President’s Editorial Hello Members
2020 has paid off with the Western Australian Aviation College gaining eligibility for We are now one year into COVID and an extended peri- VET Student Loans. This od of uncertainty in our work- means that WAAC students can now obtain loans from the ing, family and recreational lives. In February we had our Commonwealth Government second lockdown in the Perth to cover the fees for commerand Peel regions, and the Club cial training. again closed its doors – fortuEnrolments in WAAC in Janunately this time only for a ary were consequently at their week. It was very sad to see China Southern Flying College highest level for several years cease operations, due in part and there is a strong level of to restrictions on international interest from prospective stustudents. As much as we may dents that will see a similarly high intake mid-year. sometimes have expressed feigned or real frustration at indecipherable radio calls from The strong flying results have some of the students, this col- resulted in an improvement in lege was still part of our avia- current financial performance, and the increased enrolments tion community. for WAAC provide a greater Despite all of this, RACWA is degree of commercial certainty. All of this allows us to turn having a successful year in our minds to the future. both club activities and pilot training.
By Ray Challen club to develop over the next five years. Not only the services that we can offer members, but how we can recapture the essence of a club of passionate aviators. We are thinking very broadly about such matters as the amenity and aesthetic of the club facilities; the training and other services we offer to pilots and aircraft owners; and how we can attract a more diverse membership and participation, including our families and the many community members that have an interest in aviation but are not pilots. I look forward to sharing a new club vision and strategy with you in the near future. In the meantime, if you have ideas to contribute to the Committee’s work, please collar me or another committee member and give us the benefit of your experience and insight.
The Committee is very conscious of the perception Flying hours are 10 per cent ahead of forecast, most nota- amongst many club members Happy and safe flying. and the broader community of bly in club training and club flying. Maybe some foregone recreational aviators that RACWA has for some years expenditure in overseas holibeen focused on commercial days is being redirected into training to the detriment of club recreational flying. spirit, membership and participation. This perception has Indeed, recreational flying seems to be having something some justification as for the past several years there was, of a renaissance and this is being reflected in increases in by necessity, a commitment of participation in club flying com- management and financial resources to commercial operapetitions and events, and the tions as a means of recovery regular fly ins such as the monthly Bunbury and Bussel- from a period of relative finanton Breakfasts. Our last New cial difficulty. Members Welcome (described on page 12) introduced several We have now, fortunately and very enthusiastic new recrea- thankfully, emerged from this period and are in a position to tional pilots and their families tackle this situation. to the club. With commercial training, some very hard work put in by our CEO and his staff during Page 4
Your Committee will be thinking hard over the next few months about how we want the Ray Challen TARMAC TOPICS
