Our RAA Leaders E - Message 67- (March) - No Words on Cutting Member Fees or Rego

[SSCBD]

What do you think??

 

 

As most of us cant fly during this period and I assume a lot of us fit into the high risk area of COVID 19 with age and of course incomes being affected, I notice our leaders have not reduced - suspended - offered reducing any fees of rego costs for the next say 6 months. .

 

 

I HAVE POSTED SOME E-MEESAGE SECTIONS BELOW.

 

From the Chair

 

What we do know for sure though is that we do not want you to miss out on the ability to go flying. See below for more information on how we are changing the way we work to ensure that your ability to fly is not interrupted.

 

Having said all of this, we also urge you to consider if it is appropriate to go flying. If you have any symptoms of the virus or are just generally feeling unwell then perhaps save flying for another day. If your planned flight contravenes any government restrictions in place at the time then again, please be responsible.

 

A large portion of our membership is in the at risk age group where, if infected, they face a higher degree of likelihood that they may develop serious or even life threatening complications. We are a reasonably small cohort where a lot of us know each other and we should use that close knit aspect of our community to make sure we look out for each other. Let’s not forget this and make sure that we don’t take unnecessary risks with our health, flying or other activities while we work our way through this pandemic.

 

It’s times like these that we get an opportunity to show leadership and make decisions for the collective or we can make some bad decisions that reflect badly on us as a whole. So while we face some the most challenging times we will ever see, let’s make sure as aviators we are viewed in the way we want to be seen.

 

Take care and be safe,

 

What do these changes mean for you?

 

• We value your membership and are working hard to minimise any impact on you. Membership and aircraft renewal processing is continuing without interruption, however due to logistical issues, membership cards (for new members) and aircraft cards will not be posted for a while. Not having your membership card or aircraft card does NOT stop you from taking to the skies. Don't forget you can access your membership information through the RAAus app, available on iOS and Android.
  
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• The RAAus Online Shop is closed until further notice. For urgent orders of manuals or log books please contact [email protected]
  
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• We have suspended ASIC collections from our office. If you need to collect an ASIC please speak to your issuer about alternate collection points.
  
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• We are still available to talk to you by phone, email, and social media. Because many of us are working remotely, it may mean that you leave us a message so that the right person can call you back, but we are here for you and will do our best to adapt as circumstances change.
  

 

 

Michael Monck

Chair

[Yenn]

Why would you expect fees to be cut. Is it just that you are only interested in what is in it for you?

If you want to fly, you join RAAus and pay your fees. There is no need for you to fly. Your livelihood does not depend upon your flying. The ability of RAAus to do all the paperwork that gets you permission to fly still has to go on, so why would you expect RAAus to cut its fees, which of course would ean it could not pay its employees.

[onetrack]

It's all about essentials for the next 3 to 6 mths - and nowhere is recreational flying listed as an essential activity.

 

An additional 5 to 8% of the population has just been thrown out of their jobs, for no reason other than they happened to work in an industry where people came into close contact and socialisation - and those now-unemployed people are looking at serious shortfalls in income, in the extended period it will take for them to find a new job - if they can find one. Many of those people with age against them, will be lucky to ever work again at a paying job.

 

If your income is not seriously affected by this virus crisis, and you can still afford to fly, be thankful that only limitations on your recreational flying ability will be the main thing affecting you.

[spacesailor]

SOLUTION

If you can,t fly Why pay,

Walk away, the more that They loose, it might get through their minds

If you can pass their test your on your way to a Full general licence with their competitors !

Just give it some thought whilst sitting at home.

spacesailor

[Guest Machtuk]

Interesting times ahead for sure! I don't see the link/reason to not being able to fly (that's another story!) to being financially current?

We are all in this hysteria together whether we like it or not! I for one will still fly until it becomes illegal to step outside your front door! The stupidity of our society at times knows no bounds!

[Yenn]

Apart from the fear of getting the virus and also the fear of everything collapsing around you, the biggest fear I see is the effect all the continuous gloom and doom is having on our mental health. I already see people making ridiculous decisions, that they would not make if they thought it through. First to come to mind is the Qld premier insisting the local government elections go ahead. No risk to the voters, she says, but she obviously has not considered all those others who are involved, such as those who count the vote.

[poteroo]

If your income is not seriously affected by this virus crisis, and you can still afford to fly, be thankful that only limitations on your recreational flying ability will be the main thing affecting you

 

I'll be happy to go for a short solo fly to keep the oil moving, but our flying school is self-closed for business as I decided 2 weeks ago, (independently of regulators or health officials), that the cockpit is far too 'close' and really breaches the social distance advice at that time. TIFs, with unknown people, have been off the menu for several weeks. Theory classes are similarly not on.

 

Sure, there are 180 flying schools who will all lose income during the next few months, and not just because of the health aspects: many, many students and prospective students will very sensibly now have their eyes on survival rather than recreational flying. Whether they return is unknown. I expect to lose around $20,000 income over the next 3 months, but luckily, I own my aircraft outright, and the hangar too, so my outgoings are manageable.

 

But, I can potter round my hangar,(solo), plant some lawn, kill a few spiders, clean up, wash aircraft, and generally...........potter!

 

happy days,

 

happy days,

[farri]

I fly from my own property and have been paying AUF/RAA fees since the mid-eighties! I don`t like the ever-increasing fees any more than anyone else but if I want to fly legally, and I do, I have to pay the fee! as far as I can see, at this time, there is no reason for me to stop flying so I will continue.

 

Franco.

[Guest Machtuk]

Apart from the fear of getting the virus and also the fear of everything collapsing around you, the biggest fear I see is the effect all the continuous gloom and doom is having on our mental health. I already see people making ridiculous decisions, that they would not make if they thought it through. First to come to mind is the Qld premier insisting the local government elections go ahead. No risk to the voters, she says, but she obviously has not considered all those others who are involved, such as those who count the vote.

Humans are very reactionary creatures much like sheep, one jumps off a cliff millions follow clueless as to why!

[kiwiaviator]

Recreational aviation in Australia in the future is totally dependent on every member of a CASA approved organisation supporting their organisation. I haven't been able to fly for a few months now due to where I am located however I don't expect any leeway. Having said that, some of us will be suffering financially with job losses etc. and I would like to think they can have some breathing room in paying their subs/fees.

Edited March 29, 2020 by kiwiaviator