Recreational Aviation Australia today announced Matt Bouttell as the new CEO to replace Michael Linke, who resigned in September.
Bouttell has extensive aviation experience, having held positions with Airservices Australia, CASA and Qantas.
"With Matt coming on board to guide our team we will be well positioned to lead RAAus into some great new opportunities," RAAus chairman Michael Monck said. "We’ve tackled a great deal of challenges in years gone by and with Matt bringing in a wealth of experience across the business, flying and maintenance aspects of our sector we couldn’t be handing over the reins to a better qualified person.”
Bouttell's career so far has focused on Air traffic Management both locally and internationally as well as corporate affairs. At CASA, Boutell chaired many meetings of the Regional Airspace Procedures Advisory Committee (RAPAC) across the country and was also the Secretariat for the Aviation Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP).
Boutell has been a member of RAAus for almost 10 years and is part-owner of a 1977 Grumman Tiger and flies regularly out of Canberra.
‘I’m very much looking forward to leading RAAus in a post-COVID world to further shape the aviation landscape in Australia," Bouttell said.
"I’m incredibly humbled that the Chair and board have afforded me the opportunity to lead the small but highly dedicated team at RAAus.
"And I truly hope that with the with border restrictions easing that I’ll be able to start the new year by engaging with our members as regularly as possible."
Michael Linke leaves RAAus after six years in the top job. During his tenure, he oversaw a complete reorganisation of the company, drove the project to gain an MTOW increase from CASA and lobbied for access to controlled airspace.
His largest legacy will be considered positioning the company to take on Part 149 ASAO status, including using a professional approach to deal with the regulator, a task he now hands over to Matt Bouttell.