YSWG - Wagga City Airport

In 2018 a large number of Wagga City Aero Club members attended council chambers to discuss changes in the Airport fees. At that meeting, the councillors elected to provide the Aircraft Annual Landing Permit for all Private General Aviation and Recreational aircraft that wished to engage, in support of General Aviation and the Wagga City Aero Club 2018. This decision was made in an effort to assuage declining General Aviation, which has been suffering at the smaller regional airports nation wide. Recognition that General Aviation is the grass-roots from which Maintenance Engineers and Pilots are made.

There were of the order of 7 members who were eligible to immediately take up the offer in the coming financial years. This was adopted and we felt we had a solid case until 2023-2024 where the terms were allegedly surreptitiously changed, and under circumstances where the Wagga City Aero Club was not notified and could not be heard. A seemingly insignificant change in terms of revenue that has far reaching flow-on consequences to the community as I can relate to personally.

For aircraft operators on farms, and in the surrounding regions of Albury, Jindabyne, Adaminaby, Tumut, Cootamundra, Temora, Narrandera, Young, Cowra, Parkes, Orange, Wellington, and indeed Bankstown, our once regular visitors to the Wagga City Aero Club have been dissuaded from attending Aero Club and other events as a result.

I personally used YSWG as my re-fuelling stop instead of purchasing fuel at Canberra, and now instead I fly to Temora, which is much more attractive in terms of fuel cost and infrastructure amenity, and has zero landing fees and is indeed closer to Canberra.

Having aircraft forced away from an airports due to fee structures and other tenancy issues sends a strong signal that effectively causes pressure and the decline of General Aviation at the airport. The follow-on consequences of reducing number of aircraft which affects maintenance, fuel supply and other community retail outlets.

Pilots will vote with their feet as I have voted, thus I am now an infrequent visitor to YSWG and instead I buy most of my fuel from YTEM (and not at my home airport YSCB).

It is rather disappointing that the changes were made to the Annual Landing Permit and this financial year council have provided an indication that they will continue with the changed terms.

The council meeting on this matter is at 18:00 at council chambers 28 Apr 2025. I will post the results of that meeting after I attend.

I also draw your attention to:

The council will probably not take heed and will remain on the category:GA unfriendly airports list.