AOPA UK Enews November 2018

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AOPA UK Enews - November 2018

From the Top : Martin Robinson CEO

Survey: help us getting more data on GA

We have all heard of big data and how good data quality can be useful in policy development. AOPA is taking action to fill a gap in the knowledge about General Aviation (GA) in Europe and we need your help!

I am well known for saying that there is a lack of statistical data regarding GA and so AOPA has launched a survey to address this. The more people that complete the survey the more valuable the database will become and the better can be our decision making.

So far, most analyses in GA depend on estimates and expert judgement, which is far from ideal and one of the main reasons for a high level of over regulation. Some good statistical data about the GA fleet will allow valuable safety and economic analyses.

This survey was created in order to collect meaningful statistical Data for European GA. IAOPA made a first attempt in 2014 with good success, about 1500 operators and 3500 pilots replied. This data, however, is outdated, and geographically it covered mainly the European Core Area, so it´s time for a new initiative, which we started in a cooperation with the associations EBAA (European Business Aviation Association) and GAMA (General Aviation Manufacturers Association).

It should only take you 10 – 15 minutes to fill out the survey. If you don´t have precise figures at hand, your estimates are sufficient. Your data will be protected and will only be shared with other GA Associations, European and National European Authorities. In order to use the data they will have to confirm that they meet the requirements of the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Your data will not be given to other third parties.

Please help AOPA help you, whatever GA aircraft you fly. Over-regulation affects all of us.

Take the Survey

Lasham Gliding Society - Appeal for Judicial Review Funding

Lasham Gliding society are mounting a legal challenge to the CAA's decision on CAS for Farnborough Airport and are asking for support to fund this challenge.
Full details can be found here.

Nick Wilcock (AOPA UK) received the IAOPA Service Award for outstanding service and dedication to the members and staff of IAOPA Europe and AOPA UK. The award was handed to him by Craig Spence (AOPA HQ ).

Well deserved Nick!

Martin Robinson
CEO AOPA UK

Selected News items

London Oxford Airport ACP Consultation Feedback Report

The London Oxford Aiport (LOA) Airspace Change Proposal consultation feedback report was published on 1st November 2018. AOPA UK objected to the proposals.

Of the 1,707 responses received during the consultation period:

17 consultees (1.0%) supported the proposal;
1657 consultees (97.1%) objected to the proposal;
13 consultees (0.8%) provided a neutral response or provided no comments on the proposal; and
20 consultees (1.2%) provided questions for clarification purposes but did not formally provide a response

The report states that following the consultation, all comments received were thoroughly reviewed by LOA to identify the key issues of concern and ascertain what action will be taken to address the principal objections to the proposed designs, whilst retaining the required safety improvement sought by the Sponsor.

The report says that key issues raised during the consultation have led LOA to conclude that an element of redesign is necessary to present a solution that should be acceptable to the vast majority of airspace users, and those members of the public who expressed an interest in this project. LOA has listened to the feedback received and has taken considerable effort to seek a compromise between its aims and objectives, whilst reducing the impact on other aviators within the vicinity.

After reviewing a number of options to mitigate the concerns raised, LOA has concluded that the design it intends to submit to the CAA will consist of a smaller area of RMZ/TMZ predominantly to the north of LOA between the surface and 3,500ft amsl. This was intended to protect aircraft on approach to Runway 19 and it will also offer some protection to aircraft departing from Runway 01, thereby affording protection to aircraft during the critical stages of flight. The volume of the proposed RMZ/TMZ will be much smaller than the proposed Class D CTR and CTA that featured within the Consultation Document, and therefore fewer people will be impacted by the proposed change.

LOA conclude "Therefore, there is no requirement to re-consult on the modified design."

Following receipt of the formal submission, the CAA requires a 17-week period (including a 1 week document check) to conduct its own internal analysis of the submitted documents before arriving at a Regulatory Decision.

In the event that the CAA supports the change without the need for further design optimisation or analysis, then it is proposed that implementation of the new IFPs and airspace structure will take place on an agreed date in accordance with the Aeronautical Information Regulation and Control (AIRAC) Cycle, and NATS Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) capacity.

The report can be found here.

Note: LOA have been asked to provide charts showing their proposed design modifications.

RAF Brize Norton ACP Consultation Feedback Report

The RAF Brize Norton Airspace Change Consultation Feedback Report has been published and can be found here.

Following the 15th December 2017 to 5th April 2018 Public Consultation period, all comments received have been thoroughly reviewed by BZN in order to identify the key issues and areas of concern. The approach taken by BZN was to review the airspace design in light of the significant points of objection raised by consultees and adapt the design where possible to address these objections.

