Airventure 19 Bushcat Raffle

[old man emu]

Cancellation Insurance is very often obtained for the sole reason that adverse weather might cause an outside event to be cancelled.  Like all event-related insurance, Cancellation Insurance is the same as a bet on a horse in a race. The insurer calculates the probability of adverse weather occurring and sets the odds. You ante up enough to get paid enough to cover your liabilities if the event is cancelled. If it doesn't get cancelled, you lose the bet and the insurer keeps your stake. If the event gets cancelled, the insurer loses and pays you in relation to the odds.

 

So "Act of God" doesn't cause the bet to be cancelled, since the bet related to the probability of an "Act Of God".

 

 

 

 

[Love to fly]

Who was the numbskull who didn't get the event covered by Event Cancellation Insurance?

 

https://insuranceandrisk.com.au/article/when-the-show-doesnt-go-on/

 

Not sure how this would have worked in this instance.  The event wasn't cancelled.  I think the site was evacuated for a few hours only.

 

 

[turboplanner]

Not sure how this would have worked in this instance.  The event wasn't cancelled.  I think the site was evacuated for a few hours only.

 

The Insurance policy usually has a cutoff time for a decision to cancel which avoids any ambiguity.

 

 

[WayneL]

From the AirVenture terms and conditions.....

 

If the show is postponed, the draw will take place in any event and your entitlement to take part in the draw is unaltered.

 

 

[FlyBoy1960]

Posted by AirVenture Australia one hour ago on social media:

 

 

Dear AirVenture Australia supporter,

 

As many of you know, the 2019 AirVenture Australia event held at Parkes, NSW in September was impacted by a significant weather event. A severe dust storm and strong winds impacted the central west of NSW, including Parkes, over the first two days of the event. On the Saturday, as the wind speed exceeded 43 knots, an emergency evacuation of the event site was required. Our team of volunteers managed this difficult situation capably and no injuries or aircraft damage was recorded. However, as a result of the inclement weather and resulting reduced patronage, the event suffered a significant financial shortfall.

 

To understand what has since unfolded, it is important to explain the role of AirVenture Australia Pty Ltd. AirVenture Australia Pty Ltd is a company trustee of a trust named “The OzKosh trust” of which the sole beneficiary is Recreational Aviation Australia Inc (RAAus). Our small team are mostly volunteers. We give up our time to plan and stage the ‘AirVenture Australia’ event annually, using trust funds.

 

In early November this year, AirVenture Australia Pty Ltd made a formal request for RAAus to inject capital into the trust, to offset the losses caused by the inclement weather. This would allow AirVenture Australia Pty Ltd to meet its financial commitments, including finalising payment for the promotional giveaway prize, the BushCat aircraft.

 

We are disappointed to report that following consideration by their management and board, RAAus have declined to fund the trust. We point out there was no legal obligation for RAAus to do so. No reason was given for their decision. However, without the trust having sufficient funds, the BushCat promotional giveaway is unable to proceed.

 

We understand this news will be of great disappointment to many. For those who may have questions regarding the terms and conditions of their tickets, please refer to our website.

 

AirVenture Australia Pty Ltd is now taking the only steps available to it to resolve this situation. Additional to the cancellation of the BushCat promotional giveaway, the AirVenture Australia event will not be conducted in 2020 or beyond.

 

We take this opportunity to sincerely thank Errol and the team from Global Aviation Products (GAP), who supplied the BushCat, for their support of the event. Without their contribution and significant hard work, the youth aviation and STEM program would not have happened. This program was a huge success, with over 25 high school students coming together to assemble the BushCat at Parkes in the week before the AirVenture event. A number of these students have undertaken to pursue a career in aviation as a direct result of their positive experience in the program. GAP have shown tremendous leadership by putting their money where their mouth is to support and promote the aviation industry to our youth. They deserve all of our congratulations for a job well done.

 

The AirVenture Team wishes to thank the industry for getting behind the event over the last few years. Our small team is proud to have been given the opportunity to support the industry.

 

We wish you safe skies and soft landings.

 

 

[turboplanner]

I'm not so sure about the safe skies and soft landings.

 

 

[kgwilson]

So that is the demise of Airventure Australia. Interestingly at a RAA seminar it was pointed out that RAA did not organise Airventure but they also did not state that RAA was the sole beneficiary of the Trust. The failure of RAA to provide the shortfall of the Trusts losses, let alone the Bushcat is pretty poor. The event itself was very well set up and well run and I congratulate all of those volunteers that were involved. Weather is always a risk with Aviation events so I would have thought that they may have taken out some sort of insurance to cover that. Perhaps the premium was prohibitive.

 

I really enjoyed it despite the howling wind, the dust and then mud and the great Sunday and finally a freezing Sunday night and rough ride home. Then of course there was Ausfly a few weeks later. There is no room for 2 events like this here. Everyone needs to get off their high horses & work together for all Australian aviators.

 

 

[onetrack]

It might sound like a reasonable explanation for not supplying a specified prize - but if the raffle was run under the rules and requirements of the NSW LOTTERIES AND ART UNIONS ACT 1901 - as it should have been, to be legal, then there is going to be a lot more awkward questions asked, than what is covered in the above social media message.

