MISASA - New Year's Message.
Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 6:06 pm
Chairman’s New Year’s message.
Dear members,
For those who do not know me I want to take this opportunity to introduce myself and give a brief history of my involvement with MISASA.
After a long spell as a paraglider pilot I took up Microlighting in 2002 and have been flying various forms of Microlight aircraft since. In the process, I became involved in some minor activities with regard to the MISASA competitions (as shadow organizer).
During 2012 I was asked to represent MISASA with the portfolio of Instrumentation and Technology. As this I served in an advisory capacity on the CAA ELT CAR 91 subcommittee – my total exposure to Aviation politics!
At the MISASA AGM in October, I was asked to stand for the position of chairman. Having had some years of experience in the private sector I felt that with the help of the committee, I was qualified for the job.
I accepted and was duly elected. (As the world was due to end on 21 December I thought “what is there to lose"?)
During 2012 MISASA went through some deep and troubled waters with its relationship regarding the Aero Club of South Africa. The reasons on both sides are well documented and I do not want to expound them any further.
Those that followed the blogs on Microlighters and Avcom will know that an inordinate amount of politicking controversy and finger pointing followed. Starting with the Aero Club AGM and cumulating in the MISASA SGM where after the Fundi issue was finally put to bed.
Fundi: Thanks to the dedication of our committee members, the Fundi system is now operable. We manage our own database with the blessing of Aero Club and thanks to some clever maneuvering by our previous and honored chairman, are in full compliance with ALL the decisions that was taken at the 2012 AGM. An appropriate person to oversee these administrative functions on behalf of MISASA has been identified and will commence duties in the New Year.
Aero Club: We are all members of the Aero Club. The Aero Club is an organization for and of its members! I have the commitment from the Aero Club management that they will do whatever it takes within the limitations of their mandate to continue a mutually beneficial working relationship as indeed we have been experiencing of late.
I will personally make a point of interacting with them on a regular basis to maintain relationships and sort out issues important to our sport.
Please take the time to visit the Aero Club website and familiarize yourself with the events and processes in place for 2013. http://www.aeroclub.org.za/
RAASA: South African Recreational flying, Aero Club and the 14 sub sections of which MISASA is one, is fortunate to have RAASA as a regulatory body that
somewhat isolates us from the sometimes inflexible regulations of the CAA.
Together we have a unique opportunity to write into law some very pertinent issues regarding the legalization of practices like scenic flights, crop spraying, aerial photography and the auditing of flying schools. These practices have a profound impact on the estates of our pilots and their passengers. Unfortunately the problems now only arise when it is too late. With the help of our senior pilots and instructors and the help of RAASA management we aim to produce a legal audit trail of compliance that will attempt to erase all ambiguaties and in the process protect our pilots. Everybody that can have a positive input is asked to please participate in this process!
Thanks to RAASA for an open mind and unlimited cooperation!
http://www.raasa.co.za/
What does MISASA do for me?
There is a perception that MISASA is there solely to dish out caps, magazines and badges! I, until recently was of that belief! It is a rude awakening when one finally grasps the full extent of the commitment required to drive an organization like MISASA and adequately represent all the members.
I want to thank our committee and in particular our previous chairman for guiding MISASA through a rough patch without causing permanent damage. This is a tough act to follow.
The long awaited badges, magazines etc. will be forthcoming shortly. We only have one chance per year to update our membership details, crucial for effective service delivery, and this is when the members pay their membership fees. During 2011 / 2012, it was taken for granted that the process will automatically work, it did not! The result was that only about a third of all posted items were delivered to the correct place. “South Pole”, “Mickey Mouse” and telephone numbers used for postal addresses could not be used!
This year we are in full control of the registration process and will be able to send all the promised goodies to the CORRECT ADDRESS! Every entry is manually checked and verified and with the inclusion of a valid email address our members will soon start to receive regular events updates, letters and posted magazines.
Tedderfield: Planning for the Tedderfield event is in full swing and promises to be a highlight of the 2013 calendar.
Please visit - viewtopic.php?f=5&t=19888 for full details. All volunteers for this event will be most welcome.
Competitions: Our capable competitions champion has put together an exiting calendar for competitions this year.
1. Petit Starters Masters 23 / 24 Feb Inter School competition.
2. Barberton (Pyramid) Fly Inn Competition / workshop March 8 / 9 / 10 Novices and Masters.
3. SA Champs 16 17 18 19 May Parys Airfield.
4. Wild Coast Gaggle Competition?? To be negotiated.
We have some excellent competition flying pilots, these guys have been around for some time and has a host of experience to be transferred to our younger pilots.
All pilots are welcome to participate in our competitions. It does not matter if you end up on the podium this time or the next, the more pilots that participate, the better the skills will get.
Our average membership in MISASA is a young 45 years of age! There has been a lot of speculation as to why we do not attract a younger person to become a pilot. Finances might be a factor, but if you look at the cost of an off road motorbike or a fishing boat, I suspect that the “fear factor” or rather the lack of exposure to the sport might be a far greater deterrent.
I propose that we start cultivating younger people to become aviators. One such initiative has been started where the Air Scouts will participate in the building of a trike at Petite. Anybody with any proposals of how to grow this idea is welcome to participate. Maybe we can get the average age down to 35 in five years instead of up to 60 as it is if the present trend continous.
In closing and seeing that the World did not (as far as I can determine) end on the 21st, I hope that everybody had a Merry Christmas and will proceed to have a joyous and prosperous New Year.
My wish for the New Year is for all of us to look to the future with a positive attitude and make full use of the opportunities 2013 will present.
Geseende Kersfees en n Voorspoedige Nuwe Jaar!
