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Post by raymond on Sept 2, 2012 9:20:14 GMT 12
Just the tip of the iceberg I suspect www.stuff.co.nz/national/7595586/Fee-rise-for-pilot-licences-slammedFee rise for pilot licences slammed MICHAEL FORBES Last updated 05:00 02/09/2012 The aviation community believes private pilots and smaller operators are being made to pay for the Civil Aviation Authority's "inefficiencies" after the authority announced a significant fee hike. A new funding framework will kick in from November, affecting all civil aviation fees, charges and levies. The cost of pilots' licences will go up from about $56 to $230. Pilots will also have to pay a new fixed "medical certificate application fee" of $313 every time their health is assessed, which for most is an annual requirement. The rate at which the authority charges for non-medical services - mainly auditing - will jump from $135.70 per hour to $208 per hour and hit $284 per hour by the end of 2014. Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee said the new funding system, which features about 150 changes in total, would recover an extra $14.1 million over the next three years. The authority's charges had not been reviewed in 15 years and were considerably lower than needed to meet cost recovery, he said. Irene King, chief executive of the Aviation Industry Association, which represents the interests of the aviation community, said she felt the new fee structure would not be needed if the authority had better systems in place. "If they had an efficient administrative system working in their medical unit - in other words, internet-based filing - then they wouldn't have a massive number of people handling bits of paper that inevitably get lost." The authority's move from Petone to the Asteron Centre in Wellington's Featherston St, which was criticised in 2009 by then Transport Minister Steven Joyce for costing $8.5m, was "undoubtedly" a driver behind the new charges, King said. In a statement, the authority conceded the fee increases would not have been as much if it had stayed in Petone. "However, the CAA was facing increased costs in its Petone office, as it was due to upgrade space and fit out." Authority chief executive Graeme Harris said the updated fees and charges were fairer. "Users are moving closer to paying the true cost of the actual services they use." King said larger operators would not be too bothered by the new charges. "But for the little guys, I think it could be quite daunting." Vincent Air chief executive Peter Vincent, who operates seven smaller Dash-8 and Beechcraft 1900 planes out of Wellington, said trainee pilots would likely cringe at the increased medical fees. "No-one likes paying more, especially if you're not making a living out of your pilot's licence. I can imagine they would be pretty horrified at having to pay $300 for that." - © Fairfax NZ News
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 2, 2012 9:52:57 GMT 12
"Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee said the new funding system, which features about 150 changes in total, would recover an extra $14.1 million over the next three years."
Recover is such an unusual word to use, I think 'fleece' would be more accurate.
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Post by TS on Sept 2, 2012 10:00:02 GMT 12
Well that just makes the possibility of renewing my licence just move out that little bit further...... Nothing that a lotto win won't fix ( if only)
I guess this could change alot of would be pilots minds unless they have a good bank balance before they start!!
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Post by baz62 on Sept 2, 2012 11:11:31 GMT 12
Hmmmm and I'll bet rather than go to see an aviation specialist with a health problem some will choose to either self medicate or go see their own Doctor rather than pay this amount of money! Better get my medical sorted quick!
I presume this fee for pilot licences is for new ones as they are lifetime ones now meaning its a one off cost.....or have I missed something.
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Post by dakdriver on Sept 2, 2012 11:21:53 GMT 12
For any of you amateur builders on this forum Look at the increase for registering an new aircraft from $174.80 to $296.00, booking a registration from $30.67 to $197.00 and the hourly rate for them to process same from $137.80 to 284.00 by 2014. and hourly increase of $147.00 jeeze i know they are good ( ?) but not that good This could be called Gouging
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Post by Bruce on Sept 2, 2012 12:28:26 GMT 12
Might as well kill off the aviation industry right now. Why would anyone want to get in involved in the industry, be it pilot, engineer or aircraft owner, when everyone's aspirations are killed off at entry level... Salaries in the industry have always been pitiful, and now it will cost the proverbial arm and leg to get anything done - whatever the field. Advice to people thinking of entering the industry - Dont bother...
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Post by dakdriver on Sept 2, 2012 12:39:43 GMT 12
Its not only CAA who are slugging aviation Local councils are doubling landing fees, and introducing touch and go fees. Airways corp are trying to increase their charges A private company has climbed onto the band wagon to collect these fees and advocating charging for approach and over Shute and or go arounds then they add their collection fees onto the landing fee.