 

There is always the possibility of charges being laid against the organisers for inducing show participants to buy tickets, without advising them that there was a likelihood the specified and advertised prize would not be awarded.

 

 

[onetrack]

I have just studied the T's & C's of the raffle and the organisers have stated the laws of QLD apply to the raffle, and the draw would be held in QLD.

 

I still can't see any clause stating the organisers could refuse to hold the raffle draw at their discretion. I would expect that there's likely to be some official complaints laid, about the failure to hold the draw and award the prize.

 

After all, people have handed over money with the stated aim of being part of a properly organised and legally-held raffle.

 

I see on the wrinkled fruit forum there is already one complainer who bought tickets purely for the chance to win the aircraft, he didn't even go to the show.

 

https://airventureaustralia.com.au/about-us/terms-conditions/

 

 

[WayneL]

Fancy running a raffle when they had not even guaranteed they can deliver, that's deception! I bought tickets in advance not knowing for sure whether I was able to attend due to work commitments but was enticed to buy because of the raffle. I did not end up going.....so they should be refunding my ticket costs I reckon!

 

Wayne

 

 

[slb]

The failure of RAA to provide the shortfall of the Trusts losses, let alone the Bushcat is pretty poor.

 

Pretty poor? I would say extremely poor that they have not provided the shortfall. All they had to announce is that they had supported the event so that one lucky winner could have the finished aircraft as promised and that hopefully next year would return a windfall back to RAA.

 

There must be some redress to RAA for this surely. Or are they just going to say we will take the profits, but someone else can cover the losses? 

 

 

[slb]

so they should be refunding my ticket costs I reckon

 

 

 

To not hold the raffle is bad, but who ends up with the aircraft now that it is built and has the required hours flown?

 

If it has to be sold, then the proceeds should definitely go to refunding the ticket sales as everyone who bought one was a potential winner.

 

 

[pmccarthy]

Very bad form. If our side of aviation doesn't get together and sort out it’s differences then we are doomed.

 

 

[Kiter]

I suspect the organisers conducted this under the provisions regulated by the Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Act 1999 (Qld). There is a provision allowing raffles with prizes valued under $50,000 conducted by community associations to be conducted without a permit.

 

Should unhappy purchasers of tickets wish to complain, the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation would be the place to go, although I suspect it would be a pointless exercise that would only hurt people who have given their time to support recreational aviation.

 

 

[pmccarthy]

If it’s under $50 k then I will buy it

 

 

[Tasmag]

How is it that the weather had any impact, the draw was only available for online ticket sales. These would have been completed prior to the weekend, and weather, I assume.

 

 

[Downunder]

How is it that the weather had any impact, the draw was only available for online ticket sales. These would have been completed prior to the weekend, and weather, I assume.

 

You make a very good point!

 

I guess "on the day" ticket sales helped subsidised the aircraft build.

 

 

[robinsm]

Raa-Aus again shows its fantastic skills at speeding the demise of worthwhile events, ie, Temora where the entire town and aviation residents were behind the evnt, this one et5c etc.   The practical support of the sport, open days and airshows, is obviously interfering with someones political/empire building ambitions.   Someone else may get a guernsey and we cant have that.   

 

 

[clouddancer]

Why does everyone assume what was said in the original post by AirVenture is true?

 

 

[robinsm]

Why does everyone assume what was said in the original post by AirVenture is true?

 

so what are you saying, they lie?   Having made that statement, what is the true state of affairs then?

 

 

[SplitS]

RAA cannot even run a Chook raffle.

 

Sorry i mean aircraft raffle, the really scary thing.

 

They have exclusive right to manage LSA in Oz. It would be funny if it was not true.

 

 

[clouddancer]

There are inaccuracies in the post from Air Venture and RAAus did not organize the raffle.

 

the info about the trust as a start

 

 

[Love to fly]

There are inaccuracies in the post from Air Venture and RAAus did not organize the raffle.

 

the info about the trust as a start

 

I didn't read the Airventure post as RAAus organising the raffle. Just that Airventure expected them to bail them out. But I didn't have a raffle ticket, didn't go to Airventure and know nothing about the trust.

 

 

[Downunder]

I guess it's an indication of the extent the RAA have embellished themselves in corporate structure when they would have gladly taken the money from a profitable Airventure but baulked at taking responsibility for a loss....

 

Of note, there is no mention of this mess in the latest RAA E-news .......

 

 

[danny_galaga]

I suspect the organisers conducted this under the provisions regulated by the Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Act 1999 (Qld). There is a provision allowing raffles with prizes valued under $50,000 conducted by community associations to be conducted without a permit.

 

Should unhappy purchasers of tickets wish to complain, the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation would be the place to go, although I suspect it would be a pointless exercise that would only hurt people who have given their time to support recreational aviation.

 

 Completed Bushcat is well over 50k. The kit alone is roughly 45k. I just hope Errol and the other sponsors didn't lose money on this ?