Soaring landing charges threatens pilot programs: Minister

22/7/04
Dramatically increased landing charges at Jandakot Airport will spell ruin for pilot training programs in Western Australia, Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said today.
"The Federal Government is proposing a new location-specific pricing regime that would see the basic landing charge at Jandakot Airport go from $8.67 per tonne to $41.18 per tonne - a 375 per cent increase," Ms MacTiernan said.
The Minister said the changes could ultimately lead to job losses.
"International airlines like Singapore Airlines and China Southern operate flying schools from Jandakot Airport, and these two operations alone are responsible for employing a large number of people at Jandakot," she said.
"Jandakot Airport is the busiest airport in Australia in terms of aircraft movements.
"There is opposition across the board to this proposal from WA's aviation sector: an industry that consists of flying schools, charter operators and maintenance companies that employ hundreds of people and contribute millions to the State's economy."
Ms MacTiernan said the landing charge hike would also jeopardise the operations of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
"The RFDS operates hundreds of flights into and out of Jandakot every year, providing life-saving patient movements across the State," she said.
"To have their landing charges blow out by these sorts of proportions would be a major financial burden to what is a non-profit organisation, and could see the RFDS have to reduce their level of service - which could cost people's lives."
The Minister said the proposed pricing regime had been devised with very little regard for WA.
"Airservices did not consult with the State Government, which is actively involved in aviation policy and has been receiving numerous complaints from operators," she said.
"I have made contact with Federal Transport Minister John Anderson urging him to re-think this proposed pricing structure and to consider maintaining the status quo, where the Federal Government subsides air traffic services.
"The alternative would be to introduce a national 'network charge' - an equitable pricing regime that takes into account aircraft movements at all airports across Australia and spreads costs evenly among all types of users - both airlines and general aviation - regardless of what airport they use."
Minister's office: 9213 6400
AIR SERVICES AUSTRALIA - JANDAKOT AIRPORT CHARGES
Current charge (per landed tonne) $8.67
Proposed charge (per landed tonne) $41.18 on July 1, 2005 rising to $44.64 by July 1, 2008.
The following table is based on current and proposed July 1, 2005 charges: