MINUTES OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING - SA MODEL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION, HELD AT SBBW ON WEDNESDAY 2 AUGUST 2000.

PRESENT
	Bob Skinner			Chairman, Aerobatics, Secretary
	Lesley Roberts			Treasurer
	Johan Ehlers			Vice-chairman, Scale
	Dave Armitage			Fun flying & Proficiency
	Russell van der Westhuizen	Pylon Racing
	John Godwin			Communications & SAMAA News
	Ian Edwards			Large aircraft & Scale Aerobatics
	Bruno Schroeven			Display co-ordinator
	Trevor Austin			Soaring
	Graham Swallow			Control

APOLOGY
	Lance Levin, Roston Dugmore, Marc Quesnel.

WELCOME
Chairman welcomed everyone present. Graham Swallow will report on control line matters in the absence of Roston, who is still in Europe.

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
Correction to July minutes under Scale item - Barnstormers Airshow on 16 July. No further corrections - minutes taken as read.

FINANCES
LR presented breakdown of finances. Current a/c shows approx. R96 000, with R38 000 in 32-day call a/c. Committee approves further R30 000 to be moved into 32-day a/c for contingency. Scale team to present final figures end-Sept and settle. BS to write to J Cameron re cost recovery of Pereira case. Aero Club has not yet transferred money to SAMAA's a/c. 

SAFETY
Chairman had more contact with ICASA/SATRA.  Still no satisfaction. Letter now to Mr Maepa for action. Request extension of migration from 60MHz, in view of delay with 35! Several dealers selling illegal 35MHz equipment (Smitties). BS acted on 35MHz set sold to model yachtsman in Bloemfontein (Craig Bells Hobbies). No reply from A Beukes re extension to policy to cover expensive crashes. JE co-opted K Nicolls to safety sub-committee/working group to revise/review safety rules. Committee to recommend disposal of spot number pennants on Tx aerial. Coloured streamer only. Two accidents - one at VRF involving glider. Second more serious, with loss of digit in winch apparatus. 

ADMINISTRATION
All in hand. Interesting analysis of membership numbers across SA. Barnstormers has most SAMAA members, in excess of 150. New fliers/members joining at fast rate. Imbalance due to Fliers vs. Modellers. W/Cape clubs to join soon. Kroonstad enquiry.

NATIONALS
Soaring Nats all under control at Silverton Gliding Club, end-Sept.

SAMAA NEWS
Lance Levin articles in next issue. In Chairman's report, mention that financial reports available. Presently S News sent to every member, even if several in household. BS to keep check on these cases.

AEROBATICS
Lowveld Championships cancelled. No event in Gauteng, but handicap contest in Free State. BS attending Euro Champs end-August. Team selection may have to be re-looked, due to event shifts and mis-communication. IE and BS to liaise.

LARGE AIRCRAFT AND SCALE AEROBATICS
Event at RAM on 16 July very cold; 9 entries. Next comp at RMAC on 20/8. Large a/c representation at Barnstormers Airshow and open day at RAM. Some large a/c participation at Nelspruit Airshow expected (12/13 August).

FUN FLYING & PROFICIENCY
All results in. Invitations being prepared for Masters 28/29 October. Proficiency tests done at Nelspruit on 27 July.

SOARING
Report on F3J results: SA = 10/27 team placing. C Goodrum best at 6th. Team placing nets R2666.67. Second team trial event for F3B. G2K proving popular countrywide. 

HELICOPTERS
No report.

SCALE
F4C team now really ready for W/C. Depart 16 Aug. Second round of S/Scale flown; results due in. Barnstormers Airshow successful with substantial contribution to team fund.
   
CONTROL LINE
G Swallow reported terrible conditions; rain, mud, wind. No practice facilities, poor quality fuel. Judging workload too tiring, not good for results. Recommendations made to F2 sub-committee. Team members got bad weather for less-than-expected placings. Junior did reasonably well. Vintage Stunt event at NCB 19 August.

PYLON RACING
Event in Natal cancelled. J Dorse co-opted to run Natal affairs. Visit by RVDW to Cape Town, to generate enthusiasm. Event scheduled for RMAC early-Sept. Mention of incident in Texas where racer penetrated cage. Lack of events not impacting on team selection process for 2001 team.

DISPLAYS 
Static display at SAAF 80th Birthday event, Waterkloof, 6/7/8 Sept. Attendance at Nelspruit. No participation at Swaziland Airshow (not our target market). Bruno to think about Mall Displays as promo tool.

COMMUNICATIONS
On-line membership application successful, few received so far. Visits to site increasing. July saw 200 downloads of SAMAA News.

PUBLIC RELATIONS
No report.

GENERAL
* Committee to pursue idea of re-structuring SAMAA, for more representation in other areas (like AMA, BMFA, and others).
* Approval for colours award ceremony, at Idle Winds, 25 November. Invite Allan Platt, John Brink, Roy Spavins.
* Air Pageant for 2003. Need to identify project leader. Sponsor to be sought.
* BS to liaise with V de Vries re club expenses for Nats.
* Low AGM attendance questioned by J Nevin. Average member not interested?


NEXT MEETING - WEDNESDAY 13th SEPTEMBER  2000 AT SBBW, CEDARWOOD OFFICE PARK, WOODMEAD - 19:30 for 19:45. 

back to the SAMAA home page

>