TBM 900 TBM 900

60 Pages·2012·11.12 MB·English

GG
£4.25
(freetomembers
andstudents)
eenneerraall
AAOOPPAA
AA
vviiaattiioonn
Thejournalof
theAircraftOwnersand
DECEMBER2014 PilotsAssociation
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Contents
AAOOPPAA
G
eenneerraall
AA
vviiaattiioonn
DECEMBER 2014
54 5 42
4 Chairman’s Column 36Airfields under pressure 47Letters
Areweseeingtheendofthe Badnewsandgoodnews. DamynsHallwarning;Bravotothe
regulationmill?ByGeorgeDone BySteveSlater CAAmedicalcentre
5 AOPA Working for You 40Ice and fire 48Air Racing in the 1950s
GovernmentrespondstoRedTape FlyingoverIceland’snewly-active Inthefirstoftwoarticles,
Challenge–andthenewsisgood; volcanoistheonlywaytogetupclose DavidOgilvyharksbacktothe1950s
savingouraerodromes;ANOupfor andpersonalwiththespectacular andtheheydayofBritishairracing
review;StarChamber’sfirstmeeting; eruption
54White Bird
ATOdelayconfirmed;medicalsunder
42Wessex redux
Thefabled‘L’OiseauBlanc’is
themicroscope;EASAupdate
Arefugeefromthe1950s,the recreatedinEnglandforaFrench
16When in Rome
FunBusmakesawelcome clientwithrespectandcare.
EASA’sgeneralaviationconference reappearanceatBigginHill. PatMalonetellsthestory
servestoconcentrateafewmindson RobLewisreports
theproblemofrescuingtheGA 30
industryfromover-regulation.
48
PatMalonereports
22When in Athens
InternationalAOPAEuropemeetsin
Athenstoplanstrategyandtacticsin
thefaceofwholesalechangeinthe
regulatorylandscape.ByPatMalone
30TBM 900
LesBrodiefliesTBM’snewestoffering
andlamentsthewantof$3.7million
whichpreventshisownership
16 40
GeneralAviation December2014
G Chairman’s message
AAOOPPAA
eenneerraall
AA End of the regulation mill?
vviiaattiioonn
TheeagerlyanticipatedEASASafetyConference2014onGeneralAviationheldinRome
inOctoberisreportedonwithinthepagesofthisissueofGeneralAviation.Itwasoneof
thelargestconferencesonGAheldinEurope,beingattendedbyabout350delegates
representing250organisationsfrom30countries,with50speakersfromassociations,
December 2014 industryandauthorities.TheshortsummaryofthemainoutcomesontheEASAwebsite
‘NewsandEvents’providesheart-warmingreading.Amoreproportionateregulatory
frameworkwillbecreated,focusingonsafetyculture,safetypromotionandcommon
sense.Whatapleasureitistoseethephrase‘commonsense’appearinanything
Editorandpublisher: PatMalone
emanatingfromaregulatorybody!Thesummaryconcludes…“TheAgencyisworkingto
Publishedby:FairweatherMediaLtd, makesimpler,lighterandbetterrulesarealityforGeneralAviation…”Thisopensup
TheStudio,KettysClose,Withiel,Bodmin,
excitingprospectsofapromisingnewwayforward.
CornwallPL305NR.Tel:[phone].
Regulationinaviationhasbeenwithus
Fax:[phone]
sincethefirstActsofParliamentrelatingto
Advertisements: DavidImpey, controlofcivilaviationappearedonthe
HeadofAdvertising,AOPAUK, StatuteBookintheperiod1911to1919.
TheBritishLightAviationCentre
Theseweredesignedtoimprovesafetyin
50aCambridgeStreet,LondonSW1V4QQ
theair,largelyfromapassenger’spointof
[phone]
[phone] view.Thus,ingeneralaviation,wehave
[email protected] hadalongtimetogetusedtobeing
regulatedandhavingnewregulations
Design: DavidTarbutt
thrustuponus.Wherethesehave
Printing: HolbrooksPrintersLtd
appearedover-burdensomeandathreatto
Articles,photographsandnewsitemsfrom theviabilityofGA,theindustryand
AOPAmembersandotherreadersare aviationassociations,andparticularly
welcome.Ideallytheyshouldbeonadisk,or AOPAUK,havefoughtagainstthem.
theycanbeemailedto
Initially,intheUK,thebattleswerewith
[email protected].
theCAA,andAOPA’sunique
Photographsmayalsobeemailedtothis
address.Theyshouldbehigh-resolution independenceallowedunfetteredcriticism.Latterly,overthepastdecadeandthrough
(300DPI).Alternatively,hardcopyand IAOPAEurope,theyhavebeendirectedtowardsEASA,inconcertwithmanyGA
photographicprintsorslidescanbepostedto stakeholdersthroughoutEurope.Ithaslongbeenrecognisedthatthebattlewasbeing
FairweatherMediaLtdattheaddressabove. lostbydegrees,withcontinuedextrarulesandregulationsbeingchurnedoutbythe
Whileeverycareistakenwithsubmitted
EASAregulationmill.Thereisnosoundevidencetosupportthephilosophythatmore
material,wecannotmakeabsolute
regulationequatestomoresafety,butjusthowfarwehaveprogresseddownthistrackis
guaranteesthatmaterialwillbereturnedin
perfectcondition. convincinglyportrayedbythesituationsufferedbytheballooningcommunity(seethe
articlewithin-“EASA’sdeadhand”)inwhichachangewasmadefromperfectlysafe
MaterialforconsiderationfortheFebruaryissue self-regulationtofullEASAoversightinonefellswoop,costingoperatorsafortunein
ofGeneralAviationshouldbereceivedby
feesandseverelyaffectingtheviabilityoftheactivity. Otherareasofgeneralaviation
1stJanuary,2015
suchasthoseinwhichAOPAischieflyinvolvedhavearrivedatthesameoutcomebut
©BritishLightAviationCentreLtd,fromwhom moregraduallyoveralongerperiodoftime.
