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Rex Welcomes Government's Airspace Initiative
Friday, September 15, 2006

Regional Express (Rex) welcomes an initiative for progressing Airspace Reform announced yesterday by the Minister for Transport and Regional Services, the Hon Warren Truss, MP.

Commenting on the announcement at Parliament House yesterday morning Rex’s Managing Director, Geoff Breust, said:

“Minister Truss has put in place a framework which will make it possible for future airspace reform to be progressed without the confusion and controversy that has taken place in the past.

“The development of a National Airspace Plan in consultation with all industry and government stake holders to provide guidance for the implementation of future airspace reform is a positive move and Rex looks forward to taking part in this process”.

Mr. Breust added that the creation of the Office of Airspace Regulation within the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) rather than having Airservices Australia not only oversee the airspace regulatory framework as well as provide the airspace services, is particularly appropriate.

“This change will allow the Safety Regulator to provide the necessary oversight for all future changes to Australia’s airspace architecture. The Minister’s commitment that the implementation of the next stages of the National Airspace System (NAS) will be the subject of rigorous cost-benefit analysis and risk assessment analysis is particularly welcomed.

“Airspace reform in Australia has been a troubled process in the past and has not always produced the best results. Rex commends the Minister for putting in place a system designed to handle future airspace reform in a safe and effective manner”,
Mr Breust said.