MISASA FEES - Is it worth it ?

[Fairy Flycatcher]

For me as a microlight pilot and instructor, safety is by far the biggest issue. I am not happy with some of the silly laws being created, but for the most part, I think individuals tackle those (I have worked on a couple of them myself). Aviation Watch South Africa does an excellent job, and many of the issues ARE tackled by individuals.

I have not found MISASA nor Aero Club to be very effective, nor do I feel that I have had my interests as a pilot looked after. The "fighting" for people, in my opinion, has been mostly hot air meetings, and most of what happens has been done through individual pressure and often through other bodies.

For me, its not about a glossy magazine. I want info, and I want news. If its printed on toilet paper, but readable, I will still read it. There are many great magazines for flying on the market, Konrad's new African Skies, African Pilot, Aviation and Safety. They all make good reads...

I want honest and thorough accident investigations. From a LOT of experience with CAA accident investigations, they are totally CLUELESS when it comes to weight-shift accidents. Very often the manufacturer of the aircraft gets called to the scene to give his opinion. Surely we cannot expect objectivity from them? When last did any of you read a good, honest accident report if the cause is not a clear power line / irrigation / low and reckless flight. What about the lead-up to the accident? What decisions can we make to be safer? What can we learn? Should we be quiet or thoroughly outspoken? From my personal experience I can tell you that MISASA / Aero Club will gag people rather than stand up for the rights of members.

Also, I want to know that the schools and instructors I am being trained with, and the schools and instructors where my fellow pilots come from, so that I can trust them in the sky, so that more people will join the sport, so that I have a market for my second-hand aircraft, so that I can feel proud of my sport. Neither CAA nor MISASA takes responsibility for this at the moment. CAA does not have the knowledge and Aero Club does not seem to give a damn.

Did you guys know that all the work myself and David did last year on the Technical Standards came to nothing? All the consultation etc. etc. Those technical standards which we published everywhere are not the ones submitted by Aero Club!! In fact, they got a consultant in who knows less about weigh-shift than the average 5 hour student and he wrote the stuff. Its terrible!! I have not even received a single explanation of either Aero Club or MISASA on this, other than I must just let it go, so that Part 62 can be promulgated. So our national standards is pathetic, thanks to Aero Club / MISASA (I am addressing this with CARCOM directly at the moment)

I want representation at a more de-centralised level. MISASA is in JHB, for JHB, which is great for you guys, for us it sucks.

Mike has been the chairman for the last 3 months, and will be for another month and a half. What then? Why don't you ask him what he did for MISASA last year as treasurer. Volunteers run out of steam. MISASA has changed direction, office, management etc. etc. etc. so many times! Every time the same story: " last year sucked... , but WE will be better... these are our ideas... watch us... give us one more year...."

Rob Hill did a great job last year on many issues. There will always be individuals who did not get the attention they deserved, but shooting Rob down is not right. Similarly, Mike will do a great job on some issues this year or couple of months, but some will fall through the cracks. Even the committee members are being left out often. I know, I live with one...

For me, I don't support MISASA anymore. Its not about the previous chairman, or the current chairman, its the whole format of it which sucks.

The energy they are putting into a magazine is pathetic if you consider the issues not being addressed:

- many aircraft fly without current authorities to fly, as CAA does not seem to have the manpower to know who flies and who does not, very often, the owners are unaware of this, as they never receive renewal notices.

- same goes for pilots licences.

- we have no clarity on accidents - what has happened about the wing testing...

- there is almost no quality control for manufacturers, and no proper communication routes between manufacturers and aircraft owners.

- there is no quality control over instructors and schools and syllabi

- there is no quality control over AP's, and no communication between manufacturers and AP's (Aero Club's AP scheme is still a bit of a joke ...)

- we are not doing enough for the public image of our sport. There aren't enough good-news stories to balance the front-page disasters

- we are not doing enough for international marketing. As a destination to learn to fly, South Africa can not be beaten.



This passion we have for our sport, its safety, transparancy and communication in our sport, has lead us to start a new organization, Wings SA, with the aim to grow slowly, and to give pilots, instructors and the public the information network to have a safe flying environment, through a network of dedicated appointed professionals in a partnership with the CAA. Have a look at www.wingssa.co.za over the next couple of weeks and see how it goes..