permissioncanbesoughttoreproduceanyitem. AnimportantspeakerattheEASAconferencewasGrantShappsMP,who,through
ViewsexpressedinGeneralAviationarenot
thegovernment’sRedTapeChallenge,uncoveredthehugedisquietintheGA
necessarilythoseofAOPA.
communityregardingunnecessaryredtapeandburdensomeadministration. Although
PublishedbyAOPA,whichisamemberofthe heisanactivepilotandaircraftowner,hecametothescenesetbyEASAwithafresh
InternationalCouncilofAircraftOwnerandPilot
outlook.HewasastoundedtodiscovertherehadbeensuchapostinEASAas“Headof
Associations.
Rulemaking”,somethingtherestofushadunthinkinglyacceptedwithoutcomment.
AOPAoffice: Indeed,theposttitlebringstomindthefamous1949novel‘NineteenEighty-Four’by
TheBritishLightAviationCentre GeorgeOrwell.Incidentally,thestorywasbasedin“AirstripOne”-formerlyknownas
50aCambridgeStreet GreatBritain!TheoffendingposthassincebeenremovedfollowingPatrickKy’s
LondonSW1V4QQ
appointmenttoExecutiveDirector.
Telephone: [phone]
TheafterglowoftheEASAconferencehascreatedastrongfeelingofoptimismforthe
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected] future.ItcouldbesaidtorepresentasignificantturningpointinthefortunesofGAin
Web: www.aopa.co.uk Europe. Therehavebeensimilareventsinthepastthathavebeenheldinthesame
light,thedeliveryoftheStrategicandRegulatoryReviewsofGeneralAviationbytheCAA
in2006beingonesuchturningpoint.Withhindsight,though,manymightsaythis
GGeenneerraall £(afnr4ed.e2sAAtt5uoOOdmePPnetmAAs)bers hoped-for“turnforthebetter”inGAdidnotliveuptoexpectation.EASAstaffhave
DECEMBEAAR2014 vviiaattiioonn TtPhhileeotAjsoiruAcrsrnsaaofltcoiOafwtinoenrsand diligentlydevotedthousandsofman-hoursindraftingtheexistingrulesandregulations
andmightnotbealtogethercooperativeinthetaskofpruningtheresultsoftheirlabour,
TFtlTFtliihhaakkaBaBsseetttt’’,a,assMMssBBeeiimm77qq77uupp9977iillppeepp00tteeuudd00rrbbiinnee sboettthererreulceosu,ladnbdepdlaififniccuoltmiemsaohnesaedn.sBeuwtillelte’svehnotpuealtlhyawtitnhethdeesdiarey.dWsiimthpoluetr,dlioguhbtet,rand
generalaviationinEuropehasbetterprospectsforitsfutureviabilitythanithashadfor
Frontcover: morethanadecade.
TBM900
SShhaappppssaannddHHaaiinneessffoommeennttaaGGAArreevvoolluuttiioonn Photo:TBM George Done
EEAASSAAllaaggss,,bbuuttpprroommiisseesswwhhoolleessaalleecchhaannggee
4 GeneralAviationDecember2014
Shapps moves to liberate GA
Thegovernment’sresponsetotheRed commissionedareportontheeconomic askthehardquestions–butthere’sa
TapeChallengeongeneralaviation valueofGAwhichwillinformand generalelectiononlymonthsaway,andno
promisesarevolutionfortheindustry, underpinitsproposalsforchange.Its guaranteethathewillsurviveit.”
whichitintendstotransformfroma findingswillbemadeavailablebeforethe ShappsispromisingafullGAstrategyby
shrinkingfringeactivityintoaworldleader endoftheyear. thespring,involvingtheCAAandtheGA
thatgeneratesthousandsofskilledjobs ItwasclearthatShappswantstomove community.Theoutcomeoftheeconomic
andbillionsmorefortheeconomy. aheadfurtherandfaster.Afterhehad studyalreadycommissionedwillbolsterthe
ToryPartyChairmanGrantShappsMP outlinedtheproposalsatameetinginthe strategy–itwillupdatetheAOPA-backed
announcedaseriesofinitiativeswhichnot HouseofCommonswithTransport researchin2005which
onlymakepracticalsenseiftheindustryis SecretaryRobertGoodwillMPandCAA foundGAwasworth
toberevitalised,butevinceanintentionto ChiefExecutiveAndrewHainesathisside, £1.5billionand AOPA
drivethroughmajoranddurablechangein ShappscastigatedtheGAindustryfor employedmorethan
therelationshipbetweenregulatorand failingtopushhardenoughforchange.GA 11,500peopledirectly.
industry.BackedbytheCAA,the associationsandcompanies,hesaid,had Theyarealsocommitting
governmentplanstodivorceGAregulation beenso“captured”bygenerationsofover- tosupportEASA’sGA
Working for
fromthatofcommercialairtransportand regulationthattheywerereluctanttospeak RoadMap,including
YOU
tocreaterulesthataddressriskandare upintheirowndefence,andtoquestion amendingtheBasic
proportionatetoit–andwherepossible,to someofthethingstheywerebeing Regulation;toworkwith
writenorulesatall.TheAirNavigation routinelyaskedtodo. EASAandtheCAAtoget
supportformutual
recognitionofmanufacturingstandards;to
considerhowtosimplifylegislationfor
cross-borderGAtraffic;andtolauncha
completereviewoftheAirNavigationOrder
asitaffectsgeneralaviation.
