More Selling Out To China

[Black Orchid]

It’s the rural runway that has been transformed into a multimillion dollar airfield... while Merredin locals love it, others are outraged it's owned by a state-run Chinese company.

Merredin is home to China's aviation training industry. It all began in 1995 when China Southern WA Flying College landed 260km east of Perth, buying the local airstrip from the shire.

A councillor at the time, Martin Morris said the airstrip was costing the shire money.

“We'd sell it for a dollar, as long as it still remained a public airfield and no one was charged landing fees to use it,” he said.

“It was a very basic airfield, two gravel cross airstrips. Now it's a multimillion dollar all weather airfield that was funded by somebody else that anybody can use anytime.”

>snip<

A small WA farming town might seem a surprising choice for the major training facility of China's biggest airline, but the clear skies and open space have made it China Southern Air's most successful flying school.

Until it was suspended in September 2016.

The flying college was grounded due to a lack of 'approved personnel' by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which is now working with the college to get it back up and running.

>snip<

But outside of Merredin, not everyone's so optimistic... Aviation veteran Dick Smith dislikes foreign ownership of an Australian airport.

“It's a real problem the Chinese now own a tremendous amount of our land,” said Mr Smith

“We have to understand it's still a very small percentage, but it's the best. They buy the best.”

With a shortage of Australian pilots, Mr Smith believes local training schools should be prioritised... especially after the revelation foreign pilots will be allowed into Australia on two year working visas.


Mr Smith wants Australia's aviation industry to focus inward - and is critical of Merredin's model.

“I suppose if ever we got into difficulties the government can take back the airport, but I don't think it's a very good idea to be letting foreign governments control our airports,” he said.

Mr Morris said while he admired Mr Smith, he should “do some homework”.

“It's the same as any airfield around Australia, any public airfield. Yes you need permission prior to landing to make sure there's not another plane taking off,” he said.

The Royal Flying Doctor's Service regularly use the airfield with no issue... in fact, 153 times over the past 12 months.

In a statement the Flying College's CEO said many airports around the country required incoming aircrafts to seek permission, for safety reasons, and other operators are more than welcome to visit.

Until the suspension issue is resolved, private flyers and the RFDS can use the Merredin aerodrome... in the meantime, locals hope the college gets back up and running.

https://thewest.com.au/business/aviatio ... b88705220z

So what if the Flying Doctor Service is allowed to land there? Moot point. There would be massive outrage if they weren't allowed to.

So now the Chinese effectively own Port Darwin AND one of our airports they bought for only ONE DOLLAR?

Apart from historic buildings in Sydney what else has been sold off to the Chinese?

[sprintcyclist]

Trump would not sell an asset for $1

[Black Orchid]

Which is why the 'liberals' will lie, cheat and steal to try to get rid of him.

What we have here are 2 parties who tow the same line. We need 2 distinctly different parties and a conservative leader like Trump.

[brian ross]

Why is selling assets to China any worse than selling assets to British or American interests?

China has the cash, Australia needs the money, so we sell them things. Do you put them into their back pocket and take them home to China? Really? Sir Joh was right when made that quip about Japanese investment back in the 1980s. The reality is, the assets remain here, in Australia, for use by Australians. Just as the assets we have sold to the Poms and the Septics have. Time to stop with the Racism, children. It just shows how much people need to go back to the little kiddies' playground where they belong. Tut, tut.

[Neferti]

Why is selling assets to China any worse than selling assets to British or American interests?

Why don't you move there, I am sure you would fit right in.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_of_China

[Black Orchid]

Why is selling assets to China any worse than selling assets to British or American interests?

Ridiculously stupid comment/question. Unbelievable

[Rorschach]

Why is selling assets to China any worse than selling assets to British or American interests?

China has the cash, Australia needs the money, so we sell them things. Do you put them into their back pocket and take them home to China? Really? Sir Joh was right when made that quip about Japanese investment back in the 1980s. The reality is, the assets remain here, in Australia, for use by Australians. Just as the assets we have sold to the Poms and the Septics have. Time to stop with the Racism, children. It just shows how much people need to go back to the little kiddies' playground where they belong. Tut, tut.

No essential services should be privatised let alone put in foreign hands bwian.

Do you thing the Port of Darwin should have been leased to the Chinese?

[brian ross]

Why is selling assets to China any worse than selling assets to British or American interests?

Ridiculously stupid comment/question. Unbelievable

So, explain to me, why is selling to the Chinese - who are, despite their claims to the contrary - capitalists, any worse than selling to the British or American capitalists? Mmmmm? Could it be because, *GASP* they are well, Chinese? Oh, dearie, dearie, me. Tut, tut. Money doesn't care about the colour of a person's skin or the shape of their eyes, money is just well, money. It is all equally filthy lucre.

[Black Orchid]

Brian if you can't see the difference yourself I am not going to try to educate you. You are a wasted cause.

[brian ross]

Brian if you can't see the difference yourself I am not going to try to educate you. You are a wasted cause.

So, you don't give any reason why you dislike the idea of Chinese ownership of Australian assets? Oh, dearie, dearie, me. Lets just put it down to Racism, OK?

Me? I don't like the idea of anybody buying Australian assets but I have to recognise that in order for Australia to develop, we need foreign investment.

I take it you'd rather live in a cave and eat Kangaroo instead? Mmmm?