Representatives of Victorian aero clubs voted to form a new collaborative network at a summit in Ballarat last weekend.
The Network of Victorian Aero Clubs (NVAC) will act as a co-ordinating agency to foster collaboration between aero clubs across the state and explore solutions to common issues.
The Ballarat summit attracted 35 people representing 14 aero clubs, and featured a keynote address from Lachlan Hyde, president of the Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Australia (RFACA) and president of Royal Aero Club of NSW.
Co-ordinated by former editor of Australian Flying Steve Hitchen, the summit explored issues such as communication, volunteers, inter-club co-operation, future events and the need to attract younger members.
"They say a problem shared is a problem halved," Hitchen said. "If that's true we've already halved the problems facing Victorian aero clubs and the network is just getting started.
"Lachlan Hyde's presentation was a real eye-opener, giving the summit an insight in to the wants and needs of younger people, with some very good pointers on engaging with them and giving them an outlet for their passions.
"It's all about belonging, which is something NVAC itself is also about. Lachlan pointed out that independence does not mean isolation, and that's exactly why NVAC has come about: to reduce the isolation of aero clubs and get us all working together."
Hyde applauded the NVAC initiative, and sees opportunity for the network and the RFACA to work together.
"I was very encouraged to see the summit agree to establish the Network of Victorian Aero Clubs as a lean, practical forum for cooperation between clubs," he said
"I see that initiative as complementary to RFACA rather than competing with it, with NVAC providing a Victorian mechanism for collaboration while RFACA provides the broader national network, advocacy platform and connection between clubs across Australia.
"General aviation is operating in an increasingly complex environment. Aero clubs and flying training organisations are facing rising operating costs, regulatory and compliance pressures, airport access issues, airspace change, workforce challenges, and the ongoing task of attracting and retaining the next generation of pilots, instructors, volunteers and aviation leaders."
Hitchen said the core team was pleased with the summit turn-out, especially in the face of an uncertain weather forecast. Clubs representatives came from as far away as Portland and Bairnsdale.
The roster of clubs that sent delegates to the summit was:
- Bacchus Marsh Aero Club
- Ballarat Aero Club
- Bendigo Aero Club
- Coldstream Flyers
- East Gippsland Aero Club (Bairnsdale)
- Geelong Aero Club
- Geelong Sports Aviators (Lethbridge)
- Kyneton Aero Club
- Latrobe Valley Aero Club
- Lilydale Flying Club
- Peninsula Aero Club (Tyabb)
- Portland Aero Club
- Royal Victorian Aero Club (Moorabbin)
- Warrnambool Aero Club
"There were several other clubs that expressed a great deal of interest in the concept, but for one reason or another weren't able to send a delegate," Hitchen said. "We'll be reaching out to them this week to make sure they have access to everything that comes out of the summit.
"One of our first tasks is to measure the size of the aero club community in Victoria and establish communications with every one. To that end, we've created and distributed a club census to all aero clubs, which we will collate and share once all the data is in."
A core team of club delegates will meet online in the first week of October to discuss the summit outcomes and plan the mechanics of the network for the immediate future.