MISASA-AEROCLUB

[Fairy Flycatcher]

Hi Junkie

I agree with you pretty much on everything other than support MISASA/Aeroclub. I am a fence sitter right now, and don't believe that we will get what we need from these two organizations in its current format. More than anything, they refuse to become "National" - everything is JHB based.

All the good work Rob Hill has done last year is out the window because a new (mostly un-elected committee), have their own ideas.

I think we need a body with more long-term vision and some for of continuity between management personalities.

On the reduction of cost I am all for it. I want to change the law to allow hire and fly and "cost share". In the UK this works briliantly. You are not making a profit, but your passenger is allowed to pay towards your costs, instead of the pilot taking all the responsibility and not even being allowed to accept rugby tickets (Dennis Jankelow's words) in return.

Also, at our airfield, there are many, many aircraft which are lovely but completely under-used. Hire and fly, syndicates and cost share with high quality AP (at the moment the AeroClub's AP ARO does not even have a sylabus for trikes!!!!!)

Aero Club have vowed to stop WINGS (in a meeting with them last year), and that is why I have been a bit quiet. Have already lost some money and don't need more money and emotions to go to waste, but we need microlighting to go back to its routes.

The two JABS at our aifield are both for PPL only. I don't see any problem with that. Doing a PPL is not difficult, and if you want to fly fast, heavy, in controlled airspace, don't moan with me about the cost of a PPL. You can choose to fly slow, VFR, light and save money.

[Redeye]

Reduce COST of learning to fly ML's - it is becomng EXHORBITANT
- so question # 3 to ask ourselves is: How can we make it more affordable and keep it safe. It might be right time to establish CLUB based (gliding?) voluntary approach in the bigger centres, to regenerate interest and start attracting much needed new young blood.

I have been gliding for almost a year now and I am so impressed with how well the soaring society ARO works- Its managed from club level up and not from the top down at almost no cost to its members- Members of the clubs give up some of their time for free and there is almost no power hungry peaple at the top trying to dictate how the clubs arev run-or how much money a person can make out of it- Instructors.APs ,safty officers tug pilots etc etc all contibuting their eforts
for free - its amazing to me as a ex trike pilot and aircraft owner to see just how well the system works-