REPORT ON THE ANNUAL MEETING AND FLYING FORUM HELD 14 MARCH 2009

AT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND FLYING FORUM – SHUTTLEWORTH TRUST, OLD WARDEN, BEDFORDSHIRE. SATURDAY 14TH MARCH 2009 THE CHAIRMAN, WALLY EPTON PRESENTED THE FOLLOWING REPORT TO THE MEMBERS

Last year I announced at this Annual Meeting that I would only serve for one more year as Chairman, and for very good reasons, – non more important than keeping the thinking fresh on Council. I said I would not serve beyond March of this year. Circumstances and your Council have persuaded me otherwise, and so unexpectedly I am putting myself forward for re-election at this meeting for a further year. I am doing this in the clear understanding that it will be for only one more year, and that at this time next year a new Chairman must be elected to replace me.

So this is now my fifth report to you as Chairman and becomes my penultimate report once again. Next year’s report shall be my last as Chairman, and I thank the Council for having such confidence in me that they feel it worthwhile proposing me as Chairman for another year.

I used a lot of words at this meeting last year to report to you what the HAA had been doing. This year I am going to be more brief than last year and I thought I would just draw your attention to some of the major points.

This has been a more positive 12 months than years past in-as-much as I do not have to comment on any unexpected departures, nor on any tragedies at air shows. In fact accidents and incidents involving historic aircraft have been at an all time low during the past year. The historic, vintage and veteran aircraft community in the UK has had a pretty good year, and whilst it is probably tempting fate to pat ourselves on the back, I think the historic and heritage aircraft owners, operators, pilots and engineers in this country can be grateful for a relatively accident free 12 months. Until Tuesday of this week there was only one major incident that I am aware of and thanks to some excellent aircraft handling by Pete John, the accident at Duxford during last year’s Flying Legends Show involving Robs Lamplough’s Mustang did not end in tragedy. I’ve seen the aeroplane at Filton and I am reliably informed it will fly again. So all-in-all 2008/2009 was a pretty good year for UK Historic Aviation. It’s a pity that Peter Teichman suffered a landing incident at North Weald damaging his beautifully restored Hurricane. I am sure that in these difficult economic times such additional expense hits hard but the enthusiasm is not dampened and I am sure Peter will be back in the air before too long.

Last year I also spoke of our close links with the Guild of Air Pilots in the City of London, and through our members that association continues. Council member Rick Peacock-Edwards is about to finish his year as Master of The Guild and at their AGM next week will hand over his badge of office to a new Master, but Rick will remain at Court as Immediate Past Master and he plans to continue on the HAA Council as member for air safety matters and although not quite as busy as he has been during the past 12 months, he will be kept fairly busy working with his successor in the City, but Rick has indicated he would like to do more for the HAA as his responsibilities in London ease a little.

By progression our HAA member Dr Michael Fopp, who is also Director of the RAF Museum, will be installed next week as Master Elect of the Guild, and I understand our Treasurer Ken Peters is about to be awarded the Livery so we continue to be well connected with aviators amongst us who are influential in the City through GAPAN.

Both your Secretary Stuart Powney, and the Treasurer Ken Peters will be presenting their reports after me and in their reports they will be highlighting some of the HAA activities that have been particularly notable and can be marked down as successes for the Association. Now let me draw your attention to what we have managed to achieve and what we have been building on during the past twelve months.

•IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS

Website
Newsletter (thanks to Steve Slater)
e-mail
Circulars

•PUBLICITY AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

Aeroplane Monthly magazine regular column
HAA Marquee at Flying events – Goodwood Fly-In
Farnborough Centenary of British Aviation – Fly-past organised by Deputy Chairman Colin Dodds, and supervised by Council Member for Air Safety Matters Air Commodore Rick Peacock-Edwards

•INCREASED MEMBERSHIP

Symposium and the Aeroplane Monthly special offer
Other areas of exposure
Liaison with associations and groups with similar interests
Easier to fill in membership form

•ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM

Brooklands Museum
Centenary of British powered flight
Largest number of attendees ever
High interest value
First Class speakers
Good value for money

•ANNUAL MEETING AND FLYING FORUM

New format set down last year
New title for this year
AGM element must remain as the HAA constitution requires it
Aim is to make this meeting an interesting, informative and useful event in the HAA calendar

•REGULAR VISITS
(Behind the Scenes)

Planned to hold 2 each year
First visit 15th January 2009 – Uxbridge HQ11 Group 1940 Fighter Control Room
Next – Vulcan to the Sky Project Bruntingthorpe

• SPECIAL EVENTS

Garden Party style marquee for members and guests at a flying event each year
Offering members and guests a private enclosure with lunch and tea
First to be with BWPA at Sywell?
2010 possibly with VAC at GVFWE?

•REGULATORY WORK AND EFLEVA

Seat at EFLEVA
Responses to NPA’s and Part M Maintenance issues
Ofcom response
Increased CAA charges response
Campaign to save airfields v proposed Eco-Towns
Liaison through Europe Air Sports and AOPA
HAA Council Members sit on other lobby groups

•BUDGET

Introduction of a budget essential to correct conduct of HAA financial affairs.
Will assist in financial planning and expenditure monitoring
Provides the basis for future funding

CONCLUSION

HAA – A GOOD YEAR

A good safe 12 months of historic and heritage aviation activity
Much achieved within the HAA especially in improved communications and increased membership
Sound lobby work accomplished in the regulatory field together with EFLEVA, AOPA and Europe Air Sports

THE FUTURE

Plenty to do in the future – flying never stands still
EASA and European aviation legislation of historic and heritage aviation is the challenge
Membership numbers important
Continuing liaison with other heritage and vintage aircraft groups and associations
Important to maintain interest and most important of all:
Essential to – Have FUN!

I feel that on that up-beat note I shall conclude my report by thanking our President Cliff Spink, the Deputy Chairman Colin Dodds, Secretary Stuart Powney, Treasurer Ken Peters and the other members of Council for their solid support throughout the year, and I look forward to serving you all for a further 12 months in the hope that we can keep on moving forward and achieve much, much more for the HAA.