AOPAs POLICIES AOPA has taken an extremely thoughtful, consultative, dignified, respectful and honourable approach in everything it strives to achieve to protect and promote general aviation in South Africa. We ALWAYS consult with other aviation stakeholders such as Aero Club, ALPA, CAASA, SSSA, etc and share thoughts and strategies with them and try hard to find common ground - particularly when there are possible issues in which we or our members may have differences of views or objectives. THE PROBLEM However, CAAs response to the things we propose are childishly attacked on a personal level - the prime instigator being Mmanare Mambolo who usually chairs CARCOM. This then devolves into a rambling monologue which attacks AOPAs representatives and AOPA itself on a personal basis - without engaging the actual issues which are on the agenda and about which AOPA has usually done considerable research and presented in-depth written submissions. In addition, AOPA officers and members go to considerable lengths to obtain the views of their members and other affected parties, usually in writing and sometimes by petition. Most shocking of all is that Mamabolo uses her position as chair at meetings of statuory bodies to invite and incite other delegates to also join in the feckless barrage of disparaging remarks, not about the merits or demerits of AOPAs proposals, but more personal diatribes about our attitude, lack of respect and the tone of our activities, mostly which are outside the scope and purview of CARCOM. AOPA has therefore called for Mmanare Mamabolos resignation from the CARCOM chair. Needless to say, a few CAA individuals are keen to take the opportunity Mamabolo grants them to have a go at AOPA, since we do admittedly give them a hard time over their shortcomings. But when Aero Clubs Kevin Storie gets up and, for no good reason, vents his bile and unwelcome opinions, it tends to get up our noses because if he has any problems with AOPA, they can be resolved politely outside of regulatory meetings and without bringing the entire aviation industry into disrepute. We are, after all, on the same side over most issues. Of course, CAA loves to observe and exploit any apparent divisions in the pilot and aircraft owner population and Kevins puerile antics at both CARCOM and NASCOM do a lot of damage to the industry as a whole - as well as delighting those who would like to see our industrys demise because of the authorities political, racial and personal jealousy. The AOPA representatives typically grit their teeth and sit through these hour-long rants. After they have finally petered out, we simply and politely express our rejection of everything and anything that was said and that we would prefer to proceed with the agenda in terms of the CARCOM Terms of Reference and statutory objectives. CAASAs Robert Garbett also embarks on unctuous and ingratiating fawning over Mamabolos poisonous utterings, even though he clearly has no idea what she on about. To CAASAs credit, our relationship with their JP Truter has always been cordial and polite even when we are dealing with potential conflicts between the interests of commercial and private aviation. The same must be said about CAASAs Russell Patterson, who took umbrage at the chairs last attempt to turn the CARCOM Air Safety Subcommittee into another anti-AOPA romp by threatening to leave the room until they had finished their nonsense. Thank you Russell for bringing some sense to the proceedings. THE FUTURE AOPA-South Africas policy is to be outspoken and its tactics are to stand up for the rights of our members by grabbing the bull by the horns and resolving issues which make general aviation less safe, practical or affordable. Our policy is to focus on the issues, rather than pussyfoot around them or make side-deals which may compromise the rights of the aviation community. We do not wheedle, beg or get into dubious, illegal or corrupt covenants with the authorities. We have our hands full trying to preserve the aviation infrastructure which we aleady have built over past decades and to develop procedures that enhance safety, development and growth. We are implacably opposed to political, illegal or corrupt activities in the oversight of aviation. In the current environment of collapsing economics, governance, infrastructure and human resources, we think we are doing a pretty good job. We are doing all we can to resist the breakdown of our legislative and regulatory protections through the contempt of the law by the very people who should be upholding it. That is a very daunting task for us to face. It is also very unrewarding for those of us who put in long hours, effort and psychic energy - because our greatest victories are when nothing bad happens. And when nothing happens, we do not have the pleasure of basking in victory adulation. But when things go wrong or against us, we do have to suffer those feelings of failure and must emotionally bolster ourselves into pressing on regardless. Infighting and failing to engage with each other by aviation industry stakeholders is the biggest problem facing those people who purport to be looking out for your interests. Petulant squabbling and purposeless quarrels will result in the demise of the things we love and cherish the most. Almost all problems and conflicts can settled over a pint, to quote Shrek. Otherwise we have to release the dragons. Fly safe and make this a happy and conflict-free festive season! Chris Martinus President Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association - South Africa Image
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 14:53:24 +0000
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