Former Chairman of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Dick Smith, tells Chris Kenny he is “unimpressed” with Chinese control of Australian airports.

Western Australia’s Merredin Airport has been transferred into Chinese ownership meaning Australian aircrafts will need permission from Chinese authorities to land on Australian soil.

“I’m not that impressed.

“If I want to fly to Merredin Airport, I need approval from the Chinese government to land on one of my airstrips that was built by the local government and taxpayers.”

Mr Smith says Australia should be the “flying capital of the world”.

“Why can’t an Australian businessman or woman start up a flying school and be keeping the profits here and shipping pilots off to China.

“We should not only have all of our own pilots employed but we should be providing Aussie pilots to the rest of the world.”

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