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22
WING
SPAN
NOVEMBER
MAAA LAND POLICY OPENS NEW HORIZONS
management
matters
Flying with the MAAA is about
fun, friendship and camaraderie.
For over 75 years the MAAA has
been Australia’s largest flying
organisation and our goal is to give
our 10,000+ members the best
possible flying experience. One
of the ways the MAAA supports its
members is by providing support
to clubs affiliated with a state
association affiliated with the
MAAA.
What support is
available?
Understanding that pilots need
fields to fly, the MAAA has long
recognised that the future of
aeromodelling within Australia
rests in the ability of clubs and
state associations to purchase and
maintain flying sites. To facilitate
this process, the MAAA has an
active policy to assist its members
in purchasing, developing and
improving miniature aircraft flying
sites throughout Australia.
How does it work?
The policy, MOP13, allows state
associations affiliated with the
MAAA to make an application for
the MAAA to purchase (and retain
ownership) of a model aircraft
flying site. The site is then leased
back to the state organisation. By
way of example, the MAAA is in the
process of purchasing land for
MASA and VMAA.
What’s the process?
Applicants must submit a
comprehensive business case
to the MAAA Federal Secretary
and Executive for review. An
independent MAAA member Review
Group will then consider the
proposed purchase and make a
recommendation to the Executive.
The final decision will come from
the MAAA Council and will be
informed by the recommendation
from the Review Group.
How to make an
application.
Taking advantage of the policy
requires following a few simple
procedures intended to ensure
land purchase applications are
submitted and processed in a
transparent manner. Applications
need to answer a range of criteria
to be considered.
Some of the criteria include the
following:
Fit-for-purpose:
Whether the
property is suitable for use as a
model aircraft facility.
Fair market value:
Whether the
purchase of the property is value
for money.
Multi-purpose field:
The
capability of being used as a multi-
discipline field. The potential for
development for model aircraft
use.
Council restrictions:
Whether
restrictions of use approved
by local government or other
organisations is prohibitive to the
association purposes.
Noise:
Results from noise testing
requirements within the local EPA
parameters.
For more information download the
MOP 013 from the MAAA website (visit
maaa.asn.au/mop13). Speak to your
contact at your state association to
find out more information.