HGFA Skysailor Magazine

38 SKY SAILOR November | December 2018 W ell, there’s the sewers, aquaducts, education… No, really, the HGFA is… well it’s us, every one of us. We are a self-administering body, and as such must mostly run our own affairs whilst ensuring we comply with all Federal, State and local acts, regulations and rules, to ensure we keep flying, and keep flying safely. That ‘nasty HGFA’ only ‘in it for themselves’ is you and me. A number of pilots put in their share of help by volunteering. They contribute – on your club or SRA committee, organising fly-ins, helping at working bees, encouraging new pilots, putting up weather stations, trimming those shrubs on launch, chatting to the ranger, letting others know when to meet on site, advertising flights they’ve had, writing articles, and a million other contributions to the sports (which are yours?). This is grassroots HGFA in action. There is a small group of pilots throughout the country, that volunteer on the National Committee of Management, or its sub-committees, work closely with the SRAs, and try to ensure the sports are operated as best they can in accordance with the law. They deal with everything, from misbehaving or illegal pilots (threatening our sites and airspace access), to government compliance, National teams, competitions, safety, policy development, sports represention, grants, insurance, serious accidents, and a myriad of other issues. You may have noticed there has recently been a couple of annual on-line surveys in which you could give feedback. If you did, thank you. The CoM is listening and has been working on many suggestions/questions, including: ➲➲ Members login area of the website – currently being improved and should roll out within a few months. ➲➲ An Australian National Site Guide, access is on the website in Pilot Tools – thanks to those that have contributed. ➲➲ Guidelines for developing/opening new sites, site retention and other site resources. ➲➲ Information for rating of sites. ➲➲ Flying in National Parks. ➲➲ An updated Management & Policies Manual. ➲➲ Documented policy for future funding of National Teams. ➲➲ Policies/procedures for obtaining & acquitting grants from HGFA. ➲➲ Policies/procedures to provide club loans for infrastructure development. ➲➲ A new Safety Management System document (expect further changes here due to CASA part 149 compliance). ➲➲ Club affiliation guidelines. ➲➲ Regular State & Regional Association presidents meetings. ➲➲ Initiating international presidents meetings (US, Ca, NZ, Aus). ➲➲ Distribution of State & Regional Sports Development levies. ➲➲ Our membership of ASAC. ➲➲ Our CIVL and CIMA representatives. ➲➲ Co-ordinating responses to CASA NPRM. ➲➲ Developing XC clinic metrics. ➲➲ Life membership nominations process (we’ve yet to produce a ‘Sporting Hall of Fame’). ➲➲ Participating at airshows & public events. ➲➲ Creating a Sports Strategic Plan. Check out the Management & Policies Manual and other info on the HGFA website (under ‘Documents’) for more details. There is much more and ongoing work to ensure we remain acceptable airspace users. We all have our part in it, and our small parts to play in the survival and growth of our sports. Contact your club committee, or state rep (the name of your local state rep is on the website) if you want to help with something or have a worthwhile project idea. What have the Romans ever done for us? This famous line from Monty Python’s ‘Life of Brian’ could come to mind when we wonder what the heck ‘the HGFA’ is doing for us pilots. Contributed by A. Pilot ‘Romanes eunt domus’ Brian: “It - it says ‘Romans go home’” Centurion: “No it doesn’t. What’s Latin for ‘Roman’? C ome on, come on!” Moonrise before Last Light Photo: Tex Bec SKY SAILOR 38