What do we stand for
During the past three decades, Aviation in Southern Africa has increasingly come under threat. Foremost amongst these threats are the effects of poorly written legislation and even poorer policy decisions by the parastatals. Quite often these ill-advised decisions are caused by a lack of experience and insufficient aviation related knowledge of the office bearers. When these factors are accompanied by a lack of accountability, or even worse, by a degree of power induced invulnerability, it invariably leads to actions which are not in the National Interest.
When communication, in both directions, between the user groups and the state service providers fail, the situation is exacerbated. Quite often a lack of communication amongst the users will lead to apathy, that is the lack of collective will to challenge and resist poor governance.
Aviation Watch Action Committee (AWAC) was re-activated recently to address the shortcomings of communication and, in select instances, to challenge illegal or unwise actions by the parastatals. The recent withdrawal of AIC 18.19 (12-year overhaul) was significant in the reforming of AWAC.
The organisation is run by volunteers. There are no membership fees. You simply join to lend your support by providing the organisers with a mandate to negotiate on your behalf.
To join, simply enter your e-mail address on our landing page. We pledge to use your e-mail address only to disseminate information relating to our work as representatives of you. We will further take all reasonable steps to ensure that your information remains secure.
We will always be guided by what is in the National Interest. Where there is a conflict of interest, we will withdraw from the issue until we have consulted with our members (you).
Initially we will use email, Avcom and FlyAfrica as means to disseminate information.
It should be noted, we will not act in opposition to existing representative bodies, but rather act in support. Our recent collaboration with the Commercial Aviation Association of South Africa (CAASA) is a case in point. This model served us well from 2005 to 2010 when General Aviation was more unified than ever before.
Specific causes we are passionate about:
- Lowering the cost of training to allow for easier entry into the industry for youngsters of all backgrounds.
- To stimulate mentorship in the industry.
- Facilitating the development of policy that will mitigate the damage caused by the loss of experienced aviation professionals, especially in the maintenance sector.
- To enhance “Unity” amongst representative bodies and their constituents.
- Stimulating communication in the industry.
- To improve transparency by taking Government and their agencies to task when they act unconstitutionally or in breach of the “intent and purpose” of national legislation.
- To improve aviation safety and efficiency by challenging any nonsensical policy by the parastatals.
- To improve standards in all sectors of the industry but specifically in the training sector.
In the long term we are hopeful that a trust relationship will evolve between ourselves and the parastatals/Government. Only then can negotiations be beneficial for parties on both sides of the table.
Most importantly, we should never give up in our pursuit “to do the right thing”. As idealistic as that might sound.