AOPA UK AeroExpo 2017 Review

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AOPA UK AeroExpo 2017 Review

It was a pleasure meeting members over the three day event.

We were kept busy with a steady stream of visitors to the AOPA Marquee and were able to greet many of our members, answer questions and sign up a good number of new members. Hopefully we are seeing a change in attitudes from the estimated 50% of pilots who do not belong to any organisation, even though they benefit from the work we do. So please do keep speaking up for AOPA.

Thank you to members who introduced a flying friend to AOPA, a good many of whom we signed up as new members. All members who introduced a friend were entered into a draw for a free years membership. Well done to Graham Stevenson who was drawn as the winner.

Another good sign was the number of new Student pilots we signed up over the event. Student pilots are essential to General Aviation. Without new students becoming new pilots, GA will simply have no future in the UK.

Welcome to all our new members.

We also had a Quoits competition running for members over the event, looking for the highest score. Well I hope your landings are better than your Quoits aim! The highest score was 1 out of 10 and at least more than one member managed that so the names went into a draw. Well done to Ron Hampshire who was drawn as the winner and will receive a years free membership.

Also thank you to Jeppesen for sponsoring our Marquee again this year. This partnership only works if our members continue to show an interest in, and subscribe to, Jeppesen aviation products.

I look forward to an even more successful AeroExpo UK in 2018.

From Tuesday 6 June to Thursday 8 June, the AOPA office phone system will be unavailable due to filming work. The best method of contact during this period will be by email to info@aopa.co.uk or membership@aopa.co.uk. You may also call on the Pilot Store phone number 02078341949

Martin Robinson
CEO AOPA UK

AOPA UK Awards 2017

George Done, Chairman of AOPA UK, presented the AOPA UK Awards 2017 to all award winners, except the Lennox-Boyd Trophy, which is awarded to a person, club, group or organisation who has contributed significantly to the furtherance of general aviation, flight training, club flying or piloting standards. The trophy is a cup in a special presentation box that was originally given to the Association of British Aero Clubs by the late Rt Hon Alan Lennox-Boyd PC CH MP (subsequently Viscount Boyd of Merton) in 1953.

This years winner is Carol Vorderman MBE, who was unable to attend AeroExpo. The trophy will be awarded later this year.

AOPA Special Award. Awarded to a person who, or organisation that, has made a special contribution to safety, customer care, or other area of general aviation. The trophy is a cup originally presented to the British Precision Pilots Association in 1987.

Award: Bob Darby and Adrian Price. Bob Darby is the AOPA project coordinator for the SESAR-funded EVA (Electronic Visibility via ADS-B) project and Adrain Price is the NATS technocal lead. This is a collaboration between AOPA, NATS, FUNKE Avionics and Trig Avionics that has resulted in flight trials that have taken GA closer to the elusive ‘Known Airspace Environment’ where affordable conspicuity devices are the norm. The results of the flight trials have been widely reported and the project is recognised as a significant contribution to the future safety of general aviation.

Best Aerodrome. Awarded to an aerodrome that offers outstanding facilities and helpful service to residents and visitors alike. The trophy is a sword donated to AOPA by Airtour International Ltd (now Pooley’s Flight Equipment Ltd) in 1982. The sword was renovated by R Pooley in 2004.

Award: Jersey Airport is a busy destination for many commercial aviation flights. Nevertheless, the experience of visiting GA pilots is that Jersey Airport, supported by a helpful ATC, makes a significant effort to accommodate GA. This comes from the top of the management structure all the way down. Jersey is not an expensive destination and there is no attempt to put GA pilots off with high charges. The Airport is aware that GA has nowhere else to land on the island and it has worked with the Jersey Aero Club to avoid GA getting mixed up with the commercial passenger traffic, so avoiding security and similar issues. Jersey Airport stands out as a busy airport that manages to provide an outstanding service to GA visitors and residents alike.The Pooley Sword was collected on behalf of Jersey Airport by Lee McConnell, Corporate & General Aviation Development Manager, and Les Smallwood, Manager – Air Traffic Control.

Contribution to the Community. Awarded to a person or organisation who has made an outstanding contribution to the aviation community. The trophy is a cup donated in 1997 by Flyer magazine.