[mike2flyfar]

Anette

You do make me work for my ... I was going to say money!

I will answer you briefly:

The Technical Standards issue ... the committee has agreed to go into the matter and address it and change or reverse the situation if it is for the good of microlighting. I told you we will get an independant ombudsman to help if we have differences. The issue is not over. You and David have said that you do not want to come to a meeting. I hope I can still persuade you because there is a lot to sort out. I simply asked if you would accept what has been done because it took years to do and now it is at least complete ... not perfectly I agree. So, lets decide what is best for our sport. Work with me on this please.

Authorities to Fly ... I have just today sent out a reminder to everyone on e-mail through our e-Newsletter that I can find.

Same goes with reminding them about their licences.

I will post the reminders in time after I get their address from the CAA.

The schools and instructors issue ... that will be addressed in time. Safety is an issue here so it does need our attention. Wait and see, it's on the agenda.

The Aquilla wing was tested one month ago (load test) under the watchful eye of the CAA. It passsed the test and more.
The flight test was unofficially done some time ago. I will ask the committee to decide what we should do next.

The safety and accident portfolio has been changed and Alex is doing a really great job. He is experienced, committed and works hard. What more can we do exactly - please let Alex know.

OK, about the manufacturers. I agree but that is a CAA job. Anyway, this last week we got in touch with every one of them by phone to confirm their details and will investigate with the CAA how we can improve standards - but right now we do not have the experience, people or the money to address that issue properly. Can you help or do you know of anyone who can and what exactly would you suggest we do?

You bring up so many things that should be done and I agree with some, but please what about realistic, workable and sustainable solutions. And people that are prepared to do this work.

Anyway, thanks for your criticism, it makes me more determined than ever to deliver.

All the best to you and David
Mike.

[Fairy Flycatcher]

Hi Mike

At the risk of making this an extended dialogue between you and me :D

I know you will try, and I know you are doing the job as best you can as a volunteer, BUT many, many good guys before you have burnt out...

We are making you work hard. So is Aero Club. You work. Aero Club draws the salary... :D

We need a fresh approach... one working more closely with CAA and their certification, licensing and operations people... one which is not too much of a one man show... one with decent public relations and marketing, local and international. One with authority, transparancy and integrity. I know this will take time. We started our airfield out of bush and a vision. We will do the same for WINGS SA.

We have known for a long time that MISASA is not working... its been repeated at every MISASA AGM for the last couple of years. MISASA needs a new consitution, an ARO, committee members who are willing to work, and more than 50 people to actually bother to come to the AGM.


And about the ombudsman for the Technical Standards, no thanks. I have approached CARCOM direct. Mr Herman Wildenboer and Mr Levers Mabaso has already envited me to send my TS to them direct and that they will more than welcome it...

I have had too many lies and empty promises from Aero Club to trust them again.

For the record. We handed our completed TS to Aero Club last year in September. They hired the consultant AFTER I would not work with him any more (I, together with MISASA hired him for the ARO - he was fairly clue-less). The technical standards - which the consultant has now written for Aero Club - were only handed in at last week's CARCOM meeting. They were not accepted.


WINGS SA is by no means a vindictive move. I still think there is space for MISASA to fill a social role within WINGS SA. This is what the plan has been for quite some time. But I feel strongly that the industry needs WINGS SA.

Maybe just the competition will be good for the sport?

[gertcoetzee]

Eesh so much politics. One point Annette makes which I would like to have an answer for is the Gautengilization of MISASA. Surely it would have been a great step to have the AGM in Cape Town, or Durban! I read about a MISASA competition in Gauteng. Maybe I am too new to this sport to remember something happening in Western Cape. As far as volunteering is concerned, count me in - but I am in Western Cape. Maybe the functions could be split a la SA Government (without the corruption).

On the other hand I wish to disagree with Annette on the Microlighters SA issue - I love the magazine, would like to read more. If only I got one regularly.

[mike2flyfar]

OK, Thanks Anette. I did send a letter to CARCOM to tell them that we will try and resolve it amongst ourselves - if we cannot do that then surely we are not fit to look after our own sport. I'll talk to you and David next week.
We'll leave it at that.

