What aviation organisations do you belong to?
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I am a “full plus” member of the LAA which is compulsory if you own an LAA aircraft.
”BMAA - UK's only (but also excellent) members organisation for microlight flying and engineering, great magazine, plus I'm an inspector and do a bit of test flying for them as well.”
No so, the LAA has 20% micros in its fleet and offers full engineering and coaching support. But I agree the BMA is a very good members organisation with a much better forum than the LAA.
Rod1
”BMAA - UK's only (but also excellent) members organisation for microlight flying and engineering, great magazine, plus I'm an inspector and do a bit of test flying for them as well.”
No so, the LAA has 20% micros in its fleet and offers full engineering and coaching support. But I agree the BMA is a very good members organisation with a much better forum than the LAA.
Rod1
But, whilst I've a lot of respect for the LAA coaching scheme, I'd personally never recommend anybody uses it for a microlight when there are multi-thousand hour microlight instructors out there who do nothing but teach on those and similar aeroplanes. The LAA coaching scheme should, in my opinion, be regarded as there for the vintage and homebuilt SEP types only.
G
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: north of barlu
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LAA & AOPA
I fail to see why people see AOPA in such a negative way, the recent work they did during the volcanic ash stupidity was enough to make my subscription good value for money.
I fail to see why people see AOPA in such a negative way, the recent work they did during the volcanic ash stupidity was enough to make my subscription good value for money.
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G
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G
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: the north
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I am a member of a few of the many organisations that represent GA in the UK primarily down to necessity and find them all lacking in their ability to influence government (CAA/EASA) and public opinion.
They are segregated largely by type of aircraft/pilot. I would like to see just two organisations; one for non commercial GA and the other a trade body.
They are segregated largely by type of aircraft/pilot. I would like to see just two organisations; one for non commercial GA and the other a trade body.
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: EuroGA.org
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For some reason the UK organisations tend to pull in different directions.
I don't know why.
One reason may be the % of volunteers involved (due to the lack of income). The problem with volunteers is that you can't pick good people; you are stuck with whoever is willing to get their hands dirty, and - like Planning Committees
- a lot of them are simply incompetent.
Another may be that UK aviation has a long history and is packed full of "big old characters" with OBEs, CBEs, fellows of every society, you name it. These character types do find it hard to work with others. They did not get to where they are by bending over and compromising.
Another is the stingy nature of Brits. As the old joke goes: you can tell a plane full of Brits has landed; the engines stop but the whining continues. Pilots moan about £10 landing fees (having spent £100 flying there). Extracting cash from UK GA is a thankless task - especially if you have little to deliver in return
America will always be different. They have the numbers but equally importantly they all regard themselves as "Americans" and tend to work together.
I don't know why.
One reason may be the % of volunteers involved (due to the lack of income). The problem with volunteers is that you can't pick good people; you are stuck with whoever is willing to get their hands dirty, and - like Planning Committees
- a lot of them are simply incompetent.Another may be that UK aviation has a long history and is packed full of "big old characters" with OBEs, CBEs, fellows of every society, you name it. These character types do find it hard to work with others. They did not get to where they are by bending over and compromising.
Another is the stingy nature of Brits. As the old joke goes: you can tell a plane full of Brits has landed; the engines stop but the whining continues. Pilots moan about £10 landing fees (having spent £100 flying there). Extracting cash from UK GA is a thankless task - especially if you have little to deliver in return
America will always be different. They have the numbers but equally importantly they all regard themselves as "Americans" and tend to work together.
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Near LOACH intersection
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Cambridgeshire
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Currently:-
LAA = Because I support the Rally (Would like a return to BIG rallies) and the Magazine is great.
Although I have been flying non permit A/C for years, I intend to change to a permit type soon that may involve some degree of building for which I may need a bit of help from Francis
FLYING CLUB = And a damn good old fashioned (everyone talks to everyone) club too!!
In the past:-
PFA = Loved the big Rally, supported the change in the magazine and had an involvement with the running of the association.
AOPA = Never found much benefit personally, but I may have been a bit selfish and/or short sighted here.
RAFGSA = With whom I first took to the air solo.
BHGA = I taut myself to fly Hang Gliders way before this association was started and then when I was convinced that they weren't going to be all controlling
I joined them.
LAA = Because I support the Rally (Would like a return to BIG rallies) and the Magazine is great.
Although I have been flying non permit A/C for years, I intend to change to a permit type soon that may involve some degree of building for which I may need a bit of help from Francis
FLYING CLUB = And a damn good old fashioned (everyone talks to everyone) club too!!
In the past:-
PFA = Loved the big Rally, supported the change in the magazine and had an involvement with the running of the association.
AOPA = Never found much benefit personally, but I may have been a bit selfish and/or short sighted here.
RAFGSA = With whom I first took to the air solo.
BHGA = I taut myself to fly Hang Gliders way before this association was started and then when I was convinced that they weren't going to be all controlling
I joined them.
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: South Norfolk, England
Age: 58
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Just the LAA at present and have been a member since I was 16.
In the past I have belonged to the BMAA and BGA - probably will again at certain points during the rest of my "hopefully" long life still to come
SS
In the past I have belonged to the BMAA and BGA - probably will again at certain points during the rest of my "hopefully" long life still to come
SS
