A new challenge for RA-Aus?

[Guest burbles1]

While I’m still a newbie to RA, I am seeing more and more news of airstrips closing, or aircraft clubs getting councils on their back (with higher fees and difficulties developing the airfield), or getting pesky neighbours on their back, or new airstrips having trouble getting development approval. This really bothers me, and is why I became a member of CRAA to get a second airfield for Canberra. People at all levels of aviation are lamenting airfield closures, and it seems the reaction is for only the affected club to try voicing their opinion and protesting to councils.

 

But now that RA-Aus seems to be getting closer to achieving freedoms for their members (height increase, flight over water, etc.), the Board should be turning their attention to the bigger issue of maintaining our freedom by arguing the case for keeping airfields. It seems that councils are the big barrier in understanding the culture of recreational aviation – you might get neighbours complaining about noise, but it is councils that have the power to react negatively.

 

RA-Aus needs to take a new direction by starting to build knowledge from those who are or have been affected by (potential) closure of airfields, the circumstances involved, how some have been successful in fighting off bureaucratic ignorance, and look for ways to get other influential community members involved to support aviation - most people would probably be unaware that sporting culture is built around airfields. Look for economic benefits, social benefits and how the environment may be affected.

 

RA-Aus is very quiet on the issue of showing the public how safe and fun recreational aviation is, and how much it is a part of community well-being. It seems to be the lack of education that results in ignorance and misinformation – in the absence of credible information and facts, people will make up their own version of things. This is what is starting to kill aviation (both RA and GA).

 

It is within the purpose and power of RA-Aus to follow through on initiatives that help to strengthen our political influence, and RA-Aus has an obligation to turn their attention to airfields – for instance, in the Constitution:

 

“B.4 To safeguard the interests of recreational aircraft clubs and similar bodies or any entity involved in activities

 

connected with recreational aircraft flying in any of its branches and obtain for them such monetary or other

 

assistance as may be possible by representations to Federal or State or any other appropriate authorities,

 

persons or organisations.”

 

“C.1 Enter into any arrangement with any Government or Local Authority, or any club, any other company or

 

person which may seem conducive to such objects, and to acquire from any such Government or Authority,

 

club, company or person any charters, decrees, licences, privileges and concessions and to represent

 

Australia at meetings of international organisations.”

 

This could mean arming the organisation with political knowledge and networks that help in any dealings with councils. Perhaps invite councillors to ‘open days’ at airfields. And take every opportunity to promote in the press the benefits of airfields and sport aviation. Let us not keep to ourselves any longer.