So it’s not only CAA who is the CONSPIRACY AGAINST AVIATION
One positive thing about all these fees the market will be flooded with cheap aircraft for sale
Sorry for the rant but methinks we all need to do something about this
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Post by DragonflyDH90 on Sept 2, 2012 19:46:15 GMT 12
Agree 100% dakdriver, we do need to do something about this. It is already in the media to a degree so that is good. AOPA, ALPA, SAA, RNZAC all need to jump on this very very quickly. There are approximately 5 million domestic airline passengers annually and 3 million passenger arrivals on international carriers (dont know the departure numbers), if these passengers were levied $1 they have already achieved $8 million without gouging an already dying GA sector. If they are needing to recover $14 million annually there are better and less underhanded ways of doing it. Im up for a fight if required....
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Post by eieio on Sept 2, 2012 20:35:36 GMT 12
So they stuffed up with a business discision [moving premises]. private enterprise has to carry the can. Having just recieved an account for aircraft annual which did not enthuse me $313 for medical fee is rediculous.What does CAA do for a ppl medical[Oh, thats right ,they have to check out everything you have ever had wrong with you every examination [examination done by someone else] Just have to turn emeraude into a boat.
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Post by raymond on Sept 2, 2012 20:36:08 GMT 12
I believe that they are also loading the pax on scheduled flights saw it the other day www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10830090Domestic and international air travellers will be hit in the pocket as the aviation industry boosts funding for the Civil Aviation Authority. Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee today announced an extra $14.1 million over the next three years will be going to the CAA, paid for by commercial aircraft operators, passengers and pilots. An Air New Zealand spokesman told APNZ air fares would jump accordingly. "The money will come from airline passengers," he said. Jetstar could not be reached for comment. Domestic travellers levies will increase from $1.78 to $1.97 by 2015 and international levies will increase from 89 cents to $1.50. The new funding framework will affect all civil aviation fees, charges and levies and will come into effect on November 1. Mr Brownlee said the increase in funding would ensure the CAA had sufficient revenue to fund its ongoing operations and continue to improve its services and air safety. Article continues below CAA chairman Nigel Gould said the increased fees, charges and levies should come as no surprise as the CAA had been discussing them with the aviation community since 2010. He said the authority had attempted to minimise the cost impact by making savings and phasing in some changes over a couple of years. CAA chief executive Graeme Harris many fees and charges had not been increased since 1997. "The aviation industry has changed a lot since then, as have our costs and the job we are required to do." - APNZ
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Post by Officer Crabtree on Sept 2, 2012 20:42:15 GMT 12
So your advice is for me to not go solo?
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Post by Peter Lewis on Sept 2, 2012 23:32:37 GMT 12
When you add up the costs of a medical, VFG subscription, current maps and probably an aero-club membership subscription your average PPL is looking at the thick end of a thousand dollars just to be legally entitled to fly. Given such a fellow probably averages around 40 hours a year, that's $25 per flying hour before you look at actual flying costs. Quite a disincentive.
Best of luck with any attempt to get these draconian monopoly-driven fee increases scaled back, but I fear you'd be pissing into the wind.
I have found that the public perception of a (non-airline) aircraft pilot is of a wealthy irresponsible adrenaline-driven young fellow who takes unwarranted risks with his own life and those of other people. More money than sense, something between a WW2 Spitfire pilot and one of the Bentley Boys.
Unfortunately the current over-the-top draconian security measures imposed at airfields large and small has reinforced this perception, and now most aviation activity is becoming as far removed from the general population as Grand Prix racing.
Thus the imposition of such costs on both commercial and recreational aviation will bet met by most with either complete indifference or a serve-them-right they-can-afford-it shrug.
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Post by dakdriver on Sept 3, 2012 7:13:19 GMT 12
I have been looking at how these councils, authorities and private companies are now trying to collect landing fees at unattended airfields. They are talking about collecting for landings, touch and go, approach and go-around’s It appears to me that they are using your radio calls to log your activity, and then going to the CAA website to put your tail number to your address so they can send you the bill.
Now I am not a lawyer BUT
133A Offence to disclose contents of radio communications (1) Every person commits an offence against this Act who receives a radio communication and who, knowing that the radio communication was not intended for that person,—
(a) makes use of the radio communication or any information derived from that radio communication
(b) reproduces or causes or permits to be reproduced the radio communication or information derived from that radio communication;
Seems to me that clause A and B are being ignored here. To obtain your tail number just go to the CAA website.
A recent ruling from the Privacy Commissioner has found that CAA are in breach of the Privacy Act.
