Although Simon Ozanne has taken over as Chair of Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus) from long-time incumbent Michael Monck, he doesn't see himself as the hand that guides the wheel, rather as one representative of many hands.
He makes it clear that the strategic vision for the organisation is a collective one driven by the entire eight-member board, not just the chair.
"The chair is a representative of the board," he told Australian Flying, "they don't make decisions alone.
"We have established a strategic plan for 2025-30, which outlays the vision for RAAus. We see RAAus as the future of aviation in Australia."
Ozanne is not a newcomer; he has already been on the RAAus board for five years, so he knows the inner workings of the organisation and has established solid relationships with key personnel.
He comes to the role with an extensive aviation background, having done a stint in the RAAF as a mobility pilot flying C-130s and C-27 Spartans. In was in the air force that he was first exposed to recreational aviation.
Placed in charge of a scheme that allowed pilots in non-flying jobs to remain current using civilian aircraft, he was astonished to find that recreational aircraft weren't permitted under air force rules, which dispatched him on a crusade to correct that.
He walks civvy street today, landing post-service positions flying for a regional airline and doing some instructing. He has seen the parlous state of general aviation in Australia, and believes RAAus could be the panacea for what ails the GA community.
"We've seen a gradual decline in GA VH-registered aircraft operations," he says. "It is leaving a void that we think is best filled by RAAus.
"We really want to see a greater uptake of aviation in Australia. We have about 10,000 members, which means there are 25 million Australians who are not members and don't realise they need recreational aviation.
"We want to expand RAAus to make it more accessible to Australians. In particular, we want to target youth; they are the future of aviation and recreational aviation in particular.
"That is the big ticket item: how do we reach more Australians?"
Ozanne takes over at a time when RAAus is on the cusp of further change prompted by expansion plans and pending regulations that could see RAAus emerge as a very different organisation in 10 years time.
Depending on how long he stays in the chair, Ozanne could see RAAus take on MOSAIC, a new CASR Part 103 and controlled airspace access during his tenure. And if plans to scoop up more members are successful, the growing organisation may need new income streams.
"RAAus is a member-based organisation," he explains. " Almost all of our funding comes from members and is returned to members, but we want to look at a model that diversifies our income.
"That could be from many different things, but we don't want to continue to draw fees from the members to fund the organisation. What we'd rather do is expand and diversify the income stream so we can ease the pressure on our members.
"Over the last few years there has been a slight increase in membership fees, and that is starting to pinch. If we can find other ways to fund the organisation, that's a good thing for everyone."
Ozanne cites advocacy as part of the RAAus' strategy, particularly access to airports and aviation infrastructure, which is under constant threat from commercial development, rising user fees and impractical hanger leases.
But there is one major reform on the horizon that will test the organisations advocacy credentials: the Modernisation of Special Airworthiness Category (MOSAIC) regulations that will redefine Light Sport Aircraft, substantially increasing the size and capability of LSAs.
"One exciting thing we are actively involved in and pursuing is MOSAIC," he points out. "If CASA allows RAAus to administer those aircraft it would be a real win not only for us, but also for aviation in this country. We're working closely with CASA on that, and we think we're best prepared and in a good place to administer MOSAIC aircraft.
"We're kidding ourselves if we think industry won't be pushing to have MOSAIC aircraft in this country before 2028. As soon as the FAA goes live with it, the industry will be wanting Australia to get on board.
"We will see something akin to what we saw with uncrewed systems, where the industry drove CASA and the regulatory space around it. RAAus is already talking with CASA about MOSAIC, and are in concert with sister organisations particularly in the USA, so we're well on top of what is happening in that space."
Although CASA may allow RAAus to administer MOSAIC aircraft, the value will be reduced if RAAus members aren't able to transit controlled airspace, another long-term advocacy campaign that Ozanne expects to mature this year.
"CTA access is very close to being finalised," he explains. "I suspect we'll see that very shortly; it's with CASA at the moment. We'll have CTA access well ahead of MOSIAC aircraft arriving in country. No promises, but I am fairly confident it will happen this year."
So with the challenges ahead, will Simon Ozanne makes revolutionary changes to RAAus to prepare the organisation for a more effective and influential future?
"I absolutely will not take a broom to the organisation as the newly elected chair," he stresses. "It's not the chair that sets the strategic direction or runs the organisation, it's the board and staff. The chair is just the representative of the board.
"We have a very good board that has set a solid strategic direction, so I have no reason to make sweeping changes. We'll make tweaks around the edges to achieve our goals and improve the organisation for everyone, but they won't be sweeping changes because there is just no need at this point in time."
- Steve Hitchen