Recreational Aviation Australia

RAAus will be CLOSED on Monday 8th June for the Kings Birthday public holiday. Our office will reopen on Tuesday 9th June. To report an emergency during these times, please phone the office on 02 6280 4700 and follow the prompts.

Renewals for membership and aircraft registration will still be payable via the member portal. If you have not yet received log in information for the portal, please email [email protected]

Rising Security Check Fees Are Hurting Aviation and Small Businesses!

Australia's aviation industry is raising serious concerns about the escalating cost of mandatory security background checks, with pilots, flight instructors, flight schools, and small businesses bearing the brunt of increasing fees.

These checks are essential for many aviation professionals and workers who need access to secure areas, but the cost of compliance continues to rise. For many small operators already working with tight margins, these increases are becoming unsustainable.

RAAus Deputy Chair Michael Monck says:
"Security is a national priority, and its cost should be shared fairly. Instead, small businesses and individual workers are being asked to shoulder an ever-increasing burden."

The impact extends beyond aviation, affecting regional tourism, transport, logistics, agriculture, and other industries that rely on security clearances. Ultimately, these rising costs are likely to flow through to consumers, adding further pressure to the cost of living.

📢 We are calling on the Federal Government to review the current funding model and ensure the cost of national security is distributed more fairly.

Read more and support the petition here:
https://www.change.org/p/rising-government-fees-threatening-aviation-small-business-workers-security-clearances

Sign the Petition Rising Government Fees: Threatening aviation, small business & workers security clearances

You don’t have to be in the air to benefit from a Carbon Monoxide alarm!

Whether you're flying cross-country, exploring Australia in a caravan, spending weekends on the water, or travelling with fuel-burning appliances, Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a risk that shouldn't be overlooked. Invisible, odourless and potentially deadly, CO can build up without warning.

Our CO Gas Alarm provides continuous monitoring and early detection, giving you valuable time to act before dangerous levels become a serious threat.

Compact, reliable and easy to install, it's a simple addition that can make a significant difference to your safety.

Suitable for:
✈️ Aircraft
🚐 Caravans & Motorhomes
⛵ Boats
🚗 Vehicles and enclosed spaces where exhaust gases may be present

Protect yourself, your passengers and your family with a CO Gas Alarm, order now at: https://raaus.com.au/product/raaus-co-gas-alarm/

The Government’s new AusCheck fee increases come into effect on 1 July 2026 and it won’t just affect aviation. Farmers, freight operators, tourism businesses and regional Australians will all feel the impact through higher costs and more pressure on small businesses.

Most people probably don’t realise that the cost of mandatory security checks for pilots and aviation workers will skyrocket and it’s not just affecting aviation.
Small businesses, regional operators, tourism companies, freight operators, and even parts of the farming sector are all being hit with rising compliance costs.

For many pilots and aviation workers, these checks are compulsory just to access airports and do their jobs. But the increasing fees are becoming unsustainable, especially for small operators and people living in regional Australia.

At a time when the cost of living is already hurting families, these extra costs will only push prices higher and place more pressure on small businesses trying to survive.

RAAus is supporting the call for the Federal Government to review this unfair “user-pays” system for national security costs.

If you believe national security costs shouldn’t fall excessively on small businesses and regional communities, please take a moment to sign and share the petition below.

Sign the Petition Rising Government Fees: Threatening aviation, small business & workers security clearances

RAAus will be CLOSED on Monday 1st June for the Reconciliation Day public holiday. Our office will reopen on Tuesday 2nd June. To report an emergency during these times, please phone the office on 02 6280 4700 and follow the prompts.

Renewals for membership and aircraft registration will still be payable via the member portal. If you have not yet received log in information for the portal, please email [email protected]

Over the years, National Safety Month has become an important part of the RAAus safety calendar; helping generate valuable safety conversations across the recreational and wider aviation community.

