higher than that in Australia.”
Apr 27, 2006, 14:42
Government NAS & statements
The O'Neill Report - "Report on Analysis of NAS 2B Conducted by Airservices Australia"
[ Visit Website ]
Jul 29, 2009, 15:06
|
