Aero Club / Misaasa

[Thunderboy]

Don't want to start any fight or bad mouthing I have already paid my fees but just want someone to explain why we pay membership fees to misaasa and aerocub? Ie who does what for that money?

[DarkHelmet]

I paid mine when I got the mail in the post.

These guys fight for our rights at CAA and I do not envy their job one bit! Thanks for taking care of the issues for us when we are too busy or just too damn lazy to fight for ourselves!

[Dreamer]

Yup, second that DH..we dont know half the work that is done on our behalf, but can be sure we would know if it was not being done. Paid mine last week.

[Robin Hood]

Agreed! CAA too difficult for me to argue with and Misasa/Aroclub do much of this on our behalf. Also paid last week.

[The Agent]

Why can you not just belong to one of the bodies, I mean if one is going tofight why join two?

[gertcoetzee]

Considered not renewing but DJ quoted me R700 for similar 3rd party insurance so MISASA/Aeroclub/3rdParty combination still cheaper.

[Thunderboy]

Considered not renewing but DJ quoted me R700 for similar 3rd party insurance so MISASA/Aeroclub/3rdParty combination still cheaper.

funny thing is thats its still done through DJ when you pay misaasa

[FAWGie]

I realise that the thread wasn't started to have a beef with Misasa, but misasa has complained in recent times about the lack of support....

Today, I wanted to find something and went to the Misasa web site...It's a shame that the site is horribly out of date and poorly managed....

Look under the section for light sport aeroplane : details and you get this kind of thing.....

[quote]

You are here: // Articles // LIGHT SPORT AEROPLANE // Proposed Light Sport Aeroplane NTCA category

Amendments required for recognizing the Light Sport Aeroplane Pilot Licence, and matters connected thereto.

a)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Part 1 - Definitions


           1.00.1 Def - Amend def for Microlight Aeroplane with “Conventional Microlight         Aeroplaneâ€

[gertcoetzee]

Think twice before complaining. You might receive an email starting with
"Do me a favour and stop moaning."

[FAWGie]

I could very well receive a message in that regard, but that will change nothing.....the probelm is accountability....Misasa has heavily accused SACAA for being sloppy in the past, but the SACAA web site content is FAR MORE updated and consistent than their own....but then again as the web site clearly shows, there ARE NO committee members, so who is going to send me a message?

Quoted from the web site front page:

MISASA, the Microlight Association of South Africa, is the representative body for Microlight Pilots in South Africa, representing some 3000 pilots and 25% of all aircraft registered on the South African Civil Aircraft Register.

It is a shame that a body representing 25% of pilots (3000 folk) is so sloppy with maintaining their web site....most corporate web sites that are well maintained have LESS than 300 customers and still manage to keep the content updated....The current information is outdated and useless....

I'm not complaining....just bringing the facts to light....If the same apathy demonstrated in the web site (which is the window to members) exists, then it's no wonder why things are in such a bad state.....

I'm not picking on any individual here, I don't know any of them...I am trying to encourage whoever is involved to take the challenge and step things up a notch - for the benefit of ALL microlighters or LSA pilots (whatever you might want to refer to them as)

[Oddball]

Some response from a committee member...

Jay Hyde: PRO

I'm not going to say that you should stop moaning and do your bit, or that we do a lot of work for you so stop whining, etc. The truth is that members can expect more from an organisation- but what should this more consist of? We do have limited resources and we can really only afford to pay one person full time, when actually we need around 2 or 3 full time staff to get on with what is needed.

As an example, I am responsible for the website; in the last year or so I have simply not found the time to sit and figure it all out. I work in a normal job during the week and over weekends I spend a LOT of time practicing for our formation displays (more about the role of that in MISASA later). When I am not flying I am making stuff for the displays - smoke cannisters and other things that we are experimenting with. The airshow routine takes a lot out of the aircraft so there are also bits to fix inbetween... During the week I spend a fair amount of time arranging the logistics for whatever airshow is about to come up. All of these things add up a lot and I like to have just a little time to relax and perhaps work on my Mustang, so there has been precious little time for much else. So that's my excuse...