The‘StarChamber’,chairedbyGrant
Shapps,offersamassiveboosttoGA–but
only,onesuspects,ifShappsisinthe
chair.Itbringstogetherseniorfiguresin
everygovernmentdepartmentthatmatters
tous;Transport,BusinessandIndustry,
HomeOffice,HMRC,Communitiesand
LocalGovernment,eventheTreasury.Itwill
overseeGAstrategy,andwillmeetthree
timesbeforethenextelection.Unfocused,
itcouldbecomeatea-and-biscuitspipeline
intothelonggrass.ButwithShappsatthe
helm,nobackslidingwillbetolerated.
GrantShappsMP(left), Intheforewordtotheresponse,Shapps
RobertGoodwillMPandAndrewHaines
andGoodwillsaythehugecontributionGA
attheHouseofCommons
makestotheeconomyhasoftengone
unrecognised.“Insteadofprotectingand
OrderwillberewrittenwithGAinmind, AtthelaunchAOPAChiefExecutive supportingtheindustry,successive
anda‘starchamber’ofallgovernment MartinRobinsonsaid:“He’sabsolutely governmentshaveallowedittobecome
departmentswhoaffectGA–includingthe right.We’vebecomesousedtodoing overburdenedwithregulation,”thereport
Treasury–willmeetregularlytodrive thingstheirwaythatwehavedifficulty says.“Asaresult,thefutureofajob-
progress. breakingoutoftheestablishedmindset. creatingsectorhasbeenputatrisk,
Joywouldbeunconfinedwereitnotfor Foronce,wearerunningtokeepupwith potentiallycompromisingthegrowthofUK
thefactthatwehavecededcontrolof thepaceofthegovernment. aviationandengineeringskillsand
almostallofaviationtoEurope,and “Buttherearetwoprimaryobstacles. training.”
nationally,theCAAandtheBritish Thefirstisthatseriousinstitutionalchange TheMinistersaddthatwhiletheyare
governmentcanonlymakeunilateralrules requiresbuy-infromEurope.Europeasa undernoillusionsabouttheamountof
for‘Annex2’homebuiltsandpermit wholeisareluctantpartner,andcertain workthatliesahead,progresshasalready
aircraft.UnlessEASAandits31 states–mostlythosewithlittleorno beenmade,andtheyaredeterminedto
subscribingcountriescanbepersuadedto generalaviation–aredeadagainst “unlockthesector’spotentialforjobsand
followtheUK’slead,wecanonlytryto progress. growth”.
influenceEuropeforthegreatergood–we “Secondly,itreliesalmosttotallyonthe Atthenon-EASAendofthemarket,
arelegallyboundtodowhateverEASA continuedpresenceofGrantShappsina single-seatmicrolightsunder300kghave
decides.ButifBritaincannotinfluence positionofpower.Heisthefirstsenior beenderegulated,certificationrulesfor
Europe’sdirection(seeourcoverageofthe Ministeringenerationswhohasagenuine handheldradioshavebeenreduced,PPL
RomeEASAconferenceinthesepages)it understandingoftheindustry,a examquestionshavebeenreducedtothe
won’tbeforthewantoftryingbythe determinationtoreversethedownward EASAminimum,andgyroplanescanbe
governmentandtheCAA. spiral,andtheenergyandvisiontodriveit usedforself-flyhire.Otherchangesintrain
TheCAAalreadyhasitsGAUnitin through.Hehasshownacommendable includeallowingballoonpilotstofly
place,andthegovernmenthas keennesstoharrythebureaucraciesand commerciallyuptotheageof65(and
GeneralAviation December2014 5
ultimatelytheyhopetoremovetheage workofGrantShapps,Andrewwouldhave minimumspreadofcontrolledairspace–
limitaltogether),submittingtoEASAan gotthingsmovingintherightdirection.To areacanofworms.Theymayconflict
updatedPPLsyllabus,andlookingatways havethesetwomeninposition withtheChargingRegulation,andwould
ofreducingpre-notification simultaneously–alongwithother beasureroutetothechargingofVFR
AOPA periodsforGAflightsthatrequire reformerslikePatrickKyandRobert traffic,thegovernmentsays.Itwouldbe
customstoonehour.TheCAA Goodwill–givesGArealhopeforthe better,theyconclude,fortheCAAto
willberequiredtoputsomeheat future.” monitorcontrolledairspace,perhapsmore
Workingfor underthesearchforviableways AOPA’slong-standingcallfor systematicallythanatpresent,toensure
YOU
toshareairspace.Theyarealso “proportionate,risk-basedregulationusing it’sbeingusedefficiently.
beefinguptheGAForum,the robustdata”hasbeenpickedupasthe AnotherofAOPA’slong-standing
‘stakeholder’group,tomakeitmuch foundationstoneofthechangeprocess. bugbears,therequirementfortheCAAto
hardertoignore. TheANOreview–seeseparatepanel–is makea6%profit(or‘returnon
TheCAAhasalreadybeguntochange fundamentaltoachievingthesortof investment’,forthesqueamish)hasbeen
itsinternalphilosophytoreflecttheneeds changethegovernmentenvisages.Access addressed–thefigurehasbeencutto
ofGA–nomeanfeat,asAOPA’sMartin toairspaceisanotherbasicrequirement, 3.5%,thenormforsimilargovernment
Robinsonsays.“AndrewHaineshas butthegovernmentdoesnotruleout services.Thisshouldsaveussomemoney
workedmiraclesattheCAAtochange chargingVFRtrafficincontrolledairspace, somewhere;it’llbeinterestingtoseehow
entrenchedattitudesandwinGAsome eventhoughthatairspaceexistsforthe itmanifestsitself.
