[Peetwo]

Midweek - Off the Yaffa...

 Ferryman post#56 from Skimore Corner said:

"..There is a new AOPA ‘boss’; one who does have several very valid reasons to not be quite as user friendly as previous incumbents have been.  A clever man, canny and wise in the wicked ways of ‘real’ aviation with serious qualifications and the hard won battle scars to prove a long association with GA and CASA.  If this worthy can convert the AOPA fellahin back to being a force to reckoned with and voice to be heard, I will renew my long lapsed subscription..

..Aye well, I like the new AOPA boss very well and wish him the very best of luck.  He’ll need it.."   

 
Well today Hitch acknowledged Marc De Stoop as the new AOPA President...

AOPA elects De Stoop as President

23 Jun 2015

(K. Lovell)

Long time board member Marc De Stoop is the new president of general aviation lobby group AOPA Australia.

De Stoop is managing director of air conditioning company Climatech and is involved in the aviation industry via Falcon Air, a company specialising in international aeromedical evacuation using Falcon 20 corporate jets.

He takes over from outgoing president Allan Brooks.

“The industry faces many challenges and it is going to be the job of AOPA to present ideas and solutions, not just to CASA but to their government masters via a strong membership base,” De Stoop said.

“There are many initiatives such as reforming medical standards to make it easier for private pilots to operate general aviation aircraft that need to be pursued in order to reinvigorate the industry.

“There has never been a more important time for the various general aviation groups to find common ground and work together to reinvigorate an extremely important sector of the Australian economy.

“Overseas aviation markets like New Zealand and the United States are thriving yet in Australia we seem to be bound by stifling regulations like the newly introduced Part 61.”

AOPA Australia is based at Bankstown Airport in Sydney and has a membership base made up of GA aircraft owners, commercial pilots and private pilots.

 
Hmm...the part in bold, no wonder the Ferryman is taken with this bloke...

MTF...P2

PS.  I am reliably informed that although Senator David Fawcett has been somewhat 'In absentia' in the aviation public spotlight, he has actually been very proactive behind the scenes and at a grass roots industry level:

Senator airs aviation reforms

May 6, 2015, 11:30 p.m.

MEMBERS of the Naracoorte Aero Club discussed reforms in the aviation sector with SA Liberal Senator David Fawcett during his visit to the SE last week.
SA Liberal Senator David Fawcett (centre) with Naracoorte Aero Club members John McTernan (left), Allan Sears, Anthony Johnson, David McTernan and Gary Burgess on Friday night.

 
....something about that pic makes feel all warm & fuzzy