That buzz is a lot quieter in 2017. 

Rising costs and stricter regulations has crippled the general aviation industry across the nation and in Tasmania.

Flight schools have downsized and fewer students are completing general aviation licences.

It is estimated the general aviation industry has declined 35 per cent in the past ten years. 

According to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s 2015-2016 annual report, there were 12,571 current private flight crew licences – down from 13,097 on the previous financial year.

The number of licenses issued was also down significantly from 15,014 in the 2004-2005 financial year. 

The downturn in general aviation is in contrast to the rising popularity of recreational aviation.

Less regulated, cheaper and easier to obtain a licence – recreational aviation is now the go-to licence for most student pilots.

Recreational aviation was born as a category of ultra-light, ‘rag and tube’ aircraft – a raw flying experience with limited creature comforts or regulation. 

But in two decades recreational aviation has grown to become a category of hobby pilots, taking to the skies in a range of machines. 

According to CASA figures; in 2015-2016 there were 2951 recreational licences, slightly above the 2821 licences in 2014-2015. 

Recreational Aviation Australia is authorised to self-administer sport and recreational flying activities on behalf of the government's Civil Aviation Safety Authority. 

Because the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 do not regulate recreational aviation, the cost to fly these planes is far cheaper than in general aviation – where planes are built to a higher certification standard.

Although general aviation planes have more than two seats, can usually be flown higher and carry more weight than recreational aviation aircraft, it is more expensive. 

Those in the aviation industry say general aviation has been crippled by CASA’s burdening regulations.

Those regulations include a stipulation that general aviation aircraft must be serviced by a qualified professional – often at a cost of between $1000 and $2000.

And as the cost of fuel, maintenance and flight training rises, many flying schools are no longer training pilots in general aviation.

After about 70 years of operation, the general aviation school at the Launceston Airport was closed two years ago.

Tasmanian Aero Club treasurer and senior RAA instructor Andrew Duddington bluntly recalls the decision to close.

“We gave it up because of everything was going up,” he said. 

New regulations coupled with increased fees saw the school’s profit margin diminish and become unviable.  

“It was losing money so it was best in our part to give it up,” Mr Duddington added.

”It wasn’t busy enough to pay our instructor a full-time wage so it just wasn’t worthwhile continuing.

“General aviation flight training is pretty much near non-existent in Tasmania compared to what it was, say, 10 years ago.”

The Tasmanian Aero Club continues to operate a recreational aviation flying school – which is teaching about one dozen active students.

But without students training in general aviation, the breeding ground for airline pilots, Mr Duddington fears for the future of Australia’s regulated aviation industry.

“The pilots flying with Virgin and Jetstar and Qantas, where are they going to train once it all fizzes up – which it will,” he said.

Mr Duddington pointed to the three major airlines’ Pilot Cadetship Program as evidence that not enough students are training.

He tipped the next generation of Australian airline pilots would come from overseas. 

Despite the general aviation industry teetering on death’s door, Mr Duddington praised the advocates doing their best to reinvigorate the industry.

“I hope it’s successful but the writing's on the wall – it’s very hard to stop,” he added.

One of those people doing their best to ensure general aviation lives on is Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association executive director Ben Morgan.

The head of the peak national body for pilots attributed the death of the aviation industry to the federal government and Minister for Transport Darren Chester. 

It is estimated about 8000 pilots have left the general aviation industry in the past ten years.

Maintenance facilities have closed and flying schools have downsized.

To combat the issues the general aviation industry faces, Mr Chester established an advisory group to “ensure the industry has a voice at the heart of government by providing advice directly to me on matters affecting the sector”.

The advisory group had its first meeting at the Australian International Airshow at Avalon in March.

But Mr Morgan slammed the group and said the general aviation industry did not need more discussions.

"That consultative group is yet to achieve anything,” he said.

“I would urge the Minister instead to start acting on the reform proposals already given to his office.” 

Mr Morgan said the general aviation industry had lobbied successive governments over the past 20 years to overhaul the Civil Aviation Act to breathe new life into the industry. 

“If the government was deadly serious about fixing the problem in general aviation it would have pulled the trigger on these reforms,” he said.

Defending against Mr Morgan’s attack, Mr Chester said the government recently announced a “major study to identify priorities for the general aviation sector”.

“The GA Study is due to report by June 30 and it will form an important part of the government's response,” he said.

Mr Chester also touted the General Aviation Advisory Group as a tool to work on fixing the sector.

“The group is acting as a reference group for the GA study, and with its membership drawn from a cross section of the GA sector, I’m expecting the group to make a valuable contribution,” he said. 

But Mr Morgan said the government needed to instruct CASA to “get away from a concept that it’s safety at whatever cost”.

He said by allowing the lower regulated recreational aviation sector to flourish, CASA had created a “less safe aviation system” with pilots getting licences faster and instructors with limited experience teaching students. 

But CASA spokesman Peter Gibson said the organisation understood the issues facing general aviation and had “a commitment to developing regulations that are practical and affordable, while always putting safety first”.

But he said many of the issues GA faced were well beyond CASA’s jurisdiction.

“There are many financial and other issues that influence the health of general aviation in particular areas of Australia,” he said.  

“In some places, general aviation is vibrant, in others not so.  

“As a regulator, we must make safety rules for the whole nation, not one area.”

Mr Gibson said the authority’s challenge was to strike a balance “...between ensuring necessary safety standards are in place while keeping financial and operational burdens reasonable”.  

“The Australian public expects safe skies and everyone in aviation must meet that expectation,” he said. 

“But at the same time, we must be mindful of making rules that are practical and affordable.”  

Mr Morgan echoed Mr Duddington’s concern about the future of Australian airline pilots. 

“We are facing situation within the next five years of airlines being forced to moving their major pilot hiring operations offshore,” the national executive added.

“It’s going to be devastating for Australian kids.”