Presidents Annual Report
Once again I have pleasure in presenting my annual report for the 2003/2004 financial year. And once again I am grateful to the Aero Club for the use of their clubrooms. As an observation, I am pleased to say the various organisations that work and play at Hood Aerodrome are a cohesive group who work very well together.
Museum
As
you all would know the museum is still leased to the “Masterton Historic and
We
have notified them that the lease will be terminated at the end of September
this year, as we wish to complete the
This completion phase of the Museum project has been made possible by two successful applications to Eastern and Central Savings Bank and NZ Lotteries Commission. We have been granted $18,000 from Eastern Central and $36,500 from NZ Lotteries Commission.
Without
having definitive quotes for the completion of the Project I believe we will
go close.
Aircraft
Last year I referred to the ongoing battle of balancing the flying account, as did our auditor, and you will recall my comments regarding the aircraft insurance situation. As indicated at our last annual meeting, our aircraft are insured for third party risk only.
As a consequence of this policy, the flying account has shown a surplus for the first time in a long time. The account has gone from a deficit of $24,500 for the 2002/2003 period to a small surplus of $1,385 for the 2003/2004 period. This is largely a result of a saving of $13,000 on our current insurance policy.
The other major influence on the flying account is a reduction of $10,000 on aircraft maintenance. This has been as a result of a substantial catch up in overdue maintenance, now largely completed and an enormous effort by John Bushell, our maintenance controller, and his team of volunteers, who have done most of our aircraft maintenance for the past twelve months. I record my thanks to John.
I raised the issue at our last AGM of a possible sale of our Proctor, and the opportunity of increased aircraft utilisation if we replaced this aircraft with a Chipmunk. The situation has been resolved in that we now have access to the Old Stick and Rudder Company’s Chipmunk. We need to recognise however that the Proctor will always fly very few hours in a year and be a net cost to the Society.
Regarding our other aircraft, they are in going order. Nothing has improved with the Harvard’s engine, and your committee must address this problem sooner rather than later. The Tiger Moths and the Piper Cub are our mainstay aircraft as usual, and continue to give excellent service.
Air Show
I have been in discussion with the Masterton District Council for the last twelve months with a view to receiving some financial and moral support for another major air show next year. I am pleased to say that in the last few weeks the Masterton District Council have indicated that their facilities and some personnel, as well as some funding, will be made available for our next Airshow to be held on 21st, 22nd and 23rd January 2005, Wellington Anniversary weekend.
It
is our intention to put the MDC funding towards the costs of hiring a firm of
event managers from
Hood Aerodrome
Old Stick and Rudder Company
Another major development on the Aerodrome is the arrival of James Slade and his collection of aircraft. James has made a huge investment in aircraft and buildings here at Hood Aerodrome, and his commitment to the Wairarapa is extremely exciting.
To be present when the Corsair arrived, followed by the AVRO 504, was a memorable day indeed. When we see the arrival of a few more vintage aircraft we will have the nucleus of a very exciting Air Show for 2005.
General
I must record the Society’s appreciation to the Directors and management team of the Masterton Licensing Trust, and the Masterton District Council for the support both these organisations have given to the Aerodrome in general, and the Sport and Vintage Aviation Society in particular.
As members can see on reading our recent newsletter, the responsibilities of running the Society have been designated to specific individuals, and I must thank the committee members for a very busy and successful year. Your committee have worked extremely well together and the results are there to be seen in our accounts.
I reserve special thanks to Murray Sykes, who gets on with mowing the Aerodrome without any interference, direction or fuss, and earns the Society $14,000 a year for little recompense.
Last year I raised the issue of renaming the Society. With our very close relationship with The Old Stick and Rudder Company and James Slade’s collection of vintage aeroplanes, I suggest that this issue has become a little more prominent.
Tom Williams
President
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