Nonetheless, the website should be better and Mike and I have been putting a bit of work into gettting this changed; I'll spend more time on it soon... by the way, small companies who have great websites have paid to get them- and that costs a lot; so it's not really a fair comparison. The SACAA website is mostly up to date but it is still not a great site for a company that has a fairly large income, and where there are a lot of paid employees. None of the MISASA committee members are paid a cent...

and... we unfortunately do not represent 3000 microlighters- the membership is between 800-1100 as I recall....

By the way, if you feel that there is a bit of the website that you could re-write better please mail me with some copy. I will also look at the issues mentioned in this thread, although I think that we have already identified these.

I know that Mike spends a LOT of time on administrative stuff and those background things that are required to satisfy the CAA and protect our interests; and he is not even paid for this. Here comes why we need to join the Aeroclub and MISISA; a lot of the combined fee goes into employing, on a full time basis, people like Neil De Lange who are intensively and actively involved in protecting all general aviation interests. Here one needs to pay a bit more for the right person who can represent us effectively, so this does chew our money. In the past the Aeroclub have succesfully lobbied to have 'damaging' legislation rescinded or re-worked- the latest issue being around the PPL exams being centralised.

Here is why I think that the formation flying bit that my team is doing is relevant to MISASA and to all of you. One of the reasons that I think a MISASA should exist is to promote the sport- why?
Firstly, microlighters get bad press and we somehow need to counter this with good press; both in the eye of the public and in the eyes of the CAA. Good press means more sales for the manufacturers, which is good for them. It's good for you too because it means that manufacturers can continue to provide spares, advice and service.
Secondly, microlighters, and to a lesser extent general aviation, are seen as a nuisance and a safety threat by the public and the CAA tries to limit our activities- if we are able to promote the sport we have more pilots shouting our odds. Again, if we also have PR around this it is good for all of us.
Thirdly- promoting the sport means new pilots; new pilots need aircraft; some they'll buy from manufacturers and some they'll buy from you and I, which means that our investments keep thier value.

Back to the formation team... I have tried a few times to get articles, photos, PR into the normal press; unless we are crashing no one is really interested. However, after a couple of airshows we started hearing the same thing from members of the public, going something like this, "Jislaaik (...or insert favourite expletive) we see these jets, and the Extras, and the Harvards and they are lekker man, but I can't afford one of those- but check, ekse, you oues are also in the airshow doing what looks kif ekse, and maybe I can afford one of these- where do I get started?"

Similarly, we have heard positive comments from the CAA. Old die-hards who have been dead against microlights are looking at them with new eyes.. even Scully Levine (whom I am not accusing of being a die-hard) has spoken to us about a flip and how much one of these costs.

Now if that isn't good PR then I don't know what is!

So that's my main excuse for not getting to the website- I'm too busy flying (and having fun I will admit) and getting to airshows.

By the way, we are the official MISASA airshow team - this is not something conferred on us because I am a committee member though; we have worked really hard at this. Lower down I will put some of what we have done to get to airshows and fly the MISASA banner...

So, on behalf of me, I apologise that the website is not up to scratch and I will try and get it going properly- from your side, please join MISASA if you have not, and send me any written changes that you may have for the website.

Here is what our team has done this year; in between these we put in hours of practice as well. The ferry flight needs to be done the day before and then we normally come back the day after, effectively taking 3 days for a 12 minute show!

Groblersdal Airshow: ferry flight there and back, 4 hours.
Vereeniging Rotary River Festival: ferry flight 2 hours.
Maputo Airshow: ferry flight 13 1/2 hours.
Kroonstad Airshow: ferry flight 4 hours.

We'll be displaying at Rand Airshow this weekend if you would like to see us- this is a huge leap forward into a show that is the exclusive domain of the 'heavies'; there is a tight time schedule for one of the biggest airshows in the calendar and we have won a spot by working hard at representing MISASA and hopefully all microlighters...

[Thunderboy]

Hi Oddball

I know it can be frustrating from your side I have been in non paying voluntary organizations before where everyone moans etc about your service or lack of when you trying to run your own business, family and hobby and just beome dispondant when you feel attacked, it cant be easy.

