Type | Not for profit |
Founded | 1983 (as the Australian Ultralight Federation) |
Headquarters | Fyshwick, Australian Capital Territory, Australia |
Membership | Individuals and companies |
Field | Aviation advocacy and aircraft registration |
Number of Members | 9400 (February 2017) [1] |
Key Personnel | Chairman - Michael Monck [2] CEO - Maxine Milera |
Website | www.raa.asn.au |
Recreational Aviation Australia (abbreviated to RAAus), formerly known as the Australian Ultralight Federation (AUF), is the governing body for ultralights in Australia. [3]
RAAus registers ultralight aircraft and issues pilot certificates through 170 approved flight training facilities under a delegation from the nation's aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. [1]
RAAus' stated mission is:
"Accessible, safe aviation for all by being an industry leader in developing sport and recreational aviation for the fun and enjoyment of our members" [4]
As of 24 September 2020 RAAus had just under 10,000 voting members and almost 3,500 aircraft registered. [5]
General aviation (GA) is defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as all civil aviation aircraft operations except for commercial air transport or aerial work, which is defined as specialized aviation services for other purposes. However, for statistical purposes, ICAO uses a definition of general aviation which includes aerial work.
Ultralight aviation is the flying of lightweight, 1- or 2-seat fixed-wing aircraft. Some countries differentiate between weight-shift control and conventional three-axis control aircraft with ailerons, elevator and rudder, calling the former "microlight" and the latter "ultralight".
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is an international organization of aviation enthusiasts based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Since its inception, it has grown internationally with over 200,000 members and nearly 1,000 chapters worldwide. It hosts the largest aviation gathering of its kind in the world, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.
The Light Aircraft Association (LAA) is the representative body in the United Kingdom for amateur aircraft construction, and recreational and sport flying. It oversees the construction and maintenance of homebuilt aircraft, under an approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is an agency of the European Commission with responsibility for civil aviation safety in the European Union. It carries out certification, regulation and standardisation and also performs investigation and monitoring. It collects and analyses safety data, drafts and advises on safety legislation and co-ordinates with similar organisations in other parts of the world.
Homebuilt aircraft, also known as amateur-built aircraft or kit planes, are constructed by persons for whom this is not a professional activity. These aircraft may be constructed from "scratch", from plans, or from assembly kits.
Jabiru Aircraft Pty Ltd is an Australian aircraft manufacturer that produces a range of kit- and ready-built civil light aircraft in Bundaberg, Queensland. The company also designs and manufactures a range of light aircraft engines. Types past and present include microlights, including the Calypso, two-seat trainers and recreational aircraft and four-seat aircraft (J400/J430/J450).
Pilot licensing or certification refers to permits for operating aircraft. Flight crew licences are issued by the civil aviation authority of each country, which must establish that the holder has met minimum knowledge and experience before issuing licences. The licence, along with the required class or type rating, allows a pilot to fly aircraft registered in the licence issuing state.
A light-sport aircraft (LSA), or light sport aircraft, is a fairly new category of small, lightweight aircraft that are simple to fly. LSAs tend to be heavier and more sophisticated than ultralight aircraft, but LSA restrictions on weight and performance separates the category from established GA aircraft. There is no standard worldwide description of an LSA.
The Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) is a federally registered not-for-profit association that provides information and advocacy services for Canadian pilots who fly for non-commercial purposes.
The Gliding Federation of Australia, also known as Gliding Australia, is the governing body for the sport of gliding in Australia. It was founded in 1949. Gliding Australia is responsible to Civil Aviation Safety Authority for the conduct of safe gliding operations in Australia. This includes the setting and maintenance of flying standards and in particular training standards, for gliding and soaring flight in heavier-than-air fixed-wing gliders and sailplanes, powered sailplanes and touring motor gliders, but excluding flexible wing, weight shift hang gliders and paragliders.
The Jabiru 3300 is a lightweight four-stroke, horizontally opposed "flat-six" air-cooled aircraft engine produced by Jabiru Aircraft. The engines are direct drive and fitted with alternators, silencers, vacuum pump drives and dual ignition systems as standard. The engine is used to power homebuilt and ultralight aircraft.
Donnington Airpark is located on the Flinders Highway at Woodstock, a suburb of Townsville in Australia. It is also known as Woodstock Airport and has been a popular venue for air shows and fly-in events since its opening in 1970.
General aviation (GA) has been defined as a civil aircraft operation other than a commercial air transport flight operating to a schedule. Although the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) excludes any form of remunerated aviation from its definition, some commercial operations are often included within the scope of General Aviation (GA). General aviation refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline flights, both private and commercial.
Scone Memorial Airport, is a public airport in the Upper Hunter Valley, 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of Scone, New South Wales, Australia. It was built to provide a public aerodrome replacing Nandowra aerodrome on located on "Nandowra", approx. 9 km south of Scone.
A civil aviation authority (CAA) is a national or supranational statutory authority that oversees the regulation of civil aviation, including the maintenance of an aircraft register.
In Australia, pilot licences are issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Licences are issued for different categories of aircraft, including aeroplanes and helicopters.
Emkaytee Airfield, also known as MKT Airfield is a private airport in the Northern Territory of Australia located in the locality of Weddell, Northern Territory about 40 km (25 mi) south of the territory capital of Darwin City. The airfield has been operated by the Meyering family since 1980. Predominately used for recreational flying by ultralight aircraft, Emkaytee also provides flight training, aircraft maintenance and fuel supplies. The airfield has been used by the Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force, customs and emergency services as a training and staging facility. Based on aircraft movements Emkaytee is the Northern Territory's second busiest after Darwin International Airport and provides an alternative destination for visiting light aircraft.
The Model Aeronautical Association of Australia Inc (MAAA) is an organisation recognised by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) as a Recreational Aviation Administration Organisation (RAOO). MAAA has no regulatory authority conferred to it by the CASA, however it is required under a Deed of Agreement with CASA as an RAAO, to carry out certain functions on behalf of CASA paid from the public purse. It is affiliated to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) through the Australian Sport Aviation Confederation. Founded in 1947, as of April 2013 the MAAA has over 10,000 members, down from a high of 12,000 in 2012, and total assets including flying fields, land and equipment worth more than $4 million AUD.
Brumby Aircraft Australia is an Australian aircraft manufacturer that produces a range of kit- and ready-built civil light aircraft. The company is based at Cowra Airport in the Central West of New South Wales and has also signed partnership agreements with Aviation Industry Corporation of China to manufacture light sport aircraft in China for domestic markets.