breathingspace.Fromourstandpointhe benefitofcommercialtraffic. TheGeneralandBusinessAviation
hashardlyputafootwronginthefive Proposalstochargeairnavigation StrategicForumwilltakeoverfromthe
yearshe’sbeenChiefExecutive,andI serviceprovidersbyvolumeforthe GeneralAviationStrategicForum.The
believethatevenwithoutthephenomenal airspacetheycontrol–toencouragethe tendencytosplit‘business’and‘general’
CChhiieeffeexxeeccuuttiivvee’’ssddiiaarryy::
OnOctober20I
attendedtheSESAR
Change and challenge
StrategicPlanningPolicy
groupinBrussels.SESARis
Europe’sequivalenttothe
Everythingwe’vebeenworkingtowards PickingupwhereIleftoffinmy AmericanNextGensystemfor
cametogetherinRomeinOctober lastDiary,onSeptember27wehad upgradingairtrafficservices.
whenEASA’sExecutiveDirectorPatrickKy theInternationalAOPAEurope OnbehalfofIAOPA,I
openedtheAgency’sconferenceon RegionalAssemblyinAthens. presentedarequestforADS-
generalaviation–aneventwhich IAOPAistheonlyGA B/UATtobeconsideredasa
crystallisedeverythingEASAhassaidabout organisationthatmakespolicyandco- secondenablerforgeneral
changingitswholeapproachtoGA.The ordinatestacticsinthisway.TheRegional aviation.WhilstSESARisanR&D
conferenceiswellcoveredinthesepages, Meetingiswellcoveredinthesepages,so programme,UAT–UniversalAccess
butthetwotake-awayswerefirstly,that I’lljustsaythatasever,itwasavery Transmitter,aGA-appropriatedatalink
changeisabsolutelyvital,andsecondly,that valuableexercisethatletsusseehow developedintheUSA–couldbea
EASAisnotnecessarilyinlock-stepwith regulationisplayingoutunderdifferent commercialoff-the-shelfproductforgeneral
industryoverthepaceandextentof nationalauthorities.Wearetrulyblessedin aviationinEurope.Otherairspaceusers
change.There’salotofworktobedoneif theUKtohavesuchanenlightened weresupportive,andwewillagainfollow
wordsaretobesatisfactorilytransformed regime. uponthismatter.
intoaction. FromSeptember29toOctober2I OnOctober18wehadtheAOPA
TheconferencecamethedayafterGrant attendedtheJeppesenConnectseventin MembersWorkingGroupmeetingatWhite
Shappshadlaunchedthegovernment’s Berlin.IAOPAhasanexcellentrelationship Waltham,chairedbyPaulineVahey.This
responsetotheRedTapeChallengeatthe withJeppesen,anditwasapleasuretobe wasanotherlivelydiscussionoftopicalGA
HouseofCommons.He’ssayingthesort abletospendsometimediscussingwith issuessuchasaerodromesandairspace.I
ofthingsIthoughtImightneverhearinmy theirCEOtheirfutureplansforgeneral wasabletoupdatethegroupontheRome
lifetime,butagain,thedevilisinthedetail aviation. conference,whichiswellcoveredinthese
andtheimplementationwillnotbewithout OnOctober9IwasattheNationalAir pages.IexplainedthatthesubjectIhadto
itspitfalls. TrafficManagementAdvisoryCommittee, coverinmypresentationwaswhether
TheRedTapeChallengeresponsecame takingwithmeJamesChan,a generalaviationwassafeenough.Itoldthe
onOctober13,andadaylaterGrant knowledgeableandvocalpilotwhositson conferencethatGAissafe,butisnotrisk-
Shapps,CAACEOAndrewHainesandI theAOPAMembersWorkingGroup.Iwill free,andthatregulatorsneedtounderstand
joinedPatrickKyand350othersinRome useJamesmoreonairspacemattersinthe whattherisksare.Ialsosaidthatwe
fortheGAconference.BothGrantShapps future,andhecandeputiseformewhen supportmovestowardsbetter,simpler,
andAndrewHainesmadestrongpitchesin I’mnotabletoattendthesemeetings. lighterregulationsforgeneralaviation.I
generalaviation’sfavour;Iwasonthe Jamesispassionateaboutairspaceandhas pointedoutthattherulesinthemselvesdo
openingpanel,discussingriskand goodunderstanding.Mostofthemeeting notensuregreatersafetyandthatthe
perceptionsofriskinGA.WhetherEASA wasspentdiscussinghowtheCAAcan continuouseducationofpilotsisthebest
iscapableofrespondingfullytothe improvethewayitisdealingwithairspace waytoreduceaccidents.Thisiswherethe
challengeofcreatingaproportionate andchangeproposals.NATMACincludes AOPAWingsprogrammeclearlyhasan
regulatoryenvironmentforGAremainsto non-aviationpeople,suchasmembersof importantroletoplay.Ifmemberswould
beseen.PatrickKyhashisowndemonsto thegeneralpublicwholiveunderneaththe liketoknowmoreabouttheschemeplease
slay,andgetting31EASAcountriesto areaswherewefly.Sothisisagoodpoint contacttheoffice.
