Stirring again... Aero Club

[Fairy Flycatcher]

Just opened my Aero Club membership card. Its been lying on my desk for a while...

Did anyone else notice that not a single photo in the entire glossy brochure which accompanies it is a microlight.

There are 23 photos. Mostly aerobatic, ex-military, there is a gyro, a paraglider, a rocket, a blimp, a building and a PPG, but no microlight. Just about all jets. Emphasis heavily on aerobatic and display aircraft...

What the hell is going on? Last time I checked Microlights made up the largest section? (other than model aircraft)



Hope its not just me who's getting fed-up with them...

[DarkHelmet]

/me grabs FF's wooden stirring spoon and runs off...

[skybound®]

FF may have to do with the dwindling numbers of the section. Down to 700 odd. What was it a few years back - somewhere around 3500 ?

Cycles!

[Fairy Flycatcher]

So are the dwindling numbers because of Aero Club's attitude or does Aero Club have this attitude because of the dwindling numbers?

[Flightstar]

Bearing in mind my 2004/05 experiences with Misasa , I place the blame for the decline in numbers on Misasa. Things went downHill for a while there, but there is a fresh breeze blowing now,Blythe way!

[skybound®]

Then there is less members to spread the cost over, so the subs increase, and then less join because of the higher subs.....

Something has got to give, and my money is on the mag disapearing first. Which in turn will mean less membership as some join for the mag.

The other interesting point is I wonder how many people are exiting Micros as opposed to the numbers joining.

[skybound®]

FF may have to do with the dwindling numbers of the section. Down to 700 odd. What was it a few years back - somewhere around 3500 ?

Cycles!

Okay - my facts not quite correct . Best position was approx 1600 members and that was during the mandatory period to belong for 3rd party.

The cycles bit, maybe need some more explaining. I believe all happens in some cycle, and clearly MISASA on a downward trend. However, I do believe in the current honchos in place have the ability to correct the cycle - they have proven track records of this fact. Some of them were responsible for saving the Aero Club a few years back.

MISASA is still the choice vehichle for representing the pilots.

[The Agent]

Now if you did not belong tothem then you would not have been so upset right now. OK Capish.

[skybound®]

As I said - the first thing to go is the Magazine (okay in MISASA's case - prudently the paid manager was the first to be axed).

From another struggling section of Aero Club - the Hang and Paragliders:

Hi All,

By the end of this month SAHPA members will excitedly be opening their
mail boxes waiting for the first of three editions of our beloved Go Fly
magazine. SAHPA has decided however, due to the current state of
finances and the cost involved in publishing the magazine, that
publishing of the magazine cannot go ahead and a definite no was given
on the 6 April 2006.

This 'no' comes after a long and sometimes heated debate between the Go
Fly team and SAHPA. I don't think it was a negative exercise and do not
want to start a mud-slinging campaign. The fact is the Go Fly does cost
the members a lot but on the other hand it is member's funds and
somewhere along the line we should be asking members how they feel about
the current magazine.

A lot of hard work and dedication goes into publishing. Especially from
Tracey King who has gradually taken the magazine from a simple black and
white newsletter to what it is today. With help, devotion and hard work
coming from people like Pete Prukl, Louise and Linda Willemse the
magazine became something we could really be proud of and it can hold
its own against international publications like Skywings (BPHA) and the
USHGA publication.

I am writing this mail to, rather than start another political debate,
to request members to make this part of their election manifests.
Candidates for the SAHPA election should indicate the direction they
want to take and members could then support or oppose whatever proposals
are made in manifests. The alternative could be that the ballot includes
an option where members can decide if the magazine should go ahead with
the current costs involved, look for some cheaper newsletter type option
or go electronic. This is member's money, so they should decide.

From the Go Fly side, I could say that while great efforts were made to
curb costs and hunt advertisers it will always cost to publish a
magazine at the standard we are currently doing. We have gone through a
number of exercises to save money, we changed printers, lay outs are
being done internally by Tracey and also looked at the collation system.
Personally I feel it is worth the money to publish a Go Fly at its
current quality and it is good to see at least some returns on my annual
membership fees.

Maybe the clubs could also discuss the general feeling on the costs and
benefits of the Go Fly and give SAHPA an indication on how you feel
about your money being invested into the magazine.

Kinds regards and once again thank you for all the contributions,
positive comments and support we are receiving!

Nicky Smith
Editor in waiting
Go Fly

[mike2flyfar]

I attended the Aeroclub Exco meeting last night and took the opportunety to ask why there was no pictures of microlights in the little Aeroclub brochure that is sent out with membership cards.
Both Stan and Neil were surprised and embarrassed at what I pointed out to them .. Neil paged through the brochure and then started to check if all the other sections had pictures. Some didn't.
Stan and Neil both me to convey their apologies to all microlighters and assured me that they would make sure it didn't happen next time. Stan also asked me to thank you for pointing it out.
Well done .. thanks
Mike

PS. About membership cards: In case you do not read this elsewhere (I will publish it in our next e-News), if you are going to the EAA Wonderboom airshow and produce your Aeroclub card you will be admitted at no charge.