What age groups are represented here?

[Keith Page]

That's the RAA byline "plenty of room for growth; just no one knows who to get there" Its going to be hard going now, most of exGA pilots with medical issues are now members so no growth from that demographic anymore.

Nothing grows in poisoned dirt clean it up and use good fertiliser there are oodles of people just looking for a hospitable location to go and socialise in.

Ya got to get rid of the poison and start a welcoming situation. That is not hard actually quite simple.

 

Regards,

 

KP.

 

 

[planedriver]

What I think you're saying Keith, is sadly people have to spread some sh*t before good thing's start to happen.

 

Let's hope that is the case.

 

 

[Keith Page]

Yep plane driver you are on to it, sad thing it mostly happens all the time.

 

Regards,

 

KP.

 

 

[eightyknots]

This figure is not certain, as the information was a bit vague. The Annual Report says "Over the past 5 years ... male membership hovering between 93.5% to 94.1%" therefore females between 6.5% to 5.9%. The membership figures are not published for 5 years, so I took 2010/11 from other sources (the Annual Report for that year overstated membership as 11,079). At the end of 2010, according to John Brandon, membership was 9,674 coming off growth of 13% the previous year and he expected it would reach 10,000 in 2011. Membership 30 June 2015 = 9,117. Not knowing if 6.5% was 2011 or 2015, makes an accurate figure unlikely.

 

 

 

Over 5 years RAA has lost far more male members - the Annual Report says 175 per month (2,100) of which (on the percentages) approx 1,970 are male; 130 female. This is offset by new younger members (the average age of pilots is actually going DOWN).

 

 

 

As for why females are not renewing membership - there are just as many reasons as the men. The concerning thing is that, all things being equal, there is one female for every male, yet they find RAA & ultralight flying so unattractive there's only one female to every 16 males. Plenty of scope for growth.

 

 

 

Sue

So, what is being done to attract more females to RA Aus? What would be the reason for the really small numbers of women members? Is RA Aus too "blokey" for the ladies perhaps?

 

 

[FlyingVizsla]

I don't know why there are so few women, or why they retire at the same rate as men. I suspect that a number are wives & girlfriends who joined when their man did and either quit when he did, didn't finish their training, or decided to save money on a second membership (I know at least one of each).

 

 

 

I was single when I joined, already had a GA licence and plane, had been flying before the AUF started but joined because I became involved (as an office bearer) in an ultralight club in the 1990's and wanted to keep up to date with U/L issues. I subsequently did a conversion, but once married he did all the driving. I suspect that the men tend to grab the toys and the wife decides its a waste of money keeping up membership.

 

 

 

I saw flying as an efficient way from A to B (I was based in far Western Qld with a strip on the edge of every town), whereas the blokes were "look at me; I'm a pilot, hey I can throw it around, scare the pants off you, did you see my landing?" The aircraft we trained people in was minimal, grotty and our instructor a smelly guy who got a crush on every female, so I was the only female member and flyer, while we turned a number off the idea completely.

 

 

 

RAA needs to highlight young women flying and flying as an attractive way for girls to travel to exciting places with friends. Emphasise how clean, modern, safe and desirable aircraft are now. Partner with Aust Women Pilots' Assoc (AWPA) to increase participation of women in flying. A bit of research on how many RAA members are active pilots and why they trained, would help too.

 

 

Sue

 

 

[pmccarthy]

My daughter, 41, has two young children and a career. She recently mentioned an interest in flying and I will buy her a TIF. She first flew in a bassinet in a Cherokee age 6 weeks, but never showed an interest before.

 

 

[facthunter]

Sue , I think you mean HE rather than WE. Pretty common I suspect. Nev

 

 

[Kamloops]

I am 38.