Herman Dormehl
Dear members,
For those who do not know me I want to take this opportunity to introduce myself and give a brief history of my involvement with MISASA.
After a long spell as a paraglider pilot I took up Microlighting in 2002 and have been flying various forms of Microlight aircraft since. In the process, I became involved in some minor activities with regard to the MISASA competitions (as shadow organizer).
During 2012 I was asked to represent MISASA with the portfolio of Instrumentation and Technology. As this I served in an advisory capacity on the CAA ELT CAR 91 subcommittee – my total exposure to Aviation politics!
At the MISASA AGM in October, I was asked to stand for the position of chairman. Having had some years of experience in the private sector I felt that with the help of the committee, I was qualified for the job.
I accepted and was duly elected. (As the world was due to end on 21 December I thought “what is there to lose"?)
During 2012 MISASA went through some deep and troubled waters with its relationship regarding the Aero Club of South Africa. The reasons on both sides are well documented and I do not want to expound them any further.
Those that followed the blogs on Microlighters and Avcom will know that an inordinate amount of politicking controversy and finger pointing followed. Starting with the Aero Club AGM and cumulating in the MISASA SGM where after the Fundi issue was finally put to bed.
Fundi: Thanks to the dedication of our committee members, the Fundi system is now operable. We manage our own database with the blessing of Aero Club and thanks to some clever maneuvering by our previous and honored chairman, are in full compliance with ALL the decisions that was taken at the 2012 AGM. An appropriate person to oversee these administrative functions on behalf of MISASA has been identified and will commence duties in the New Year.
Aero Club: We are all members of the Aero Club. The Aero Club is an organization for and of its members! I have the commitment from the Aero Club management that they will do whatever it takes within the limitations of their mandate to continue a mutually beneficial working relationship as indeed we have been experiencing of late.
I will personally make a point of interacting with them on a regular basis to maintain relationships and sort out issues important to our sport.
Please take the time to visit the Aero Club website and familiarize yourself with the events and processes in place for 2013. http://www.aeroclub.org.za/
RAASA: South African Recreational flying, Aero Club and the 14 sub sections of which MISASA is one, is fortunate to have RAASA as a regulatory body that
somewhat isolates us from the sometimes inflexible regulations of the CAA.
Together we have a unique opportunity to write into law some very pertinent issues regarding the legalization of practices like scenic flights, crop spraying, aerial photography and the auditing of flying schools. These practices have a profound impact on the estates of our pilots and their passengers. Unfortunately the problems now only arise when it is too late. With the help of our senior pilots and instructors and the help of RAASA management we aim to produce a legal audit trail of compliance that will attempt to erase all ambiguaties and in the process protect our pilots. Everybody that can have a positive input is asked to please participate in this process!
Thanks to RAASA for an open mind and unlimited cooperation!
http://www.raasa.co.za/
What does MISASA do for me?
There is a perception that MISASA is there solely to dish out caps, magazines and badges! I, until recently was of that belief! It is a rude awakening when one finally grasps the full extent of the commitment required to drive an organization like MISASA and adequately represent all the members.
I want to thank our committee and in particular our previous chairman for guiding MISASA through a rough patch without causing permanent damage. This is a tough act to follow.
The long awaited badges, magazines etc. will be forthcoming shortly. We only have one chance per year to update our membership details, crucial for effective service delivery, and this is when the members pay their membership fees. During 2011 / 2012, it was taken for granted that the process will automatically work, it did not! The result was that only about a third of all posted items were delivered to the correct place. “South Pole”, “Mickey Mouse” and telephone numbers used for postal addresses could not be used!
This year we are in full control of the registration process and will be able to send all the promised goodies to the CORRECT ADDRESS! Every entry is manually checked and verified and with the inclusion of a valid email address our members will soon start to receive regular events updates, letters and posted magazines.
Tedderfield: Planning for the Tedderfield event is in full swing and promises to be a highlight of the 2013 calendar.
Please visit - viewtopic.php?f=5&t=19888 for full details. All volunteers for this event will be most welcome.
Competitions: Our capable competitions champion has put together an exiting calendar for competitions this year.
1. Petit Starters Masters 23 / 24 Feb Inter School competition.
2. Barberton (Pyramid) Fly Inn Competition / workshop March 8 / 9 / 10 Novices and Masters.
3. SA Champs 16 17 18 19 May Parys Airfield.
4. Wild Coast Gaggle Competition?? To be negotiated.
We have some excellent competition flying pilots, these guys have been around for some time and has a host of experience to be transferred to our younger pilots.
All pilots are welcome to participate in our competitions. It does not matter if you end up on the podium this time or the next, the more pilots that participate, the better the skills will get.
Our average membership in MISASA is a young 45 years of age! There has been a lot of speculation as to why we do not attract a younger person to become a pilot. Finances might be a factor, but if you look at the cost of an off road motorbike or a fishing boat, I suspect that the “fear factor” or rather the lack of exposure to the sport might be a far greater deterrent.
I propose that we start cultivating younger people to become aviators. One such initiative has been started where the Air Scouts will participate in the building of a trike at Petite. Anybody with any proposals of how to grow this idea is welcome to participate. Maybe we can get the average age down to 35 in five years instead of up to 60 as it is if the present trend continous.
In closing and seeing that the World did not (as far as I can determine) end on the 21st, I hope that everybody had a Merry Christmas and will proceed to have a joyous and prosperous New Year.
My wish for the New Year is for all of us to look to the future with a positive attitude and make full use of the opportunities 2013 will present.
Geseende Kersfees en n Voorspoedige Nuwe Jaar!
Herman Dormehl