Award: Cay Roth. Cay Roth is the Senior Manager for GA in Europe for Jeppesen, the well-known provider of aviation products worldwide. In UK general aviation, the company is best known for the provision of VFR and aerodrome charts for European countries. These are invaluable for touring the continent and have provided an outstanding contribution to the aviation community. Cay Roth has maintained close links with AOPA UK for many years, and has been instrumental in supporting AOPA UK at many aviation events.

Individual Merit. Awarded to a pilot or individual who has made an outstanding aviation achievement. The trophy is a cup on a granite plinth.

Award: Philip Church. Philip Church is an experienced consultant and avionics engineer who works for Helios, the specialist consultancy for Air Traffic Management. He is a key advisor to AOPA on the GAGA Project (GNSS Approaches for GA) funded by the GSA (Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency) for the development and introduction of LPV (Localiser Performance with Vertical Guidance) aerodrome instrument approaches. Those selected will benefit from up to 60% funding and the support of a professional team who will help deliver the approaches in line with the necessary regulatory requirements, the result being, upon completion, enhanced safety and increased business opportunities at these aerodromes. The outstanding contribution to the project by Philip Church is recognised by this award.

Instructor of the Year. Awarded to an instructor who has made a special contribution to the training of student pilots for the PPL or NPPL, or to private pilots for added qualifications. The trophy is an art deco cup donated in 2004 by Virgin Experience Days.

Award: Geoff Prout. Geoff Prout came into instructing at Old Sarum via microlights and then light aircraft, having qualified as an flying instructor in 1995. He combined this with a long career as as a surgeon. He currently owns a Cirrus aircraft based at Lee-on-Solent and has about 12,000 hours in his logbook. He has recently retired from GoFly where he was CFI. He gained a reputation as a dedicated and knowledgeable instructor and for constantly putting his student first, using his wit, charm and humour to help any student through their flying course. He has been an ambassador for AOPA and GA throughout his flying career, and has been a valuable member of the AOPA Flight Instructor Refresher Seminar Team.

Friend of AOPA. Awarded to a person or persons who has or have made a special contribution towards the work of AOPA.

Award: Matthew Bolshaw. Matthew Bolshaw is a long-standing member of AOPA and aircraft owner who has considerable professional experience in the aviation insurance market. He has always been, and continues to be, happy to provide AOPA with the benefit of his expert advice, and this is now recognised by the Friend of AOPA Award.

Online Pilot Supplies
for AOPA Members

Discussions were concluded at AeroExpo with Pooleys Flight Equipment to enable AOPA members to purchase their pilot supplies online through Pooleys Flight Equipment. Using an AOPA members promotional code you will be able to receive a discount of 5% on qualifying products, subject to Pooleys Terms and Conditions. The current AOPA Pilot Store online will then be closed.

AOPA will also receive a commission for each order placed using the AOPA members promotional code.

We are making this change to provide you with a better customer experience when shopping online for pilot supplies. Purchasing or renewing membership and Flight Instructor Seminars online will be brought into a single AOPA UK website.

Full details will be published ahead of the change.

The AOPA Pilot Store Shop at 50a Cambridge Street will remain open, with a full range of Pilot Supplies, including Bose Headset demonstrations.

Member discounts are available on qualifying products.

Members also have access to the Pilot Zone in our basement meeting room (subject to no meeting being held). Free Wi-Fi access and tea/coffee.

General Aviation Infrastructure Network (GAIN)
Launches at AeroExpo

The General Aviation Infrastructure Network had its first public airing at AeroExpo UK 2017. GAIN thanks AOPA, one of our partners, for giving us the opportunity to promote our campaign to save a network of airfield in the UK. Campaigns running in support of Plymouth, Fairoaks and Wellesbourne strike a chord and provide models that may be applied to a wider campaign.

Over the event we were delighted by the interest we received and the pledges of money and help. We also connected with a lot of likeminded companies who have interests in keeping airfields thriving for the future in a post Brexit economy given that recent changes in legislation will make our airfields more important to our national transportation network and centres of local business enterprise and investment for skilled jobs, benefiting the local community.

Thank you to all who took an interest and paid us a visit.

This is just the start of our campaign and we need everyone in GA to become involved. You can find out more about GAIN how you can support our campaign by visiting the GAIN website.

Pauline Vahey
Chairman GAIN

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