agreeonanythingwilltaxhisdiplomatic toremindallofusthatweneedtobearin OnOctober21IattendedtheGeneral
skills.ButallIcansayis,thankheavensthe mindtheimpactofouractivityonour andBusinessAviationStrategicForum.We
jobdoesnotfalltohispredecessor. neighbours. wereupdatedontheworkoftheRedTape
6 GeneralAviation December2014
Saving airfields – but how? currentPlanningPolicyFrameworkdoesn’t
dothebusiness(andhehadahandin
writingit).TherecentlossofManston,
Blackpool,andShapps’sownairfield,
Thenotionofpreservinganetworkofgeneralaviationaerodromesresonateswith Panshanger,illustratestheurgencythat
pilots,particularlywhenthepaceoflossisaccelerating.Manston,Blackpooland needstobebroughttothisissue.Whether
Panshangerareamongthosewhohavefallenvictimtogovernment-imposedpressure ornotairfieldsare‘brownfield’sitesis
tobuildmorehouses.GrantShappsadmittedthatthegovernmentisconflictedinsome currentlylefttothelocalauthorities,but
ofthethingsitintendstodeliver,includinghousing.“Thepressureistohaveplanning GrantShappsbelievesthisisnolonger
decisionsdeliveredmorequickly,”hesaid.“Thereisadesperateneedfornewhousing, tenable–a‘network’approachrequiresa
butwehavecommittedtostartingtotalkaboutthepreservationofastrategicnetwork nationalpolicy.Thegovernmentalso
ofairfields,whichisabsolutelyvitaltothesecurityofthesector.Thecurrentpositionis recognisestheneedtosupporttheaviation
flawed,theNationalPlanningPolicyFrameworkisflawedbecauseitmakesairfieldsa engineeringindustryandtechnologysector
localissue,withlocalgovernmentdecidingthefutureoflandingsites.Buttheairfield bysettingafairwindforGA,andwecan
networkneedstobeanationalissue,notalocalone.” lookforwardtoprogressinthisfield.
TheCAA,whichisinvolvedin123
separateworkstreamsinEurope,has
aviationissomethingthatwillnotbenefit CAA,andtotheDfT’sDirectorGeneralof madeshortworkofsomelow-hanging
either,buttherevisedTermsofReference CivilAviation. fruit,suchasacceptingSTCsfromtheUS
ofthe‘GBASF’arewelcome,asisthefact Thepreservationofanetworkofairfields andCanada,butonlyforAnnex2aircraft
thatitwillreporttotheCAA’sFinance –seeseparatepanel–isalsoathorny –thosethatarenotregulatedbyEASA.
AdvisoryCommittee,totheCEOofthe issue;GrantShappsacceptsthatthe This,hesaid,wasafirststeptowards
challengepanelanditsrelationshipwiththe withproportionalitybeingthefoundation canbeimprovedfromtheperspectiveof
CAA’sownagenda.TheCAAis stoneforbothEASAandCAAregulations airproxesandinfringements.TheASICG
commendablykeentoloosetheshackleson infuture. wasresponsiblefortheElectronic
generalaviation,butitcanonlydosoon OnOctober23IwasduetoflywithCAA ConspicuityWorkingGroup,theECWG,
thepartsofGAoverwhichithascontrol– ChiefExecutiveAndrewHainestovisita whichIchaired.Itsobjectivewastocome
theso-calledAnnex2aircraft.Thetrickwill coupleofourmembers.However,atthat upwithasetofstandardsforlow-cost,
betofurtherfreeupthatendofthe timeBlackpoolairportwasclosedandthe portableelectronicdevicesusefulin
businesswithoutcompromisingtherestof weatherwasn’tverygoodsowedecidedto makingGAaircraftmoreconspicuous.
GAtothepointwhereitsviabilityis rearrangethetrip. TheECWGRecommendationsPaper,‘EC
threatened.WeneedaGAindustry,we IhadtwoappointmentsonOctober31– inClassGAirspace’providesanexcellent
needairfieldsandengineersandfuel thefirstwastoattendtheAirspace summaryofwherethisissuecurrentlysits,
providers,andnotallofGAsupportsthese InfringementWorkingGroup.This aswellassomebackgroundastowhythe
thingsfinancially.Thosewhodonotfly importantgrouphadnotmetforsome workwasinitiated.Wearelookingathow
Annex2aircraftarerelyingontheabilityof time,andit’sasadfactthatinfringements electronicconspicuity(EC)caneventually
theCAAtoinfluenceEASAtochangeits remainstubbornlyhigh.TheCAAhas beachievedforallusersofClassG
rules,andwhilethatprocessisintrain,it introducedanonlineinfringementtool airspace,anditisworthstressingatthis
willtakemuchlongerandmaynotmatch whichanumberofpilotshavebeen pointthat‘onesizefitsall’willnotwork.
thepaceoftheCAA’sownliberalisation. requiredtocomplete,andsomeofthem It’sinterestingtonotethatNationalAir
Atthesametime,theAirNavigation failedtoreachasatisfactorylevel.During TrafficServiceshasinvestedtimeand
Orderisbeingstudiedwithaviewto thediscussionIreportedthatthefeedback moneyindevelopinganADS-Bsolution
makingamendments–butwheretheANO I’dreceivedfromacoupleofpilotswasthat referredtoasLPATaheadoftheECWG
coversEASAaircraft,theUKwillnotbe theclockshowingthe10-minute work.Therefore,theworkoftheECWG
allowedtoamenditaswemightlike.It countdowntimerwasdistracting.TheCAA maybeseenasessentialinsofarasthe
wouldbeeasytogetthebalancewrongand willhavealookatthesystemandcomeup recommendationscouldhelpindeliveryof
weakentheGAindustryasawhole.We withadifferentkindofwarningtotellthe newstandardsforallelectronic
needtofindasystemthatallowsexisting pilotheorshehasonlygotoneminuteleft conspicuitydevicesinthefuture.
businessestodevelop.Ifwe’renotcareful tocompletethetask.Themajorityof Itisagreedthatthereneedstobea
wecouldhaveanationalsystemofAnnex infringementscomefrompoorpre-flight changeinregulatorythinking,andthere
2aircraftincompetitionwithanEASA- planning.Theoldadageof‘failingtoplan needstobeadegreeofassurancethatin
controlledsegmentofGA,withallthecosts istoplantofail’isverytrueinthecaseof acceptingdifferentstandardsof
andconstraintsoftheEuropeansystem. infringements.Remember,ifyoubecome certificationtheremustbenonegative
TheEASAendoftheindustryputsinthe unsureofyourpositionspeaktosomebody impactonthecurrentsystem.Thisis
lion’sshareoftheturnover,andwewould –evenifitis121.5. whereR&Dfundingisrequired.Thiswill
bethrowingalotofbabiesoutwiththe LaterthatsamedayImetwithMessrs alsoeventuallymeanflighttrialsinorder
bathwater.It’salsotheEASAsectorthat DayandBolshaw,theHaywardsAviation tovalidateandverifythattheoverall
paysmostoftheCAA’sGAfees,andthe Insuranceteamthatlookafterour proposalissafe.Thiswouldlead,intime,
moreitshrinks,thegreatertheburdenof members’interests.Wediscussedanumber toanewsetofstandardsthat
feesontheremainder.Asanexampleof offurthertrendsintheinsurancemarket, manufacturerscouldbuildto.
