A STRATEGIC PLAN, SETTING out the future role of GAMTA as opposed to a "firefighting" approach to problem solving, is being called for by chief executive Graham Forbes.
"Although we must continue to firefight all the problems as they arise, the change to a more global economy and the impact of harmonisation means that we must plan ahead if the UK general aviation industry is to be competitive," says Forbes. "To be effective, a strategy would need to be formulated in partnership with Government."
The UK general-aviation industry must focus on cutting costs, he continues, pointing out the initial success of a UK Department of Trade and Industry-supported "benchmarking" programme for flying-training organisations, and step-up lobbying of the UK Civil Aviation Authority and Government.
Minister calls for competitiveness
PICKING UP ON the promise by GAMTA chief executive Graham Forbes to create a cohesive strategy for the UK's general-aviation industry, UK Minister for Trade and Energy Tim Eggar has urged the GA community to increase its competitiveness.
Speaking at the GAMTA conference dinner, sponsored by Flight International, Eggar made reference to the Society of British Aerospace Companies' "Competitiveness Challenge" (Flight International, 29 November-5 December, 1995), and suggested that GAMTA members should work closely with the UK Department of Trade and Industry to "...develop a programme to improve the competitiveness of companies involved in general aviation".
He praised the initiatives of GAMTA to set up a benchmarking exercise and formulate a ten-year action plan, but he also urged the industry, to "...think laterally, both as individual companies and as GAMTA".
He said that three areas of the business could be improved - supply chains, marketing initiatives and operational processes - and he suggested that comparison with other industries might throw light on how those improvements could be achieved.
Source: Flight International