As a suggestion would it not be better to just link flying events, instructors, news etc directly to this site as it is a very active site and updated daily That way the actuall MISASA website only needs to be a very basic front page type thing

Also when you guys need help with certain things - post them here I would be happy to help out where I can and Im sure others would too

Thanks for what you are doing - we do need you guys,
See you at Rand Ill come introduce myself and thank you for what you are doing in person

[Tumbleweed]

Agree with Thunderboy,

Post more here. Seen as we don't get a mag anymore, this way it's more interactive.

Share with us your wants, needs and frustrations. I'm sure you'll be suprised with the results.

At worst, gain more members.

[alanmack]

The problem as I see it is that Oddball has too many balls in the air!

How about someone who is a website wizard offering to take over the management of the website for a year!

MISASA is yours too - it does not belong to the Committee - many hands make light work.

The weight of a collectivce effort will be felt by all!

As for moaning > it's a great idea > it creates a focus on matters that need volunteers!

[mike2flyfar]

I wish there was an easy answer ...

We ask you all to sign up and support the organization which represents you - and then what do you get ... well, so far this year ... nothing tangible at all.

The only tangible thing most members get every year is the magazine. In the past we produced our own magazine with lots of hard work (which we just could not sustain) so at the end of last year we decided to stop publishing Microflight Africa and to run with African Skies. The decision was based on many factors - the most important one being what was best for the MISASA members.

I, and the rest of the committee, made promises to do our best and at the very least deliver a magazine on time ... so having this first magazine 2 months late is an embarrassment and has pissed us all off, big time. I spoke to Trixie today and she told me that the last of this issue of the magazine would be in the post by this Monday. She also promised me that she would produce a magazine every 6 weeks for the rest of the year so that there would be 6 issues this year. Well, as an eternal optimist, I am prepared to give her the benefit of the doubt and allow her to make up for this bad start. If she is unable to meet her obligations then I will have to make another plan and either refund everyone or maybe go back to producing our own mag.

All this has got me to once again (for the thousandth time) think about what exactly MISASA does for the members and what they really want - and as much I would like us to perform miracles ... realistically, most microlighters just want to know their interests are being looked after, that safety issues that affect them are addressed, that there is some kind of communication ... and to be left alone to fly in peace. A small minority would like a few events and competitions to be organized. That's it!

So… soon I will be championing a move to downsize MISASA even more - which will also mean reduced fees. Come to the AGM later this year and have your say. We will let you know when.

As for the web site being updated ... well, Jay did say that he would take on the task of getting it done and he has done some work but he is very busy like all of us ... so recently I have been doing the work on it. The basics of it are all done and now I am writing the gumph to fill it up. Over the last year I received a few moans about the web site and upon asking for help to get it done I found the silence deafening. So, I guess in a month or 3 it will be done unless someone volunteers for the job - someone who has the ability, time and determination. Anyone?

What has happened this year? Well, we have been very busy getting the regulations for the new recreational Pilot licence (Part 62) sorted. It has been a lot of work but we have made good progress and hopefully by the end of the year we will have that in place - including the new Sport Plane Licence. Geoff Dyer and Neil de Lange are the champions here!

Something else - right now MISASA, SAHPA and the Aero Club are fighting to have the recreational pilot licence class 4 medical reinstated after it was somehow slipped though that microlight, gyro and hangglider pilots need a class 2 medical. It's crazy I know but it happened! The damn pity (and frustration) is the unnecessary effort and time it takes to fix it.

And we are still trying to get the CAA to agree to the Aero Club and other sections including MISASA - to be able self regulate in the future .. as I mentioned before, starting with Authority to Fly renewals. Somehow, I guess not surprisingly, I find we are a few step back from a few months ago - I will let you know if there is progress.

I will write another MISASA e-News soon to update everyone. I have been waiting for the magazine to come out so that we, the committee, can wipe some of the egg off our faces beforehand!

Barry, the calendar is in the magazine ... sorry it is so late in getting to you. And thanks again for all you do for our sport.

Mike