AOPA UK Newsletter January 2021

View this email in your browser

PLEASE USE LINKS IN ARTICLES OR CONTACT US. DO NOT USE REPLY.

Welcome to 2021

The year ahead promises to be challenging for General Aviation (GA) as we, hopefully, see a gradual relaxation of COVID restrictions and get to grips with the UK leaving EASA and the gaps in the UK/EU Exit Agreement.

Also, having sold our London "home", we look ahead to completing the purchase and fit out of our new home.

The CAA is talking about making changes to the way in which they regulate GA post EASA and have conducted a consultation, in the form of a survey. I spoke with the CAA and said that I felt the approach they had taken was the wrong one. A number of pilots have said to me that the first questions were totally irrelevant to the future of UK GA so they did not bother to complete the survey. This throws into doubt how meaningful the exercise was.

What we want is for the CAA's fees and charges to be reduced and this may mean changing regulations; however, the certified end of GA is linked to ICAO standards. Any changes that can be made here need to keep in mind those Standards and Recommended Practices (SARP) if we want to fly freely outside of the UK.

The CAA has made a commitment not to ‘gold plate’ the ICAO standards which impact all areas from airspace to equipment, pilot licences and training through to airworthiness and continued airworthiness.

For operations below these ICAO standards it is possible for aviation activities to take place within the airspace of that State.

One of the advantages of EU membership was the ability for sub-ICAO aircraft and pilots to operate freely across the 27 member States. To continue this, the UK may need to reach a separate agreement as the UK is now an Independent Third Country. I am sure we won’t be able to have our cake and eat it.

Until these kinds of questions are answered it will be difficult to see just how much change the CAA/ DfT will be able to make.

Given the different types of operations in GA it will be difficult to make sweeping changes that suit the whole sector. There will be a lot of discussions, involving AOPA, but no overnight changes as change always takes time.

If there are any beneficial quick wins to be had, AOPA will be promoting and supporting them. I would welcome your views on what your priorities are. Please email these to me.
I am sure you will have seen how we have engaged on a regular basis with the DfT and CAA during the lockdown and I don’t plan to repeat these items here, the pandemic is having a terrible impact on society, the Government’s message is to “Stay at Home”, only going out for essential reasons. The list of reasons for leaving home can be found on the gov.uk website and in the guidance sent out by the DfT, but we continue to engage with Government.

Martin Robinson
CEO AOPA UK
E: martin@aopa.co.uk

AOPA Magazine - New Year and New Editor

The February issue of AOPA UK magazine should be hitting your doormats within the next couple of weeks. This is the first issue from the pen of our new editor, Steve Bridgewater and he is keen to receive feedback from AOPA members.

For those who don’t know Steve, he has spent much of the last two decades on the editorial teams of GA and historic aviation magazines as well as working in various marketing and PR roles within the aviation world.

"I’m really looking forward to producing a magazine that AOPA and its members can be proud of” says Steve. “But to do that I’m going to need your help. I’m keen to know what you enjoy about the existing magazine as well as what you don’t like, what you’d like to see more of and what you think we need less of. Is the news important to you? What about book and tech reviews? What makes you read the magazine and what could we do better?

“I’m very conscious that this is ‘your’ magazine. It’s a way for AOPA to communicate with its members but it should also be a way for our members to communicate with each other. So please tell me what is important to you. What makes your heart pound and what makes it sink? We all know that Brexit and the Covid pandemic are major concerns - but what other issues matter to you? Likewise, what new innovations and opportunities feature on your personal ‘radar’ and do you think other people need to know about them?

The February issue of the magazine includes:

Weatherlore - Is a ‘Red Sky at Night ‘an aviator’s delight? Does ‘Rain before Seven’ really mean it will be ‘Fine by Eleven’? Aeronautical Meteorologist Simon Keeling takes a look at the truth and science behind the proverbs.

Maintenance Matters - Malcolm Bird looks at 'Project TEL’ and asks if your aircraft can run on unleaded fuel.

Say “Aloha” to Hawaii - In this 80th anniversary year of the attack on Pearl Harbor we look at the self fly options in Hawaii and why this island paradise is also a pilot’s dream destination.

A Relentless Pursuit of Aviation Passion - Up-and-coming display pilot James Hepnar talks about his journey into aerobatics and display flying.