About competitions in other areas we try our best to encourage it. We also try hard to get others from other areas to help on the committee. It does happen - but the majority of pilots are in Gauteng and the admin is all done here - Aeroclub, CAA, government offices etc.

Thanks
Mike

[ICEMAN]

As Mr Average Joe Bloggs with an MPL, i want simplicity in the system. I want an organization that will answer my questions and help me stay on the right side of the law.

To date its been very confusing; eg a few months ago i had some questions about wing specs according to the law.... i approached three diffearnt AP`s and had 3 differant opinions regarding the hows, whats and whens, and a 4th version from the manufacturer!!!! Is it a wonder that there are so many unlicenced planes/ pilots

As mr Average MPL Joe Bloggs, Im looking for a "one stop shop"; one place, body, organization, office or institution that can answer my questions, advise me, help me with my paper trails for A 2 Fly, licence renewals, radio licences, and generally make the system user friendly....

Both Mike and Fairy make valid arguments, ..... yet spot the irony, you both want the same things (that the average MPL also wants).... saftey, standards, organization, consolidation, simplicity etc etc etc..... yet seem to be pulling in differant directions.

CAA is not going to take the MPL fraterity seriously until there is consolidation of ideas, with the unity and the backing of the average MPL......

How do the other associations that fall under the Aero club (soaring society, EAA etc) manage..... or do they have the same in-house bun fights?

[gertcoetzee]

ICEMAN is 100% correct. Most of us are Mr Joe Bloggs and couldn't care less who runs the show, as long as it works for us. Maybe we should politely request the different factions to dialogue it out before we support any. Whether MISASA or a different organisation. As long as it delivers, represents and does not cost an arm and a leg.

[Redeye]

This thing just goes round and round- When i operated trikes you had to belong to MISSA- We had our up and down years- when martin walker and the lone ranger ran it things were very good-and with some chairman things went down
Mike and FF want the same thing but FF wants to make money out of it without opersition- costs will go sky high in the long run-

I SAY AGAIN- look at the glider ARO it works at very low costs because its run from club level up and not from the chairman down- If the clubs take over running things the work gets shared out so it doesnt become a huge burden on a couple of comittee members-and the clubs in difent parts of the country run their own shows- Eg: when an AP signs out a glider for its anual at club level you can fly it straght away- you dont have to wait for the bit of paper to come from Joburg first- that may take a few weeks but you can keep flying- Your pilots licence is only isued once for life- keeps costs way down- All you need from then on is a bianual check out signed in your log book by an instructor (at no cost) and a current medical.- the list goes on and on

If the Micro clubs started doing some of the work instead of moaning about the comitee all the time things could work- FF wouldnt want it to go this way as it would take money out of wings pocket- Mike intentions are good but it places a huge load on a few peaple.

Dont reinvent the wheel- the Glider ARO is a very good example on how things can be done.

Rant over

[IFLYHI]

To be fair to us though our sport is not a centralized sport like gliding.
Gliding only takes place at very specific locations/clubs where as if you have a 300m grass strip you can launch your ML
Therefore we will always have to belong to a body some where else

I further don't believe that anyone will become rich from commissions for doing work for the ARO

[skybound®]

Believe MISASA is now down to approx 700 members.

[gertcoetzee]

Who said the following?

Sometimes Aero Club and MISASA aren't too bad

Was is
(a) Mike Blyth looking into the mirror?
(b) Fairy Flycatcher
(c) Milo in "Batman"

[Tumbleweed]

Besides having representation at Caa and assoiated legals i.e NTCA, transponders e.t.c, what exacly do we want from MISASA and what do they expect from all the flying clubs?

All I share with my club is the strip. If I need to know anything I call someone and get an opinion. You're all on your own here. The most interaction I have is this forum.

I don't fly competition and don't need to subsidise someone who wants to. So what else am I expected to be enlightened on?

[IFLYHI]

Believe MISASA is now down to approx 700 members.

701

Paid my dues, first time in 2 years they were so impressed gave me a copy of March 06 and all of last year issues of Microflight :D