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Unfortunately, apathy, defined in dictionaries as “a lack of interest or enthusiasm” is all too prevalent in many sectors of civil aviation in South Africa at present, but none more so than in general aviation (GA). If this were not so, why then is the ongoing call for greater support for organisations more or less ignored – bodies such as the Association of Non-Scheduled Operators (ANSO); the Helicopter Association of South Africa (HASA), the Association of Maintenance Organisations of South Africa (AMOSA); the Association of Aviation Training Organisations of SA (AATOSA); the SA Association of Aerospace Traders and Allied Industries (ASAAT); the Business Aviation Association of SA (BAASA) the Airports and Aerodromes Association of SA (AASA); the Commercial Aviation Association of Southern Africa (CAASA); the Aircraft Owners’ and
Pilots’ Association (AOPA); the Aero Club of South Africa (AeCSA) and its associated organisations, to mention a few, as well as virtually every flying club in South Africa?

Change the organisations’ names slightly to fit in with their geographical positions, and the same situation can be found in virtually every other country in Africa and, indeed, most parts of the world. Membership of organisations such as these and others is, on the whole, a fraction of what it should be. One just has to walk around an airport – any airport – and the odds are that very few, if any, AMOs based there, for example, are paid-up members of say AMOSA.

Yet it is ironical that some of these nonmember companies are quite prepared to spend thousands fighting a court case, as happened recently. Had the AMOs concerned been members of AMOSA, perhaps the association could have fought the case for them with equally good results. Obviously this depends on the circumstances. It seems that only when a major crisis develops will support from the bulk of the members of general aviation fraternity be forthcoming.

Take the case some years ago when the SA Civil Aviation Authority was hell-bent on raising fees some 700%. The Aviation Action Forum was born out of a need to fight this threat together with other organisations, which they did successfully and, when the danger passed, the forum was incorporated into AOPA. But even then when meetings around the country were packed and delegates were loudly vociferous in their condemnation of the SACAA’s plans, what happened afterwards?

Was there a mass movement to join the very organisations which constantly serve the general aviation community in all its facets to prevent similar threats occurring in the future? No. The number of new members joining was minimal, if at all. And even within these various organisations pledged to fight on behalf of GA, where are those who are willing to step forward when the call goes out for members to join the executive committee, to serve for a year or more? They are marked generally by their absence.

Clubs or organisations with large memberships, struggle to persuade even a handful of members to devote some of their time for the benefit of their clubs or organisations, others and the general aviation sector as a whole. No, it is generally left to “the few”. None is paid for his or her trouble. Yet they often have to dig into their own pockets to pay their way to meetings and/or conferences where they valiantly fight the fight. Do they get thanks, let alone reimbursement for their efforts? Very seldom. But, if they fail, then those apathetic members are all too quick to condemn.

In those instances where organisations can afford to employ fulltime personnel well versed and experienced in negotiating and legal skills, it is usually left almost entirely to these people to battle alone against authority. Seldom do they receive even moral support from the respective boards or committees. Seldom do companies, let alone individuals join up so that their subscription fees can assist towards the costs. Rather do they bleat: “What does suchand- such an organisation do for me?” The answer should be: “What do they do for the organisation?” If one was to take a current example of this, look at Virginia Airport, Durban, where its very existence is on the chopping block.

The Commercial Aviation Association of Southern Africa (CAASA), fearful of the obvious effects of apathy among the many operators at the airport, stepped in to fight for general aviation’s very survival in kwaZulu- Natal, let alone Durban. ACSA will have nothing to do with GA at its new La Mercy Airport, despite the fact that it is legally bound to do so. The Durban Metro Council cannot seem to make up its mind about the future of Virginia Airport, offering such ridiculous options as a month-bymonth lease or relocation to “somewhere nearby” such as Margate or Richards Bay. I doubt it even perceives the effects of what it is saying.

True, there are a number of wide-awake operators and, indeed, individuals who are assisting CAASA to varying degrees, but few others have stepped forward and said: “I’ll join. I’ll be part of the drive to save Virginia. What can I do to assist?” For as long as I can remember successive Ministers of Transport and/or DoT officials regularly admitted that they did not really appreciate the value of general aviation, making these statements at various official openings of air shows etc. But seldom have they taken that any further.

Now it seems that the persistence of all these GA organisations is starting to pay off, despite the apathy among the masses. For, at the Airlines Association of Southern Africa’s annual meeting in the Cape recently, the Chief Director of the Department of Transport responsible for Civil Aviation, Anwar Abdul Gany, stood up and said that for a long time the DoT and/or government had not “really focussed our attention on the general aviation part of the industry.”

To repeat a quote from him which is published elsewhere in this issue: “To me this (GA) is the nursery school of the future airline staffing and it is also an industry which plays a pivotal role in our economy. “We must maintain dialogue with the general aviation sector; in fact, our entities must consult with the GA industry on important issues pertaining to safety, security, aeronautical navigation and airport planning among others,” he said. At last, a senior government official who has “seen the light”.

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