whatbadregulationcandooneonlyneeds andwenowplantorunanumberof SowhiletheNATSLPATdevicecanbe
tolookatthedestructionofthelighttwin articlesinthecomingmonthsinGeneral consideredasaninterimdevice,itshould
marketinEuropebyJAR-FCL.IntheUSA, Aviationonsomeofthetopicswe bepossibletousetheworkthathasbeen
lighttwinsareamongthebiggest discussed. donesofartofurtherexplorethebasic
contributorstotheindustry;herethey OnNovember5IattendedtheAirspace ECdevice.
hardlyfigure,andthelossaffectsusall.We SafetyInitiativeCoordinationGroup,a MartinRobinson
supportameasuredapproachtochange, CAAgrouplookingathowtheairspace
GeneralAviation December2014 7
automaticacceptanceofSTCsforAnnex1
aircraft.EASAhasalsoagreedtoliftthe
arbitraryandunnecessaryupperagelimit
of65forcommercialballoonpilots,
somethingthathadbeenintroducedwith
noevidencewhateverofneed.
Workisinhandonelectronic
AOPA
conspicuity–inagroup
chairedbyAOPA’sMartin
Workingfor Robinson–butmuchcanonly
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beachievedafterthereviewof
theAirNavigationOrder,which
mustendinlegislation.“Much
ofwhatwewanttodoisconstrainedby
legislation,”MrHainessaid.Unfortunately,
thereisnotimetofitnewlegislationinto
theParliamentaryprogrammebeforethe
nextelection…
Our own worst enemy
allofusrecognisetheproblemsthatneed
Above:JeremyPratt,MartinRobinsonand
WhileShapps,asaGApilot,ismotivated tobetackled.Thesefactorsareunlikelyto
GrantShappsattheRedTapeChallenge
byunderstandingoftheindustryandits beinplaceagain.AsMinisterwithout responselaunch
problems,progresswillbemadeby PortfolioIbelieveweshouldtreatGAlike
convincinghiscolleaguesandthepublic anyotherindustry.Thefilmindustry,for “Butwemustaskourselveswhetherthe
thatthere’sanindustryouttherethatis instance,isasimilarsizetoGA,butwhile GAsectorhastherightattitude.Wehave
beingstifledbyredtapewhenitshouldbe itenjoysmanystrandsofgovernment beencapturedbyasortofindustrial
inculcatingyoungpeoplewithhigh-tech support,generalaviationisburdenedby StockholmSyndrome.Wherethereare50-
skillsandmakingbillionsofpoundsforthe redtapelikenoothersector,andgets 50decisions,wechoosetoretain
economy.“Theyneedtobemadeto nothing.YetGAisallaboutthiscountry’s regulationwhenweshouldbecoming
understandthepotentialforjobsand technicalfuture. downontheotherside.Forinstance,I
economicgrowth,”Shappssaid. “Cuttingredtapecreatesjobs.Since cannotseeanyevidencethatpilot
“ButI’mfrustratedbytheslowspeedof 2010thisgovernmenthascreatedmore medicalsserveanyusefulpurpose,despite
thegovernment,theslowprogressofthe thantwomillionprivatesectorjobsin themillionsofpounds,thetimeandthe
quangos,andIamfrustratedwiththe Britain,whilecutting600,000public energywesinkintothem.ButtheGA
generalaviationsector.Thisisthemost sectorjobs.Infact,wehavecreatedmore sectorisnolongeraskingwhatthey
GA-friendlygovernmentyou’veeverhad. jobsthanall26oftheotherEUcountries achieve.Whatonearthisthepointofthe
Youhaveauniquealignmentofplanets– puttogether.Itisplainthatyoucangrow 90-dayrule?Wehavechangedthe
AndrewHainesattheCAA,Robert jobs,youcancreatewealth,ifyoucut regulationstoallowtheuseofpilot-
GoodwillatTransport,PatrickKyatEASA, pointlessredtape. operatedlighting,yetsomeintheindustry
havesaidtousthatitshouldnotbe
allowed.Ithinkthatgovernmenthasto
ANO goes under review
pressaheadwithderegulationeveninthe
absenceofaconsensusinthesector.But
weneedbackingfromtheGAsectorto
A‘rootandbranch’reviewofhowtheAirNavigationOrder(ANO)affectsgeneral drivethingsfarenough,fastenough.”
aviationhasbegun,withtheCAAlookingathowmoreproportionate,lightertouch Shappsreservedanelementofscornfor
theGAindustry’sinabilitytoputfinancial
regulationcanbeachievedforGA.
resourcesbehinditslobbying.Itsclaimsto
TheCAAsaysitiscommittedtoreformingtheregulatoryregimeforGA,andthe
beaformidableindustryareundermined
firststageofthisprocesswillseeitexaminealltheprovisionsoftheANOrelatingto
byitsconstantpleasofpovertyandits
generalaviation,fromlicensingrequirementstooperationsandairworthinessrules,
unwillingnesstoputresourcesintofighting
withaviewtoderegulatingordelegatingwherepossibleinordertosimplify
itscorner.“Nobody’sgoingtodothe
complianceforGApilotsandorganisations.TheCAApointsoutthatanamended
£100,000worthofworkthat’sneeded
ANOwillalsospeedupitsabilitytointroducereformsithasalreadyidentified.