So it seems rules for some not for others
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Post by DragonflyDH90 on Sept 3, 2012 9:56:03 GMT 12
Best of luck with any attempt to get these draconian monopoly-driven fee increases scaled back, but I fear you'd be pissing into the wind. Unfortunately it is statements like this (not directed as an attack at you though flyernzl) that mean little action gets taken. It is a fairly ufortunate attitude of "oh well cant do much about". Look at how the motorcyclists took it to the government with the registration hikes. We need better lobby groups for aviation here in NZ, in the US the EAA and AOPA are very strong when it comes to lobbying against the FAA. They have quite a number of high powered lawyers (who are pilots) and are willing to at least try. Think of this from my point of view (I am not a PPL but a CPL and instructor), I am required to do a medical every 12mths (which currently costs me somewhere near $220). They intend to throw another $313 at that. In the very near future I will need to do my class 1 medical every 6mths. This cost does not take into account any eye tests, hearing tests, ECG or blood tests required for said medical which can be all around $100 each. On top of that my nearest medical practitioner for Av medicals (as there are only 3 in the lower South Island and getting less by the year) is a 1.5hr drive away so I also need to take a day off work. I also need to do a instructor renewal annually which is a couple of hundred dollars excluding aircraft hire, this will undoubtedly go up with the other fees also. Operational Competency Assessment for commercial ops, another $300-400 excl aircraft hire. I do two of these annually, one for single engine and one for multi engine. Admittedly I dont pay for these the boss does but its still an expense to someone. Aerobatic rating renewal every two years, display authorisation for airshows every year, BFR 2 years. All up with these figures by the time I am operationally ready to fly there is a costs of somewhere near $1500. On top of all this is the hourly rate increase for CAA time which will essentially double the cost of our annual audits to keep our air operator certificate, already it is waaaay more than we could ever hope to recoup with joyriding in our machines. Quite feasibly the end of this type of operation for everyone as the costs push everyone to extinction. Ah well, never mind, might just stick my head in the sand. Might just keep my microlight medical and instructors rating which costs lucky if $200 per annum to keep and run with that.......until CAA see they can make some money from that also as everyone jumps ship from GA to microlight. Now....off to register the Pitts as a microlight now........
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 3, 2012 10:50:00 GMT 12
This really is an appaulling situation. I'm not a pilot so am not affected, but if you guys who are affected wish to use the forum as a means of rallying support for a group to take on the Government, please feel free to do so.
As Ryan says, it can be done. The farmers have done it with fart tax, the motorcyclists as Ryan said too. Maybe an aviation group can also be mustered to rally against these unfair cost hikes.
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Post by dakdriver on Sept 3, 2012 11:18:31 GMT 12
Thanks Dave
we are trying to get organised to do something so if anybody on the forum can contribute lets get it together
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Post by Peter Lewis on Sept 3, 2012 11:59:51 GMT 12
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Post by DragonflyDH90 on Sept 7, 2012 8:22:30 GMT 12
Any further action, news etc on this.
I have emailed Irene King at AIA asking for action and they are working on this, having siad that they were in consultation with the department in the leadup to these hikes so I dont know how much effort they will actually put in.
She said they needed support from the likes of AOPA, ALPA, SAA etc to push the issue.
I have also emailed several folk i know within AOPA to see if they had the intention to pursue this, anyone have much to do with SAA?? Bruce??
Lets get some balls rolling..
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Post by Bruce on Sept 7, 2012 8:29:39 GMT 12
SAA is most definitely working on this through the NZ Aviation Federation (SAA, AOPA and RNZAC) and we are putting forward very firm arguements. Whether CAA will pay any attention is unlikely based on previous discussions on the topic. It appears as though AIA (which consists of airline and commercial operators) trumps recreational users in terms of consultation. The commercial operators however havent thought where their skill base really comes from... We arent giving up the fight though!
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Post by DragonflyDH90 on Sept 7, 2012 8:43:01 GMT 12
Wonder if taking it to the media further is of use, the implications of these fee hikes need to be seen. This is the type of thing that will seriously hurt GA, less will be able to physically hold a licence due to the annual cost.
I know Joe public doesnt give two hoots about flying and see it as a rich persons sport (which it is fast becoming with this kind of nonsense) but how would everyone feel if they all of a sudden doubled all the fees associated with motor transport. Rego now $600......
I struggle to justify my licence as it is and I am seriously considering dropping my instructors rating due to the b$@##%^t involved in keeping it. Any idea what they intend raising the particpation levy to, if all the other fees such as registration, CAA hourly rate etc are going up so will the particpation levy for every aircraft. What the heck do you get for a particpation levy anyhow.....Jack s@#t
Thanks for being involved at the NZAF end Bruce
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