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Model Aeronautical Association of Australia
Sport	Air sports
Jurisdiction	Australia
Abbreviation	MAAA
Founded	1947
Affiliation	Australian Sport Aviation Confederation
Official website
	www.maaa.asn.au

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. ^[1] It is affiliated to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) through the Australian Sport Aviation Confederation. Founded in 1947,^[2] as of April 2013^[update] 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.^[3]

The MAAA is responsible for providing for its members:

public liability, personal injury, and executive insurance.
a framework of rules for the safe operation of model aircraft.
an access pathway to enter national, international, and world championship competitions.
recognition by CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority Australia) as a Recreational Aviation Administration Organisation (RAAO).^[4]^[5]
recognition by CASA as the only Recreational Aviation Administrative Organisation for model aviation in Australia.^[6]

The MAAA previously produced a quarterly newsletter called Wingspan.

The MAAA offers a Wings program, teaching beginners how to safely operate radio controlled model aircraft.

History

Aeromodelling started in Australia in the early 1900s following the invention of the aeroplane however, it was not until the 1930s that organised modelling groups appeared. Two rival groups formed in NSW, the MAA, Model Aeroplane Association of Australia in 1930 and the MFC, Model Flying Club of Australia in 1931. The two groups merged in 1947 to become the Model Aeronautical Association of Australia or MAAA.^[7]

The first national competition was held in 1938 and was organised as entertainment to coincide with Australia's 150th Anniversary. The competition was actually called the Grand International Model Aeroplane Championships and included indoor and outdoor Free Flight models only, a total of five events. It was hoped that model flyers from the UK and USA would come to the competition however it ended up being only Australian's and New Zealander's who attended.^[8]

World War 2 prevented any further flying competitions from occurring due to ban on model flying during the war, so as such, no competitions were held between 1939 and 1947.

The 2nd Nationals did not occur until 1948 after the MAAA had formed and it included Control line which was only new at the time and the 3rd Nationals in 1950 included radio controlled models. Following the 3rd Nationals there has been a Nationals in Australia every year since organised by the State Associations on a roster basis and usually held over the Christmas/New Year break at the end of the year.^[9]

Membership

Individuals are able to join the MAAA through a recognized MAAA club or on their own in exceptional circumstances. Affiliate members are able to have a say in the running of the association through their State body which is the MAAA. Membership of the MAAA is gained through associate membership via State Associations whom the individual aeromodelling or flying clubs are members. People become affiliate members of the MAAA when they join an aeromodelling club or a state association.^[10]

State Associations

State Associations are the MAAA and have individual aeromodellers as members. The aeromodelling clubs are associate members of the relevant State Association. In other words, when someone joins a model flying club they become a member of that club and an associate member of their affiliated State Association as well as an affiliate member of the MAAA automatically. Individuals can also become associate members of other aeromodelling clubs if they want to. This structure allows affiliate members to enact change through their club and State Association.^{[citation needed]}

Nationals

List of MAAA Nationals competitions held since 1938

2022 1st West Wyalong Nationals
2021 rescheduled due to Covid-19 pandemic
2020 cancelled due to Covid-19 World Pandemic
2019 71st West Wyalong NSW
2018 70th West Wyalong NSW
2017 69th Whalan NSW / Albury NSW (No RC or FF)
2016 No Nationals held due to hosting of CL World Championships Perth WA
2015 68th Brisbane Qld
2014 No Nationals held this year
2013 67th Albury / Wodonga Vic
2012 66th Albury NSW
2011 65th Perth WA
2010 64th Dalby Qld
2009 63rd Albury / Wodonga Vic
2008 62nd Albury NSW
2007 61st Perth WA
2006 60th Albury / Wodonga Vic
2005 59th Fleurieu Peninsular SA
2004 58th Richmond NSW
2003 57th Busselton WA
2002 56th Albury / Wodonga Vic
2001 55th Albury / Wodonga Vic
2000 54th Busselton WA
1999 53rd Nowra NSW
1998 52nd Toowoomba Qld
1997 51st Wakerie SA
1996 50th Darwin NT
1995 49th Ballarat Vic
1994 48th Mundijong WA
1993 47th Wagga Wagga NSW
1992 46th Bundaberg Qld
1991 45th Wakerie SA
1990 44th Bendigo Vic
1989 43rd Bunbury WA
1988 42nd Amberly Qld
1987 41st Richmond NSW
1986 40th Wakerie SA
1985 39th Wangaratta Vic
1984 38th Mandura WA
1983 37th Richmond NSW
1982 36th Warwick Qld
1981 35th Horsham Vic
1980 34th Albany WA
1979 33rd Goulburn NSW
1978 32nd Amberly Qld
1977 31st Camperdown Vic
1976 30th Bunbury WA
1975 29th Loxton SA
1974 28th Camden NSW
1973 27th Amberly Qld
1972 26th Geelong Vic
1971 25th Notham WA
1970 24th Strathalbyn SA
1969 23rd Wallacia NSW
1968 22nd Warrnabool Vic
1967 21st Northam WA
1966 20th Strathalbyn SA
1965 19th Canberra ACT
1964 18th Melbourne Vic
1963 17th Strathalbyn SA
1962 16th Camden NSW
1961 15th Echuca Vic
1960 14th Rosewood Qld
1959 13th Gawler SA
1958 12th Camden NSW
1957 11th Cambelltown Tas
1956 10th Taralgon Vic
1955 9th Archerfield Qld
1954 8th Mallala SA
1953 7th Toowoomba Qld
1952 6th Bendigo Vic
1951 5th Camden NSW
1950 4th West Beach SA (included R/C)
1949 3rd Melbourne Vic
1948 2nd Bankstown NSW (included Control Line)
1939 to 1947 - No nationals held due to WWII
1938 1st Sydney NSW, Centennial Park Sydney NSW and Richmond NSW (Free flight only)

Notes

^ "Civil Aviation Safety Authority - Sport and Recreational Flying Associations". Archived from the original on 28 March 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
^ MODEL AERONAUTICAL ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA INC. NEWSLETTER No. 05/2012
^ MAAA Executive Meeting Minutes, 7 April 2013
^ "CASA Advisory Circular AC 101-3(0) JULY 2002 UNMANNED AIRCRAFT AND ROCKETS MODEL AIRCRAFT" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 February 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ MODEL AERONAUTICAL ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA INC. NEWSLETTER No. 03/2013
^ MODEL AERONAUTICAL ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA INC. NEWSLETTER No. 05/2012
^ MODEL AERONAUTICAL ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA INC. NEWSLETTER No. 05/2012
^ MODEL AERONAUTICAL ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA INC. NEWSLETTER No. 05/2012
^ "Model Aeronautical Association of Australia". www.maaa.asn.au. Retrieved 18 February 2024.