PRESIDENTS' REPORT: AGM NOVEMBER 2011  

JOHAN NELL 

Odd as it may seem but 2011 proof to be a year of rebirth. We saw nation's leaders being toppled that we would never have thought been possible, and the turmoil that the international financial institutions are going through. Closer at home we witness that Anglo American bought out De Beers.

We at CAASA also experienced a rebirth in the sense that for the very first time in the history of CAASA did we appoint a deputy CEO, midterm this year. That was only possible due to the exceptional good dividend we received form the previous AAD show. This allows the office personnel to render a better service to our members. It was very difficult for one person to attend all the relevant stakeholders meetings and then still attend to the needs of the members.

With the birth of the Association back in 1944, one of the first tasks of the committee was to object to the landing fee increases and we are still doing it today. This is still relevant today as CAASA is constantly negotiating the best possible deal for its members with all the authorities. The irony of this is that whatever benefit we negotiate for our members, the non-members also reap the benefit. In my mind it is therefore pertinent that the CAASA members convince the non-members to become members. Why is it that non-members are so keen to join when they have a problem with an authority and then expects CAASA to sort out their problem while they have been sitting on the fence all the time? Maybe CAASA should adopt the same principal the medical aids are having whereby a member cannot claim a benefit within a three-month period after joining?

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) funded a study by Oxford Economics this year that shows that the aviation sector contributed R50.9 billion or 2.1% to the South African GDP. In addition there are R23.4billion derived in ‘catalytic' benefits through tourism, where General Aviation (GA) is playing its part. The report also states that the aviation sector supports 227,000 jobs.  This equates very favorably compared to the 36,000 jobs the motor industry is supporting. Why is it then that the motor industry can get financial assistance from Government and the Aviation Industry gets taxed more and more? This is one of the reasons why CAASA is funding its own study on the impact that GA is having on the economy. This will enable us to show the relevant authorities that GA is not just for the rich and exclusive but that it has a very important role to play in the South African economy and not to be seen as a cash cow to be milked.

CAASA also launched a few new ideas this year with the aim of making the association more visible. Our new website is up and running with the added bonus of aviation news snippets from Meltwater News, giving our members informative news. CAASA caps and T-shirts for the members and shirts for the board directors is also a first thanks to the initiative of Leon. Hopefully we will have our own trust fund shortly whereby we can facilitate the BBBEEE compliance requirements of our members.

The arrangements for AAD 2012 are in full swing and CAASA is the lead partner. We appointed Leona as show director with Geoff leaving AAD for SAAB. We expect record numbers as the show is nearly 90% booked out. GA complained that with the show being in the Cape it was too expensive for them to participate but yet very few GA companies booked. Then we have only ourselves to blame if the military dominate the show. For the first time we incorporated the Aero Club and RAASA by means of establishing a ‘fun fly' park for them, where they can exhibit at cost.

It was yet again an honor to serve as president of the association and I want to thank the CAASA personnel and all the board members for their unselfish contributions throughout the year. Without their support the association would not be as successful as it is today. I thank GOD for granting me the wisdom to lead the association during this period.

GOD blesses you all.

Johannes Nell