RAAus shuffling positions

[jackc]

31 minutes ago, T510 said:

I made some time to watch the candidates live stream, I don't know why they bothered with a live stream given there was no avenue for the viewers to ask questions. 

Seems to be another case of RAAus missing the opportunity for proper engagement with their members. As of this morning the number of views was still under 200....

 

I agree that if they paid for someone to run that live stream they should be asking for their money back. It was pitiful. Our members fees at work......

 

One thing that struck me from Andrew was the talk of alternate income streams, class G, MOSAIC and CTA access. It seems the board is not listening to the members and is only focusing on their personal wants. Personally I think a regulator should focus on regulating, not selling crap and setting up deals with non aviation vendors, this seems to be an area they have lost focus on. 

 

There seems to be a lack of ability to self appraise and revue their performance. 

 

The scariest part for me where the numbers Shawn shared the member numbers, ~200 new members a year but 750 members not renewing. Surely this is ringing alarm bells for RAAus, it's a direct indication of member satisfaction.

 

In an industry with an aging member base the number of non renewals seems destined to rise. It does not bode well for RAAus. Especially given their lack of any real significant achievements in the eyes of the members over the last few years. Adding complexity like the new renewal process requiring a heap of signatures to displace all liability only adds to pushing out member who are considering retiring from aviation, whether due to age or increasing expense.

 

Here's hoping they can turn it around but I feel they need some fresh faces in management if they want any hope.

 

VH experimental, a RPL and CASA self declared medical are looking more attractive all the time.

I am looking forward to Part 43 getting released allowing owner maintenance.

 

 

Unfortunately, the brick wall, transparency of a company will never be nothing like an Incorporated organisation, where everything is laid on the table.

The meetings  all have minutes everything is discussed. The members are fully aware of what the Incorporated organisation is doing,  or intends to do.
This is not necessarily the case with our RAAus because the company will only tell you, in what it wants the members to know in, either seeking support or ideas or not doing anything. An RAAus, delegation went to Oshkosh, seeking information on MOSAIC,  doubt to further their knowledge to take, to  CASA in Australia to  see IF  there was any hope of getting it here?

Furthermore, I wonder if the Oshkosh trip was done on the RAAus tab?

If you want owner maintenance, you’ll have to convert to VH  experimental as an SAAA  member, do the MTC course and get the certificate?

Take that certificate to CASA and you will be issued an authority to maintain your aircraft, whether you were the original builder or not?

Go away and fly, Happy on your a RPL 🤩

That is an alternative choice if you don’t like the RAAus category?

[clouddancer]

“One thing that struck me from Andrew was the talk of alternate income streams, class G, MOSAIC and CTA access. It seems the board is not listening to the members and is only focusing on their personal wants. Personally I think a regulator should focus on regulating, not selling crap and setting up deals with non aviation vendors, this seems to be an area they have lost focus on. “

I think that is an attempt to diversify the organisations income, rather than only relying on membership and aircraft registration.

Seems to me CASA has made a deliberate assessment of all the things that made RAAus unique and added them, stripping RAAus of many of its previous advantages.

Once Part 43 is released RAAus should also have access to this privilege for owner maintained Group G.

What RAAus members might consider is what happens to their privileges if RAAus disappears as a result?

Dealing with CASA might be your only alternative……or you could continue to support an organisation which is greater than the sum of its parts?

[T510]

Don't get me wrong, I think we need RAAus in some form or another but it certainly seems CASA is setting itself up as an alternate with self declared medicals etc. If CASA adopts MOSAIC rather than allowing RAAus to administrate it it will upset the status quo even more.

 

My understanding is Part 43 only applies to VH registered aircraft unless RAAus changes their Tech Manual or you are the builder and have done the MPC course.

 

I own a RAAus registered aircraft and two VH aircraft, one amateur built and one experimental. I plan on doing the MTC course as soon as it is available and am currently working on my RPC to RPL conversion. 

 

I intend to keep the one aircraft registered under RAAus but if it becomes untenable I will move it across to VH reg

[FlyBoy1960]

The best example of how to operate would be to study other operators in the industry.

 

Personally, I would be sending someone over to research how the EAA does everything.

 

Whilst they don't do registrations they have managed to do everything else fairly well, they have made a lot of mistakes in the past, but they do have everything really streamlined within their organisational structure.

 

The opportunity to piggyback off their success without making the same mistakes has gotta be money well spent.

[turboplanner]

5 minutes ago, FlyBoy1960 said:

The best example of how to operate would be to study other operators in the industry.

 

Personally, I would be sending someone over to research how the EAA does everything.

 

Whilst they don't do registrations they have managed to do everything else fairly well, they have made a lot of mistakes in the past, but they do have everything really streamlined within their organisational structure.

 

The opportunity to piggyback off their success without making the same mistakes has gotta be money well spent.

The Achilles heel in going over to the US, is that US laws are different to ours. Things are possible there that are not possible here.

 

We had it all under RAA Inc.  

 

 

[jmac]

Hi everyone,

I thought I’d also introduce myself and explain why I’m putting my hand up again for the Board.

I ran for the RAAus Board for the first time last year and was fortunate to receive strong support from members, ultimately missing out on a Board position by just five votes. With only just over 600 members voting, it also showed me how much every vote can matter. That experience reinforced my desire to contribute, so I’m putting my hand up again this year.

I’m James Macdonald. I’ve spent more than 25 years running businesses, have considerable board and governance experience, and currently serve on a Risk & Governance Committee outside RAAus. But just as importantly, I’m actively involved in recreational aviation at club level.

I’m a RAAus pilot, an L1 maintainer and currently working toward becoming an L2 maintainer. I’m doing that because I want to contribute more practically to my flying club at The Oaks and help keep club aircraft safe, serviceable and available for members and students.

For me, being an RAAus Director isn’t about knowing everything about aviation or trying to run the day-to-day organisation. It is about asking the right questions, understanding the issues members are facing, setting clear strategic direction, overseeing risk and governance, and making sure decisions ultimately deliver value to members.

RAAus faces some real challenges, increasing costs, regulation, maintaining a strong safety culture, supporting flying schools and instructors, keeping recreational aviation affordable, and ensuring members see value in the organisation they belong to.

I also think Directors need to stay connected with what is happening at the grassroots level. Decisions made around a board table can have very practical consequences for pilots, maintainers, instructors, clubs and flying schools.

My approach is fairly simple: keep recreational aviation safe, enjoyable and affordable, while making sure RAAus remains a strong and sustainable organisation for the future.

I also believe that, as a candidate, I should be prepared to be asked the hard questions, not only during an election campaign, but also afterwards if I am fortunate enough to be elected. Board members should be accountable to the membership, transparent about the decisions and issues they can appropriately discuss, prepared to explain the reasoning behind decisions, and importantly, be contactable and willing to listen to members.

For me, transparency also means members should have confidence that their concerns are being heard, that important issues are not avoided simply because they are difficult, and that there is a clear line of communication between the membership and the Board.

Following the candidate live chat a few days ago, I’d be interested in hearing directly from members:

What are the things you would most like the next RAAus Board to focus on?

And what could RAAus do better to provide greater value to its members?

Members are required to cast two votes in this election. I’d genuinely appreciate it if you would consider giving me one of those two votes.

Last year showed just how much a small number of votes can make a difference, so I’d encourage every eligible member to take the time to participate.

RAAus candidate

James Macdonald