In the light of the responses received during the Public Consultation, BZN has undertaken a detailed review of the proposed airspace design to identify areas where the airspace can be reduced in size or modified in order to alleviate the concerns of those that objected to the proposal and has considered where, and how, proposed alternative solutions could be implemented. BZN has considered the suggestions in general terms but has also considered specific alternative solutions for each element of the proposed airspace and provided reasons, where applicable, why alternative solutions could not be instigated.

Some of the suggestions put forward require further analysis to understand if they can be pursued as part of the ACP.

The consultation process constitutes the fourth stage of a seven-stage process for an ACP articulated within CAP 725 [Reference 1].

BZN has undertaken a further period of airspace design analysis the results of which are contained within Annex A3 of this document, BZN will finalise the designs and compile an ACP prior to submitting it to the CAA, presenting the case for the proposal. It is a requirement of the consultation process that BZN provides the CAA with full details of the consultation (including copies of all responses and correspondence) together with the documentation necessary for the promulgation of the proposed airspace change.

AOPA UK, along with the majority of respondents, objected to the ACP in its original form and made a number of suggestions for consideration. We await final details of any proposed changes to the ACP in the light of responses.

Following receipt of the formal ACP submission, the CAA then requires a 16-week period to conduct its own internal analysis of the final proposal and consultation results, before arriving at a Regulatory Decision.

BZN would like to notify consultees that should any representative organisation wish to present new evidence or data to the Group Director, SARG for his consideration prior to making his regulatory decision regarding a Change Sponsor Proposal, the representative organisation must submit, in writing, the information to the following address:

Group Director,
Safety and Airspace Regulation Group,
CAA House,
45 - 59 Kingsway,
LONDON
WC2B 6TE

Recent News from the CAA

CAP1727 Electronic Conspicuity: GA pilot survey

In September 2017 the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) conducted a short and focussed survey, asking general aviation pilots for their views on electronic conspicuity – technology in the aircraft that broadcasts its position. The survey attracted almost 1,600 responses with pilots of single engine, fixed-wing aeroplanes making up three-quarters of the total. Glider pilots represented 12 per cent, with hot air balloon, microlight and rotor pilots making up the rest.

View the full survey results here: CAP1727

Consultation: Non-EASA fleet aircraft seat harness / belt lives

The CAA wishes to consult with key elements of the non-EASA GA Continued Airworthiness community on the most appropriate means to assure the integrity of seat harnesses and belts.

The CAA considers that whilst introducing mandatory replacement lives for harnesses could be considered a means to ensure that an acceptable residual strength is retained, there is a diversity of components, installations and factors affecting degradation which are likely to make it a considerable challenge.

The consultation is open until 1 January 2019: Non EASA fleet aircraft: Industry consultation on seat harness/belt lives

Review of CAA Policy on the Training, Qualification and Licensing of FISO's

The CAA is seeking the views of our stakeholders on a series of concept proposals for future CAA policy on the training, qualification and licensing of UK flight information service officers (FISOs).

This consultation closes at 23:59 on 7 December 2018. Please see here for full details.

CAA policy relating to the training, qualification and licensing of FISOs has remained largely unchanged for almost forty years and differs markedly from international ‘good practice’. By contrast, the arrangements for air traffic controllers (ATCOs) have been subject to continued evolution; seeing them adopt new technologies and ways of working in parallel with advances in the wider aviation industry they serve. Adoption of new technology is equally evident in general aviation (GA) and particularly recreational aviation – the primary user of air traffic services (ATS) provided by FISOs – where major advances have been made in aircraft design, systems and products for the use of GA pilots.

In 2016, the CAA initiated a review of all aspects of the training, qualification and licensing of FISOs and their regulatory oversight by the CAA. The review also considered the limitations placed on the privileges associated with a FISO licence in the UK; specifically, that FISOs are limited to the provision of FIS in Class G airspace alone and that the use of an ATS surveillance system to supplement the FIS is not permitted.

Having conducted the review, the CAA developed policy concepts which we believe could form the basis of the UK’s FISO licensing arrangements in the future. The next stage is to gain the views of our stakeholders on these policy concepts through this consultation.

The consultation document, CAP 1669, argues the need for change, describes the review of FISO licensing arrangements undertaken by the CAA and proposes the future policy concepts for stakeholder review.

Members Working Group

The final Members Working Group meeting scheduled for 2018 will be held at White Waltham Airfield on Saturday 24th November. 10:00 for 10:30 start.

All are welcome to attend. Please contact Pauline Vahey: pauline@aopa.co.uk for full details if you would like to attend.