Awards

The Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Australia invites nominations each year for the awards listed below.

These Awards were instigated to recognise an individual’s contribution to their organisation and /or aviation generally.

The Federation Award is only available to members of an Aero Club.

The Oswald Watt Gold Medal is not a Federation Award but an Industry Award. The RFACA Executive has been nominated to select a worthy recipient

Federation Award

In 1962 the RFACA instigated the FEDERATION AWARDS as a means of giving official and national recognition to Club Members and/or Employees who by virtue of their individual commitment over many years make an outstanding contribution to their Club. From the Nominations received the Executive of the Federation select up to three, or in special circumstances four recipients in any one year

The following guidelines are to be considered when nominating candidates:

  • The contribution made by the individual must be of a nature over and beyond what could normally be expected of an Aero Club member or employee.
  • The services rendered must have benefited the Aero Club movements as a whole. Significant contributions to one particular Club may be deem to have done this.
  • Contributions made or services rendered by an employee must be deemed to have benefited the Aero Club movement generally as well as the employer and also be considered to have clearly exceeded what could reasonably have been expected of an employee in the performance of his/her paid duties.
  • Length of service alone is not sufficient recommendation.

Recipients receive a framed certificate, a small set of gold wings and a medal.

Download the Nomination Application Form:
Federation Award – Nomination Form – 2021

Download the List of Award Recipients:
Federation Award – List of Recipients – 2020

 

Oswald Watt Gold Medal Awards

Criteria

A most brilliant performance in the air or the most notable contribution to aviation by an Australian or in Australia. The Medal was instigated in 1921. Previous recipients include the late Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith, Bert Hinkler, Sir Donald Anderson, Henry Millicer (of Victa Fame), Peter Lloyd, Ian Honnery. The most recent Medals have been to Jon Johanson, World Record Holder (1995), Shirley Adkins (1996) and Bernie Sarroff of Royal Newcastle Aero Club (1997) and Dr Andrew Thomas PhD Nasa Astronaut (1998). Whilst sole responsibility for deciding whether an award will be made in any one year rests with the Executive of the Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Australia, nominations are not restricted to RFACA members. The decision of the Executive is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

History of Lieutenant Colonel Walter Oswald Watt OBE, DSO, LdeH, CdeG:
History of Lieutenant Colonel Walter Oswald Watt

Download the Oswald Watt Gold Medal Nomination Form below:
Oswald Watt Gold Medal – Nomination Form – 2021

Download list of Recipients of Oswald Watt Gold Medal below:
Oswald Watt Gold Medal – List of Recipients 2020

 

Jack Fahey Memorial Awards

Criteria

  • Must be member of the RFACA
  • Must have a high profile in the general aviation industry
  • Must have a distinguished and dedicated service record to the Aero Club movement in the area of policy making and/or political representation.

OR

  • Must have developed new concepts that assist to promote the viability of Aero Clubs and future development of the general aviation industry (eg information technology, training concepts, teaching concepts, simulation etc.)

OR

  • Organised major role events (eg Airshows, Safaries, Air Races etc.)

Rules

  1. CANDIDATE MUST BE NOMINATED BY A MEMBER OF THE RFACA
  2. ONE AWARD PRESENTED EACH PER YEAR
  3. IF NO-ONE MEETS THE CRITERIA IN ANY ONE YEAR THEN IT WILL NOT BE PRESENTED

Sole responsibility for deciding to whom an award will be presented rests with the executive of the Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Australia. The decision of the executive is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

THE WINNER WILL RECEIVE: BADGE and PLAQUE

Download the Nomination Application Form below:
Jack Fahey Memorial Award – Nomination Form – 2021

Download the List of Award Recipients below:
Jack Fahey Memorial Award – List of Recipients 2020

 

Des Kelly AM Special Achievement Award

In 2007 the RFACA decided to instigate the DES KELLY AM SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD as a means of giving official and national recognition to pilots who achieve an ‘Outstanding Performance in the Air’. The Executive of the Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Australia can select one recipient in any one year. Recipients can be nominated by a Club or the RFACA Executive has the right to choose a recipient if there are no nominations.

Criteria

  • A pilot must have achieved an outstanding performance in the air

THE WINNER WILL RECEIVE A MEDAL and PLAQUE

Download the Nomination Application Form below:
Des Kelly Special Achievement Award – Nomination Form – 2021

Download the List of Award Recipients below:
Des Kelly AM Special Achievement Award – List of Recipients 2020

 

Master Instructor Certificate

Eligibility Criteria

    1. Minimum of 7500 hours in Flight Instruction including Flight Testing in VH registered aircraft.
    2. Holder of Grade 1 Instructor Rating for a minimum of 10 years.
    3. Must have been involved with the furthering of the profession of Flight Instructor.
  2. All Nominations are subject to approval by the Technical Advisory and Safety Committee and Executive of the RFACA.
  3. The Nomination Form must be signed by two peers each eligible for the Certificate.

Download the Certificate Application Form below:
Master Instructor Certificate – Nomination Form

Download the List of Recipients below:
Master Instructor Certificate – List of Recipients – 2021