EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Statutory Rules 1987 No 327
Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Land Transport and Infrastructure Support
AIR NAVIGATION (CHARGES) REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)
Section 6 of the Air Navigation (Charges) Act 1952 (‘the Act’) provides that the Governor-General may make regulations not inconsistent with the Act, prescribing all matters permitted by the Act, or necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to the Act.
Air navigation charges arrangements were introduced on 1 July 1987 which provided for the abolition of annual lump sum charges for general aviation aircraft and their replacement by a fuel excise surcharge on aviation gasoline (Avgas). However, aircraft powered other than by aviation turbine (Avtur) fuel are also required to pay landing charges at certain major aerodromes. Provision for the application of landing charges at specified aerodromes for non Avtur powered aircraft was introduced by Statutory Rules 1987 No 131 and gazetted on 25 June 1987.
Regulation 12 of the Air Navigation (Charges) Regulations provides, in part, that landing charges are applicable to aircraft other than Avtur powered aircraft for landings at aerodromes listed in Schedule 5 to the Regulations. Schedule 5 comprises the six Australian capital city aerodromes, together with Coolangatta, Essendon and Launceston.
A number of general aviation operators, particularly training organisations and charter operators are based at Coolangatta, Essendon and Launceston aerodromes. Those operating Avgas powered aircraft incur both the fuel excise levy and landing charges. Representations were received from aircraft operators and aviation organisations seeking relief from landing charges. As a result the Government decided to remove landing charges payable in respect of non Avtur powered aircraft for the three aerodromes mentioned.
The amendment to Schedule 5 deletes Coolangatta, Essendon and Launceston from the Schedule for the purpose of giving effect to the proposal not to apply landing charges at those aerodromes for Avgas aircraft.
The Statutory Rules come into operation on 1 January 1988.