beforethenextAutumnStatement,”he
TheinitialreviewisexpectedtobecompletedbyMarch2015,followedbya
said.“Thereareallthesedisparategroups,
publicconsultationoninitialconceptsandasecondconsultationinSeptember2015
wheneveryoneinGAshouldbeacting
ontheCAA’sspecificrecommendations.AnychangestotheANOwillhavetobe
togethertofundthelobbyingandthework
approvedbytheDepartmentforTransport.DfTofficialswillbeworkingcloselywith thatneedstobedone.”
theCAAthroughoutthereviewprocess. CuttingtaxesonGAisnotcurrentlyan
TheCAAsaysthereviewwillfollowtheprinciplesithasalreadyadoptedinits option.Withausteritythewatchwordand
oversightofGA,whichinclude: thegovernmentcuttingbenefits,itwould
(cid:3)onlyregulatewhennecessary,andtodosoproportionately; beimpossibletoselltaxcutsforgeneral
(cid:3)deregulatewherepossible; aviationtothepublic,eventhoughthe
(cid:3)delegatewhereappropriate; purposewastoincreaseeconomicbenefit
(cid:3)donotgold-plate,andquicklyandefficientlyremovegold-platingthatalready andtaxrevenues.
exists; TheresponsetotheRedTapeChallenge
(cid:3)helpcreateavibrantanddynamicGAsectorintheUK. isavailableonlineat:
TheCAAandAOPAarealreadyjointlyengagedinaprojecttoidentifyandtackle https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati
areaswhereEUregulationshavebeengold-plated. ons/general-aviation-red-tape-challenge-
panel-report-government-response (cid:2)
8 GeneralAviation December2014
Star Chamber sets the agenda
TheminutesofthefirstmeetingoftheStarChamberhavebeen newapprenticeshipstandards;itwillalsoidentifytheextentto
madepublic,anditcertainlylookslikeanoutfitthatmeans whichsmallercompaniesinGAalreadyaccesssupporttotrain
business.GrantShappswasinthechair,andpresentwere apprentices.HMRCistoadviseonhowaviationfueltaxis
representativesofallrelevantministries–Defence,Local calculated.
Government,Transport,HomeOffice,RevenueandCustoms,
MoD airfields
Business,InnovationandSkills.AndofcoursetheCAAwasthere;
onlytheTreasurywasabsent,andthere’sreasontobelievethey’ll GrantShappshadreceivedaletterregardingtheremovalofcivilian
bealongdirectly. accesstoKirknewtonairfield,ostensiblybecausetheairfield’s
Themeetingendedwith12diverseactionpointsforthe operationalusehadchangedanditnolongerhadthestaff,
ministriesandCAAcoveringthepreservationofanetworkof emergencyrescue,andairtrafficcontroltoguaranteepropersafety
airfields,thetrainingofapprentices,thetaxingofavgas,the procedures.TheMoDistoinvestigatethespecificcaseof
resolutionofGARissues,theuseofmilitaryairfields,GPS withdrawnaccessatKirknewtonandwillreportbacktoGrant
approaches,andprogressonderegulationattheCAA,particularly Shapps’office.TheMoDandDfTaretoexaminehowguidancecan
withregardtoEASA. beimprovedandpromulgatedonGAuseofmilitaryairfields.
AOPAChiefExecutiveMartinRobinsonsays:“It’sclearthatwhile
CAA
thedepartmentsallhavereasonsforeverything,GrantShappsis
determinedtoovercomeinertiaandmakegoodonhisintentionto TheCAApresentedasummaryoftheircurrentprogramme,covering
turningtheUKintotheplacetodobusinessintheGAsector.The theEASAconferenceinRome(reportedonelsewhereinthese
StarChamberisofftoasoundstart.” pages),itsrecentachievements,currentandfutureprojects,
communicationstrategy,andthestructureoftheGAindustry.The
Airfields
lastfouractionpointswerelaidatthedooroftheCAA–itmustaim
AtthefirstmeetingMrShappsspokeofGA’sconcernthatairfields toannouncederegulationandefficiencymeasuresevery60daysvia
havebeendisappearing,withlocalandplanningauthoritieslooking newslettersandthesectormedia;itwillhavefollow-upmeetings
onthemaspurelylocalassets.LocalGovernmentpassedthebuck withGrantShappstoreviewprogress;itistoascertainthereason
toLocalEnterprisePartnerships.Thenextmetingwilltakeupthe forthehighcostofproducingGPSapproachestoairfields;anditis
subjectofthepreservationofanetworkofairfieldsinthelightof tokeepinmindthepotentialforrequestingsupportatMinisterial
theeconomicresearchthatiscurrentlyunderway.Twoaction levelwhenattemptingtoproposederegulationtoEASA.
pointsemerged:theLocalGovernmentdepartmentistotapupa ReviewingtheMinutes,MartinRobinsonsaid:“They’vemadean
leadofficialonLocalEnterprisePartnershipswhowillworkwiththe impressivestart.Manythornyissueshavebeengrasped.The
Transport(DfT)onwaystoencourageLEPstotakemoreeffective economiccaseforremovingVATonprofessionalflighttrainingis
accountofaerodromesintheirlocalplans.Inaddition,planning incontrovertible–wehavedrivenanentireindustryabroadandwe
issuesinrelationtoGAairfieldsaretoberaisedwithLocal needtogetitback.” (cid:2)
GovernmentSecretaryEricPickles.
GAR notification
TheGeneralAviationReportfilingsystemisbeingreformed
“imminently”,withconsultationtocome;theHomeOfficeand
HMRCdiscussedwithMrShappsthewaytheGARsystemhad
evolved,anditwasagreedthatideally,notificationperiodsshould
bestandardised.ButthereareproblemswithBorderForcestaffing
andthegeographicalspreadofairfields.
