KUALA LUMPUR: The ambition to see a car flying in Malaysia’s airspace may not materialise any time soon due to exclusive, unfriendly and rigid laws and regulatory bodies overseeing the industry.
Aerospace and Defence Consultant Julian Tan Kok Ping said serious and long-overdue regulatory reform is needed within the country’s Civil and General Aviation Sector.
He said this would include the two principal aviation regulators in Malaysia – the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom).
“According to Morgan Stanley Research, flying cars could become common as early as 2040, and the industry is worth up to US$2.9 trillion.
“Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof may have the foresight in getting Malaysia on board.
“The aerospace industry is moving very fast; we need policies that are relevant and up to date; regulatory bodies that are inclusive and industry-friendly; and, more importantly, we need to put the right people in the right place, with passion and vision for the industry,” he said in a statement on Saturday.
Tan, who is also DAP Sarawak committee member, said that currently, the country’s aerospace and airline industries are facing unnecessary challenges when dealing with both CAAM and MAVCOM.
He said based on feedback from within the industry, the two aviation bodies are “not pleasant to deal with”.
“It is often said that the ecosystem in neighbouring countries, such as the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), is the exact opposite and is often praised by people from within the industry.
“If reform is not forthcoming, we can only expect more migration of our Aerospace industry and start-ups to countries that provide a more conducive ecosystem.
“Perhaps this is the reason why Volocopter’s project to bring commercial air taxi services to Singapore can kick off speedily,” he said, referring to the privately-owned German aircraft manufacturer.
The engineer also called for the General Aviation (GA) sector to be revived, as it could benefit the aviation, agriculture and tourism industries.
The GA sector includes privately-owned small propeller-driven aircraft, helicopters, other flying platforms and flying clubs.
At the moment, the GA sector in Malaysia is nearly extinct and this, he said, would limit the number of youths who would like to try their hand at a career in aviation.
“CAAM’s blanket adoption of regulation from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), without clear understanding, is the main reason behind the near extinction of GA in Malaysia.
“As a result, flying costs have become astronomical, while flying clubs are shutting down one by one due to the impossible cost, following CAAM’s unreasonable regulatory requirements.
“Contrary to the false impression of many that flying is only for the rich and for the selected few or the upper-class society, in many countries, farmers use planes to conduct crop spraying, and for private transportation.
“In countries like the US, flying is so affordable that many youths already have their private licenses by the time they turn 17.
“Why join Mat Rempit when you can fly!” the former Stampin Member of Parliament said.