PRESIDENTS CHATTER

DECEMBER 2005

The end of another year just when I’ve got used to writing 2005 on my cheques! This one has certainly moved the fastest of any I can remember. With Alisma, I have been in 4 continents and visited 18 countries.  Wherever we have gone we have been privileged to enjoy that special fellowship that IFFR engenders.

The year finished with a brief trip to the US to join the America’s Region at their AGM. This was held during the annual AOPA Convention in Tampa. It was my first opportunity to see, at first hand, AOPA in the US at work and I came away mightily impressed. With over 400,000 members the organisation is a tremendous resource for general aviation both in terms of the facilities offered and the lobbying platform provided. At the AGM I was pleased to hear of the renewed growth in membership in the Americas and look forward to the new V-P Americas – Fred Newman – building on the good work of the retiring V-P Phil Livingstone. A particular pleasure during this visit was a demo flight in a Cirrus. This, and the other new generation aircraft around, shows what an exciting future there is ahead in light aviation both in terms of the aircraft themselves and the avionics that go with them.

At the end of a year it is a time for reflection before we look forward to what might happen in the next. It might be considered invidious to pick out individual items but I’ll take that risk in the following list: Water flying in Italy; mountain flying in Austria; the special hospitality of the Scandinavian Section particularly when we had to divert from our planned route on the Baltic Flyaround; the brief visit to Australia followed by a stunning 2 weeks in New Zealand where there were too many unforgettable experiences to list; the Centennial Rotary Convention and its associated events; being entertained in member’s homes all around the world: and finally  being at all the Section meetings that we managed to get to.

The year has therefore been particularly special for Alisma and me – one of great enjoyment. Yes, but any joy is usually mixed with sadness and so it was in 2005. We have lost friends and we will remember them with fondness. We have enjoyed each other’s company and we have built on those friendships. That is what a Fellowship such as ours offers and that is why 2006 is such an exciting prospect.

In closing I offer my very best wishes to you and your families at this time of celebration and festivity.

Angus Clark

World President 2004-2006