At the same time, feedback from members has shown that trying to fit a large amount of safety content into a single month can sometimes feel overwhelming. Like many areas of aviation, there
is no shortage of information available to pilots and instructors.

Effective safety education is not simply about providing more information, but providing practical and relevant information that members can genuinely engage with and apply to their flying.

With that in mind, we will be changing the way we deliver our safety campaigns moving forward.

Rather than running a single National Safety Month each year, we will now deliver a series of shorter and more focused safety campaigns across the year under the new National Safety Series banner.

This new approach will allow us to deliver more practical, timely and targeted safety information throughout the year; helping members better engage with important topics and apply key lessons directly to their flying activities.

This approach has also received strong support from a number of our regular contributors and safety sponsors, who recognised the benefits of more focused safety messaging and greater opportunities for ongoing member engagement.

Week 1 of the National Safety Series is now live! Check it out, improve your safety initiatives and participate to win: https://raaus.com.au/national-safety-series/week-1/

Escape the everyday with the Big Sky Fly-In Escape - exclusively for RAAus members!

Imagine flying into NSW’s stunning Lake Keepit, and stepping straight into a luxury glamping retreat designed for adventure, relaxation, and unforgettable views. 🌅

The Wilderluxe Big Sky Fly-In Escape combines the freedom of recreational aviation with the comfort of a premium lakeside getaway, just over an hour’s flight north of Sydney. RAAus members can enjoy:

✔️ 10% off standard accommodation rates
✔️ Waived landing fees
✔️ Complimentary airstrip transfers
✔️ Welcome bottle of wine on arrival
✔️ Flexible early check-in & late check-out (subject to availability)
✔️ Access to kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking, stargazing & more

Perched above tranquil waters with sweeping views of the Great Dividing Range, Wilderluxe Lake Keepit offers boutique luxury in the heart of the Australian bush, the perfect destination for your next fly-away weekend.

Ready to turn your next flight into something worth landing for?

Find out more and book your escape here:

Wilderluxe Big Sky Fly-In Escape Located just over an hour’s flight north of Sydney, it’s one of the easiest fly-in escapes in NSW – far enough to feel like a true getaway, yet close enough for a spontaneous weekend.

Rising security costs are threatening Australian aviation and small businesses across the country.

The increasing cost of mandatory security background checks is placing enormous pressure on pilots, flight schools, regional operators, tourism businesses, transport companies, and many other small businesses already struggling with rising costs.

For many in aviation, these checks are not optional they are essential just to do their jobs. But the fees continue to rise, creating what many see as another hidden tax on hardworking Australians.

Regional communities will feel this the hardest:
- Flight schools and charter operators facing tighter margins
transport and freight businesses absorbing higher compliance costs
- Farmers and regional industries hit with additional security expenses
- Tourism operators forced to pass costs onto customers

Ultimately, these costs flow through to everyday Australians in the form of higher prices and reduced services.

RAAus Deputy Chair Michael Monck said:
“Security is a national priority, and its cost should be shared fairly. By piling increasing fees onto small operators and individuals, the government is placing unsustainable pressure on the very people keeping regional Australia moving.”

RAAus is calling on the Federal Government to review the current “user-pays” model and adopt a fairer funding approach for national security measures.

If you believe these rising costs are unfair and will hurt small businesses, regional communities, and aviation across Australia, please support the petition below.

This campaign needs you now Rising Government Fees: Threatening aviation, small business & workers security clearances

Coming along to the annual Clifton Fly-In Breakfast, taking place on Sunday, 14 June 2026 from 8:00am to 10:00am!

AvGas and Mogas will be available by prior arrangement (cash or direct debit accepted).

A cooked breakfast will be available, with donations appreciated. Complimentary tea and coffee will also be available in the hangar.

A coffee van will be on site for additional refreshments (payment required).

Register your attendance, along with any guests attending with you at: https://www.loneeagleflyingschool.org.au/event-details/clifton-breakfast-fly-in-14-june-2026