[Peetwo]

Phil Hurst retires from the AAAA's -   

Via AgAir:

AAAA CEO RETIRES AFTER 22 YEARS

Posted by AgAirUpdate Staff | Oct 28, 2021 



Mr Phil Hurst, CEO of the Aerial Application Association of Australia Ltd since July 1999, has announced his retirement from the position effective January 2022.

Mr Stephen Holding, President of the Association, said that Mr Hurst had served the members of the Association and stakeholders with distinction over the last 22 years, leading the Association to become the aviation, agricultural and aerial firefighting national peak body.

“Phil is a born innovator who has improved the professionalism of the industry, educated regulators and built programs and services that offer genuine value.

“AAAA membership has never been higher, accounting for over 90% of all aerial application in Australia. This is largely a testimony to the impact Phil has had in building AAAA into a position of trust and delivering reliable, positive outcomes.”

AAAA members include business owners, pilots, trade supporters and associates involved in the industry that protects agricultural crops, forestry and pastures and fights bushfires from the air.

“Phil has been instrumental in creating a truly generative safety culture in the industry through advanced training programs and a constant commitment to improvement. Many pilots acknowledge the critical role of this training in keeping them safe,” Mr Holding said.

“Phil has grown the existing AAAA Spraysafe program into the de facto national standard for application pilot competency, as recognised by all State governments.

“Phil also created the AIMS program (Aerial Improvement Management Systems). This remains a world-leading program recognised by regulators, insurers and participants as incredibly valuable for safety, the environment and business.

“All of the members and Directors of AAAA wish Phil and his partner Louise all the best in their future endeavours and we look forward to welcoming them to future AAAA events as valued members of the aerial application community,” Mr Holding concluded.

Mr Hurst was awarded Honorary Life Membership of AAAA in 2019 in recognition of his service and achievements.

AAAA has engaged Rimfire Resources to lead the search for a new CEO of AAAA.

And EWH via the LMH: http://www.australianflying.com.au/the-l...ember-2021 

...I'm going to miss Phil Hurst. The AAAA CEO is retiring in January after 22 years in the job, and he's more than paid his dues over that time. Hurst took the AAAA from a well-meaning association of rough-and-tumble croppies to a professional support association that has a membership hitting 90% of the industry. There is probably not another aviation association in Australia that can boast that (and if there is I have no doubt I'll hear about it before next week). Under Hurst's guidance the AAAA elevated its level of expertise and encompassed aerial firefighting at the same time; sensible given that the majority of Australia's single-engine aerial tankers are flown by very experienced ag pilots. But what I will miss about Hurst is a cutting candour that dodged all attempts at deflection and went straight to the heart of any problem. His contribution to CASA's Technical Working Groups and the GAAN have always been of the highest value, and the AAAA membership can rest easy knowing he would represent their interests in Canberra with a great deal of vigour. The other thing I will miss is that Hurst was always prepared to put in material whenever I called for it and was good for an imaginative and illuminating quote. The search is on to replace him, and I suspect that the incoming CEO will have a much easier job because of the quality of the foundation Phil Hurst laid...

MTF...P2