MAAA Wingspan - Quarterly Magazine

13 / 19

AUGUST WING SPAN
MAAALogo.
MAAA membership is more than
just a chance to share your passion
with like-minded friends.
Membership of the MAAA brings
access to the collective knowledge
of thousands of members who freely
share their skills with newcomers
and veterans alike to make them
better pilots and keep the skies safe
for all.
Wings
The MAAA recommends newcomers
take advantage of the best
aeronautical flight school in
Australia and get their ‘Wings’. As
well as making better pilots, ‘Wings’
are the starting point for any further
qualifications in model aeronautics.
Although not mandatory in terms
of MAAA policy, many clubs have
formalised this training as a
requirement for new members.
New pilots learning to fly are put
forward by their instructor for
assessment once they are skilled
enough to fly solo. Bronze and Silver
Wings follow the same manoeuvres
for aircraft of different weight and
Gold Wings are a higher standard of
proficiency.
Flight Instructor
Becoming an instructor isn’t about
being a good pilot: it’s about being a
good teacher. When a club decides
it needs a new instructor they will
recommend a candidate, who must
already be qualified to Gold Wing
standard, to the State Association
for training.
Courses are conducted by
State Flying Instructors who are
experienced club instructors who
have been nominated for the role.
The importance of training was
demonstrated recently when the
South Australian Association (MASA)
went above and beyond, sending a
team to Tasmania to conduct ‘train
the trainer’ courses in Hobart and
Launceston because the local clubs
didn’t have the resources.
As MAAA Secretary Kevin Dodd says:
“instructors are different because
they are interested enough to want
to go and do the training”.
Aircraft Inspector
An inspector’s role is to make sure
every large or gas-turbine engine
powered aircraft is sky-worthy, and
certify them as such.
Inspectors are appointed by a club’s
executive after reviewing their
flying resume to assess capability.
Inspectors need at least five years’
experience constructing and
operating large aircraft, more if
the aircraft are considered ‘giant’.
Inspectors must also renew their
qualifications every three years.
Details about all levels of our
qualifications can be found in
The MAAA Manual of Operating
Procedures on our website.
There are currently over 1200
instructors and 900 inspectors and
the MAAA is privileged to have such a
dedicated bunch of volunteers who
regularly give up their time for other
members at no extra cost.
Find out more about Bronze Wings
from our recent instructor ,
and submit your videos to
to share your
Bronze Wings success stories.
MANAGEMENT MATTERS
13
THE BEST FLIGHT SCHOOL IN AUSTRALIA.