HMRCandtheHomeOfficearetoreportatthenextmeetingon
progressinbringingaboutamoreconsistentandproportionateway
ofrequiringGARs,andmovingtowardsone-hournotification.
Apprenticeships
MrShappsaskedformoreinformationonapprenticeshipsinthe
GAsector.Business,InnovationandSkillssaidGA–asopposedto
aerospacemanufacturing–isnotoneoftheGovernment’spriority
sectorsintermsofeconomicdevelopment,butsaidtheycould
workwithTransporttodeterminethelevelofinterestintheGA
sectortodevelopnewapprenticeshipstandards.Apprenticeships,
theysaid,aredemand-drivenandsector-originated,andhadtobe
applicableacrossthewholesector,soanapprenticeatthesmallest
workshopshouldbeonthesamestandardasoneatBritish
Aerospace.Theyrelyonindustrytoproposeapprenticeship
standards.
MrShappssaidtheUKshoulddomoretoencourageflight
trainingintheUK.Mostprofessionalpilottraininghappensabroad
despitethefactthatEnglishistheindustrystandardlanguage.
HMRCsaidthattheonlyVATexemptionsfortrainingapplytothe
non-profitsector,andtherewouldneedtobeastrongeconomic
caseforanexemption.Fueltaxationwasalsodiscussed.
Business,InnovationandSkillsundertooktoworkwiththeDfT
departmenttodeterminethelevelofinterestinGAtobidtodevelop
GeneralAviation December2014 9
EASA – here’s where you stand
By Nick Wilcock proposalformemberswhoseaeroplanes ‘priorexperienceofinstrumentflighttime
werefittedwithmoderngucci-glass asPIConaeroplanes,underarating
Someverysignificantchangesare cockpitstoflyroutineIMCR/IR(R) providingtheprivilegestoflyunderIFR
comingourway,thankstochanges revalidationsintheirownaeroplanes, andinIMC’-whichofcourseincludes
agreedbytheEASACommitteeatthe ratherthaninsomeunfamiliarpieceof theIMCR/IR(R).
Commission’sOctobermeeting. rentalwreckagewhichhappenedtobe
Aircrew Regulation
Mostofwhichwillbevery fittedwithaturnco-ordinatororturnand
AOPA amendment
welcomeandfollowoureffortsto slipindicator.TheCAAhasnowagreed
rectifymanyofEASA'searlier andsection1(b)oftherevalidationtest Althoughthe8/9Oct2014EASA
Workingfor mistakes.Itisalsoclearthatthe maynowbeflownusing‘anystandby Committeevoteagreedtoseveral
YOU
newattitudeatEASA,thanksto instrumentsystemfittedtotheaeroplane amendmentstotheAircrewRegulation,
PatrickKy,isonefarmoreinclined usedforthetest,simulatingfailureofthe thesehaveyettoberatifiedbytheEU
toconsidertheissuesfacedbythe primarypitch,bankanddirection Parliament.However,giventhestrength
GAworldthanwasperhapsthecase indicatingsystems’ratherthan‘limited ofunanimousagreement,itishighly
hitherto. panel’perse.AchangewhichI’msure unlikelythattheParliamentwillvote
manyofyouwillwelcome.Thefulldetails againsttheCommittee’srecommendation;
IMCR / IR(R) Revalidations
canbefoundinthelatestversionofCAP nevertheless,thedateofeffectofthe
Firstthough,somegoodnewsfromour 804.Incidentally,EASAhasalsoclarified amendmentswillbenoearlierthan8Apr
ownCAA.SomewhileagotheAOPA thatcreditavailabletowardsthe 2015.TheUKCAAmayapplyforearlier
Members’WorkingGrouptableda Competency-basedModularIRincludes adoptionofcertainamendmentproposals
bywayofArticle14flexibilityprovisions,
butthiscannotbeguaranteed.Buthere’s
mostofwhatwecanexpect:
(cid:3)3rdcountryprivatelicenceconversion
derogationextendedfromApr2015to
April2016. ForthosewithFAAPPLs
and/orIRs,thiswillnowallow
sufficienttimefortheEASA/FAA
bilateralagreementtocomeintoeffect.
(cid:3)LAPLderogationextendedfromApril
2015toApril2018.Thismeansthat
thoseUKlicenceholderswhoare
unabletoholdanEASAPart-FCLPPL
willcontinuetobeabletoflyEASA
aeroplaneswithinLAPLrestrictions
untilApril2018withoutneedingto
obtainaLAPLbeforethen,although
theycanconvertearlieriftheywishto
doso.Notethatthisdoesnotmean
thatterritorialrestrictionsoftheNPPL
willchange.
(cid:3)Aerobaticratingderogationextended
fromApril2015toApril2018.
Althoughitwillnotnowbea
mandatoryrequirementtoholdan
AerobaticRatingtoflyaerosonEASA
aeroplanesuntil April2018,wewould
stillurgethoseintendingtotakeup
aerobaticstotaketheAOPA/BAeA
aerobaticcertificatecoursewhether
theyintendtoflyaerosonEASAor
non-EASAaeroplanesalike.
‘Grandfather’rightsforexisting
aerobaticpilotsasstipulatedinCAP
804willbeextendedtoApril2018;
also,theextendedderogationperiod
willgiveusmoretimetoworkon
havingtheridiculous“40hrsPICsince
licenceissue”prerequisiteforthe
AerobaticRatingscrapped.
(cid:3)Towingandmountainratingderogation
extendedfromApril2015toApril
2018.Wheretheyexist,national
arrangementsfortheseactivitieswill
continueuntilApril2018,although
thosewhowishtoacquirethese
10 GeneralAviation December2014