Finally, a new regular series called ‘Owner Insight’ in which we ask aircraft owners what it is that we need to know before we buy an aircraft like theirs. (Can you easily get the spares? What’s the true fuel burn? What runway length does it actually need?). In our first article we feature the stylish Italian Marchetti SF.260 and ask “is this one of General Aviation’s best all-round packages?"

I would love to hear from you

Stephen Bridgewater
Editor: AOPA UK Magazine
E: steve.bridgewater@aopa.co.uk
M: +44 (0) 7538 777769

Applicability of CAA and DfT Regulatory Updates and Guidance

The CAA and Department for Transport (DfT) are National authorities and their Regulation or guidance applies to the whole of the UK. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland do not have separate Civil Aviation Authorities and do not regulate their airspace or aviation activities separately.

The only exception would be if the CAA, or DfT, publish guidance that only applies to a particular Region.

However, different Regional law may prevent you from being able to apply CAA national Regulation, for example if the law prevents you travel ling a sufficient distance from your home.

Additionally, businesses may determine that it is not economical to remain operational, or are unable to operate in a COVID secure environment, and may close for all users and furlough their employees. This may include the full closure of an Airport/Airfield/Aerodrome operations,

AOPA would urge that such decisions should be explained to their Customers.

Flying Abroad from 1 January 2021

Hopefully, at some point in 2021 we will again be able to travel safely and resume flights abroad. When you do there are some differences to be aware of now that the UK EU transition period has ended.

Foreign flights have to be made from/to Airfields/Strips that have a Certificate of Agreement (CoA) with UK Customs issued by the UK Border Force. Airfields/Strips that had received an inbound flight from outside the UK within the 12 months prior to June 2020 should have received a letter explaining this and given an interim blanket CoA valid to 30 June 2022, after which an individual CoA is required.

Once foreign travel is permitted again, be aware of any NOTAMS requiring additional notification due to COVID. At the time of writing there are NOTAMs in force requiring that all passengers and crew complete a Passenger Locator Form at least 48 Hours prior to arrival in the UK and that the PIC should complete the Enhanced General Aircraft Declaration (GAD) process.

At the time of writing, UK Issued LAPL's are no longer recognised in EASA states and use is restricted to UK Airspace only. Also, pilots with a UK issued Part-FCL PPL but using a LAPL medical are similarly restricted.

The duty on AVGAS was increased to £0.3820 per Litre from 1 January 2021.

Duty Free purchase have been extended to the EU. See here. Note that on a private flight the allowance for goods other than alcohol or tobacco is £270.

On the day you travel, you’ll need your passport to both:

have at least 6 months left
be less than 10 years old (even if it has 6 months or more left)

Your unexpired European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) will be valid if you’re travel ling to an EU country, but it is recommended that you also hold travel insurance to cover any limitations.

You should check if the EU Country you are travel ling to/from has changed their entry/exit requirements for UK citizens, especially if you are travel ling for business purposes. See here.

Meat and dairy products may not be taken into the EU from the UK but you are allowed to bring these products from the EU into the UK.

AOPA Members Working Group

The next Members Working Group meeting will be this coming Saturday 23rd on Zoom.

As before, I’ll open the session at 9:30 for a 10am start and aim to close by 1300. There will be a break to grab a coffee at some point.

Topics that feature prominently will no doubt include BREXIT and COVID, but we will also be highlighting the TEL fuel issue.

Stephen Bridgewater, the new editor of the AOPA magazine, will also be joining and has "held the press” on the next issue for a couple of days so we can incorporate a full meeting report.

ALL members are welcome to attend and hear from Martin and the team as well as being able to ask questions and raise issues.

Preliminary dates for the remainder of 2021 (Subject to change):

All meetings are likely to be held via Zoom although we will hold one or more in person if restrictions permit.

All AOPA members are most welcome to attend - you do not have to be specifically invited but must register in advance.

Zoom meetings gather from 9:30, formally start at 10am and finish at 13:00

Saturday 20 March
Saturday 26 June
Saturday 23 October

To register for a Zoom meeting please email David Chambers: david.chambers@aopa.co.uk

David Chambers
AOPA UK Members Working Group Chair

FI & CRI Refresher Courses

The next AOPA FI Refresher Course dates are:

9 & 10 March 2021 (by Zoom)
6 & 7 July 2021
23 & 24 November 2021

For more information see here.

The venues for the July and November courses are to be advised. If the eventual venue is not acceptable a full refund will be given. If COVID-19 restrictions still apply then, subject to CAA approval, the courses may be run using Zoom meetings.