President's Update – June 2026

June 26, 2026

Hello MAAC Members,

May and June have been exceptionally busy months for MAAC. Our Board of Directors, Advisory Groups, volunteers, and office staff have been working on many initiatives that will continue to improve the services we provide to our members and clubs.

With June now upon us, we're truly into the flying season for most of us. Whether your passion is RC airplanes, helicopters, multirotor, control line, free flight, rockets, or any other discipline, this is undoubtedly the best time of the year to enjoy our hobby.

 

Across every MAAC Zone, clubs have planned an incredible variety of activities throughout the summer. From family BBQs and club fun-fly’s to major events and national competitions, Canadian aeromodellers are truly spoiled with opportunities to get together and enjoy the hobby.

 

I encourage every MAAC member to log in to **MAAC.ca** and visit the **Events** section. You'll find an extensive calendar of activities happening across the country, from competitions and large fun-flys to local club gatherings. There's something for everyone.

 

While you're there, don't forget to visit our forum. Better yet, share your photos, stories, and memories from the events you attend. Seeing our members enjoying the hobby is what makes MAAC such a great community.

 

I look forward to seeing many of you at events this summer. Safe flying and have a fantastic season!

June Board Meeting

The June 22 Board meeting focused on modernization, governance, finance, membership, and regulatory matters.

Among the key decisions was the approval of the MAAC 2.0 Strategic Plan, which replaces our 2019 Strategic Plan and establishes the roadmap that will guide the Association over the coming years.

The Board also approved the

  • 2026 RC Precision Aerobatics Rule Book,
  • 2027 F3K World Championship Team Selection Trials,
  • appointed Shelley Folbar as the Board representative to the Aeromodelling Guidance Advisory Group,
  • formally concluded the work of the 2026 AGM Ad Hoc Advisory Group following the successful completion of its mandate.

Financial Outlook

Although membership is currently tracking slightly below last year's level, MAAC remains in a stable financial position. Our Finance Advisory Group has introduced a monthly rolling forecast, giving the Board a much clearer picture of MAAC's financial health throughout the year instead of waiting for year-end results.

This approach allows the Board to make informed decisions based on current information and react quickly if conditions change. At this time, MAAC continues to project a balanced year while maintaining the services our members expect.

Working with Transport Canada

Our relationship with Transport Canada continues to be very positive.

Over the past two months, I personally met with Transport Canada on an almost weekly basis to discuss operational matters, airfield processes, regulatory compliance, and future initiatives. These discussions are collaborative and beneficial to both organizations. Transport Canada continues to seek MAAC's input on operational matters, while MAAC presents new ideas and proposed improvements before they are implemented.

Before any proposal is presented to Transport Canada, it is reviewed by the Board of Directors and supported by experienced Subject Matter Experts who provide technical and operational guidance.

 

 Notice of Proposed Amendment 2026-06

June 8th 2026, Transport Canada proposed amendment 2026-06,

  • regarding Remote Identification (Remote ID)
  • Community-Based Organization (CBO)
  • Designated Airspace

There has been many talk and speculation on what TC expect to do over most of social media for the last few weeks.

MAAC remain mostly silent, but it doesn’t mean we haven’t done anything. Since June 8th and before, we have been looking at how, a perfect concept for recreational aeromodelling in Canada

It’s been since early May that our board are looking at different scenarios and shared those with Transport Canada.

We also demonstrated our approval (SOC) process as well as new maac.ca and all it’s tools and control

I have to say that everyone I present our patch moving forward weir please and impress. Not by the visual design, but by the process and controls we put in place to mitigate errors or miss interpretation.

Aeromodelling Strategy Advisory Group

Following the organizational restructuring earlier this year, the Board is in process to establish a new Aeromodelling Strategy Advisory Group (ASAG).

Rather than relying on a single individual, this team brings together expertise from several disciplines to:

  • Monitor emerging Transport Canada and NAV CANADA initiatives.
  • Research international best practices.
  • Assess the impact of regulatory changes on MAAC operations.
  • Develop recommendations and strategic guidance for the future of aeromodelling in Canada.

The current team consists of:

  • Rudie Nagelmaker – Team Lead
  • Dean Mostow – Research & Investigation Lead
  • Robert Davidson – Transport Canada Business Expert
  • Paul Brine – MAAC Process & Procedures Subject Matter Expert
  • Tom Hastie – Transport Canada Operations Subject Matter Expert

The team is also supported by key MAAC partners:

  • Ben Ying – Chief Technology Officer, RPASWilco
  • Nathan Doig – Database & Systems Architect, LS Graphic
  • Sherry Denesha – MAAC Operations Manager

As MAAC evolves, this group will also evolve. Members and partners may be added, replaced, or reassigned as new expertise becomes necessary.

I have also heard questions regarding MAAC's official representation. While many individuals contribute their expertise through advisory groups and working teams, the President remains MAAC's official spokesperson. All official discussions, negotiations, and communications with Transport Canada, NAV CANADA, and other external organizations are conducted by, or under the authority of, the President.

From an action and deliverables standpoint, the group already begin back in May to gather other countries best practices.

This is placing us in good position to answer TC NPA 2026-06 and proposed new ideas and new concept to Transport Canada.

MAAC 2.0 Continues to Grow

Many members have heard the term MAAC 2.0 over the past several months.

Simply put, MAAC 2.0 is the modernization of our Association. It is not about changing who we are, but about improving how we operate.

The newly adopted Strategic Plan identifies six priorities that will guide our work:

  • Continue expanding MAAC.ca as our central operational platform.
  • Standardize and automate key operational processes.
  • Embed regulatory compliance directly into our workflows.
  • Improve accountability and transparency through dashboards and task management.
  • Increase self-service capabilities for clubs and members.
  • Continue improving our systems based on member feedback and operational experience.

This is not a one-time project. It is an ongoing commitment to making MAAC more efficient, transparent, accountable, and sustainable while preserving what has made our Association successful for more than 77 years.

Looking Ahead

The work underway today is designed to ensure that MAAC remains strong, financially responsible, and ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

None of this would be possible without the dedication of our Clubs, volunteers, Advisory Groups, Board members, office staff, and our many partners who generously contribute their time, expertise, and passion for the benefit of all members.

Thank you for your continued support.

Fly safely,

Alain Carpentier
President, MAAC