Originally Posted by
Horatio Leafblower
I would love to think that AOPA could fill that role - but they will need to embrace the industry sector directly with a working group and they may need to moderate their PPL fantasies of commercial ops without regulation.
Horatio,
You are clearly unaware that AOPA in Australia was started by commercial/charter operators, not by "private pilots" - to protect themselves from the overreach of the Department of Civil Aviation.
In recent years, the continual reference by "commercial" operators to "blundering bug smasher", "weekend warriors" etc and the implication that AOPA was a bunch of amateurs who probably shouldn't be flying has always been a myth, but a politically effective one, particularly when pushed by the AFAP.
There is nothing in the constitution that limits membership of the AIRCRAFT (any aircraft) OWNERS (of any aircraft) and PILOTS (any pilots, not just PPLs) Association.
Just have a look at the licenses held and background of the present board of AOPA.
----commercial ops without regulation
Perhaps you would like to explain why you think a greater level of regulation needs to be imposed on low end Australian GA than US or UK, ( or Australia years ago) and why greater and more oppressive regulation is good for GA in Australia.
Tootle pip!!