MAAA Wingspan

26 WING SPAN NOVEMBER An important section of the MAAA Strategic Plan relates to the administration of the organisation and posit that the MAAA Council: “Continuously review all administration practices to provide a highly professional and efficient administration structure which caters for current and future needs of the organisation, its members and other agencies”. The world of aeromodelling is changing rapidly, similarities between what was occurring in 2013 when the 10-year Strategic Plan was implemented and now are few. Yes, we still fly the same types of models however technology has seen amarked variation in our activities. Battery performance and reliability has improved significantly, automated flight management systems have become more common, no longer domembers have to build their ownmodels – they buy themoff the shelf. The introduction of multi rotors “Drones” together with their easy availability has turned the aeromodelling scene upside down. Many who had no interest in aeromodelling in the past are taking up the hobby. The available airspace is reducing every day and will continue to do so. Organisations are experimenting with drones in respect to food deliveries, parcel deliveries, driverless drone taxis, and agriculture to name a few. Government agencies are also utilising drone technology for search and rescue, traffic surveillance, covert operations andmany other activities. All are wanting a piece of the sky aeromodellers exclusively used for many years. To oversee and regulate the safety of the airspace, the Senate established an enquiry into the use of Drones; accordingly, the Civil Aviation Authority has had to review its approach tomodel aircraft oversight. Today we are all becoming more accountable. All this has also necessitated the MAAA, as the recognised Recreational Aviation Administration Organisation (RAAO), to review its policy and procedure documents both in the area of member support and aviation safety. There is a need for these to be organised in amanner which is more accessible tomembers, more explicit and easily understood. The MAAA currently has a list of 64 Manuals of Procedures Documents (https://www.maaa.asn.au/mops ) Considering the achievements made over the last 3 years in respect to the outcomes of the Senate Enquiry and subsequent “Area Approvals” the time has come for a full review of our Manuals of Procedures (MOPs) to ensure they are relevant to our current operations and to set the safety standards for model aircraft operation in Australia. Over the coming months, the MAAA Council will be reviewing all MOPs and simplifying where possible and amalgamating where necessary into a complete operation Manual. The resulting manual will be established in two sections; Administration MOPs and Operational MOPs. The MAAA Council’s goal is to have a simplified MOPmanual covering all required aspects of our hobby while delivering on our requirements to CASA as an RAAO and the benefits that align with this. management matters: Maaa MOPS review