03-30-2026, 03:46 PM
Why don’t we have GA representatives?
For one good reason, the demise of our once influential AOPA Australia.
This august band of yesteryear aviators once numbered around 11,000 members and the likes of Bill Hamilton managed to achieve some real reforms back in the ‘90s.
About three years ago, after Ben Morgan’s outburst at a meeting with CASA's Dr. Kate Manderson, Principal Medical Officer of AVMED, it’s all been downhill for AOPA. In regard to features of some medical certification proposals Ben instructed Dr. Manderson “to stick it up her arse.” What shreds of credibility that were evident before this attack were surely gone for all money.
And AOPA’s needless advice to members during COVID was ‘don’t worry about paying your membership renewals if you are feeling a bit pinched.’ I would have thought join up and fight with us would have been a better strategy.
Speaking with AOPA President Shawn Kelly around the time of Ben’s diplomatic seizure he informed me that membership was down to less than 500. Goodness knows what it is today. What is certain, there’s been a lack of elections and serious questions about AOPA’s governance.
Without the voice of AOPA or some such body we have no GA communal voice.
For one good reason, the demise of our once influential AOPA Australia.
This august band of yesteryear aviators once numbered around 11,000 members and the likes of Bill Hamilton managed to achieve some real reforms back in the ‘90s.
About three years ago, after Ben Morgan’s outburst at a meeting with CASA's Dr. Kate Manderson, Principal Medical Officer of AVMED, it’s all been downhill for AOPA. In regard to features of some medical certification proposals Ben instructed Dr. Manderson “to stick it up her arse.” What shreds of credibility that were evident before this attack were surely gone for all money.
And AOPA’s needless advice to members during COVID was ‘don’t worry about paying your membership renewals if you are feeling a bit pinched.’ I would have thought join up and fight with us would have been a better strategy.
Speaking with AOPA President Shawn Kelly around the time of Ben’s diplomatic seizure he informed me that membership was down to less than 500. Goodness knows what it is today. What is certain, there’s been a lack of elections and serious questions about AOPA’s governance.
Without the voice of AOPA or some such body we have no GA communal voice.