15August

August 2022 President Message

August President’s message

Please remember, this is not the live version that was emailed to members and as such the links below are not active. Members can find the original email in their nominated inbox on August 8.

If you are an MAAA member and do not receive these emails, please email the Federal Secretary and let her know on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

August President’s message:

Please remember, this is not the live version that was emailed to members and as such the links below are not active. Members can find the original email in their nominated inbox on August 8.

If you are an MAAA member and do not receive these emails, please email the Federal Secretary and let her know on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

MAAA update

This is my first email in what will become a monthly update – a chance to catch up on what has been happening within the MAAA and further afield and so you can put faces to names for those of us on the Executive.

Firstly, if you would like to view the photos in this email go to the very top and click the little box that says "download pictures".  It will be located next to a little information symbol. 

Please feel free to get back to us with feedback, ideas for the MAAA, upcoming events or anything else that is relevant.

 

MAAA turning 75

Firstly, this year sees the MAAA turn 75. No mean feat for an organisation started by a group of guys who shared a common interest. A number of clubs have events planned for August/September/ October but we would love to see even more get involved. The MAAA will offer support to those who wish to throw open the doors and host an event, so please contact your local State and let them know. We will also help promote any 75th celebrations at a Federal level – but more information on that next time.

 

Membership cards & new system: 

You should by now have received a new, electronic membership card. All in all the rollout has been a huge success, with only a handful of members experiencing download problems. Just to re-cap, the reason we have switched from the traditional cards is not cost based but rather practicality; the old database has well and truly passed its use by date and is no longer supported. In September we will launch a new membership system application that will be accessed by mobile phone, tablet or computer. The new app will become a membership ‘one stop shop’ so to speak. Not only will it have a copy of your current card (electronically), it will include wings, club details, heavy and giant model details will be recorded in the database, and much more. There will be tabs for upcoming events, insurance and also the ability to fill in different forms – for example, the issue of wings, Heavy and Giant models – all from the one system.

I know some of you like the traditional membership cards, but you have your club and state members to help with the transition. We are also working on some “how-to” videos ahead of the launch so that there will be clear, no nonsense directions on how to work things.

We are considering running a few membership-application “how-to’s” as well – where a member of the MAAA Federal team will visit your state/club to walk you through the set up and how best to utilize the system. If this is something you or your club might be interested in, please reach out.

Inglewood & CASA: 

You may have heard that a recent event at Inglewood QLD was the first audit CASA has ever conducted on a flying display. There are a number of learnings coming out of the audit, and we are currently actioning the items identified by CASA. One of the identified issues is that our MOP’s are in urgent need of a review, updating and in some cases relevancy.

MOP rewrites: Inglewood’s audit leads straight into MOP rewrites. Many of you will know the majority of MOPs haven’t been reviewed in over a decade and at the very least, technology in aeromodelling has come a long way since then.

The MAAA MOPs are in desperate need of a re-fresh, and this has been flagged by CASA. We need to bring ourselves in line with International Standards and Regulatory requirements to stay compliant.

Area Approvals and Public Displays, followed by Heavy / Giant Models, are the first MOPs scheduled for an update. A small working group will be established to review the MOPs and fine tune them before publication. A complete list of MAAA MOPs can be found on the MAAA website in the meantime. If you would like to be involved in the review and have some skills in specific areas then contact your State Association.

CHAMPIONSHIPS

 
 

Congratulations to the members of the Australia pylon racing team (F3D and F3E) who were in Indiana USA earlier this month.

The Australian team finished 2nd place F3E, and congratulations to Tyler Mees for finishing third in individual F3E.

 
 

Congratulations also to those flying for Australia in the FAI F4C/H Scale team, along with Joe Finocchiaro who travelled to be a judge at the Norway event. 

 

Club Assistance Scheme (CAS)

Each year, the MAAA uses membership funds for a variety of reasons. One of these is to assist clubs with projects or the purchase of capital equipment– it might be a new mower, gravel for a driveway or a roof on a meeting shed.

In the last financial year approx 17 different clubs from across Australia received a combination of Club Assistance Scheme and MAAA Natural Disaster funding totaling in excess of $50,000. 

Next year’s Club Assistance Scheme will open early in the new year - all the details and selection criteria will be contained in the pack.

New MAAA Federal Secretary: 

Rhyll McCormack has been selected to replace our interim Federal Secretary, Greg Petherick. Many of you will know Greg stepped in to help us out and has been doing an amazing job, but unfortunately his full time job prevents him from staying in the position much as we would love him to.

Rhyll hails from Victoria and comes from a media background, having spent 15 years as a journalist before moving into a similar position as ours with an organisation called the Mountain Cattlemen’s Association of Victoria (MCAV). Rhyll has a lot of experience in communication and admin and is keen to hit the floor running. She has already been to Brisbane to meet with some of the Executive and is keen to get out and about across Victoria in the next few months. I know you will all make her feel very welcome.

Greg will continue to be on hand to help out as Rhyll learns the ropes. You can contact her via the Federal secretary email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. She will also have the MAAA phone by the time you receive this email. The number is 0408 657 657.

I encourage you to first contact your State Secretary as they have most of the answers.
 

Area Approvals– check when yours expires:

IT IS THE CLUBS RESPONSIBILITY TO APPLY FOR A NEW INSTRUMENT THROUGH THE STATE ASSOCIATION AND MAAA PRIOR TO EXPIRY.

Most clubs have an instrument from CASA for their location and if these expire it will result in the suspension of the club activities.  It may also result in an investigation by CASA.

All applications for renewal or implementation of new instruments should be initiated with a minimum of 3 months lead time, through the State Association, and MUST include:

·        CASA FORM - https://www.casa.gov.au/model-aircraft-flight-authorisation-area-approval

·        Updated Club Risk Assessment (on the correct form)

·        Stakeholder Engagement - 50km radius of site

·        Updated Club Rules/Procedures with version tracking

·        Site Location (maps of the area)

·        Evidence of landowner permission (including any overflight properties)

·        And if completing Model Aircraft Displays;

·        Display Procedures.

Any questions, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - if a detailed reply is required it will generally be within 7 days, if not sooner.

Upcoming Events:

If you have an event coming lets us know so we can pass the message around.

CANCELLED:

Tingalpa Airshow and Hobby Expo – August 14.

 
 

Happy flying

Tim Nolan
MAAA President 

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