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It is a place where flyers of all experience levels can meet to discuss and exchange up-to-date undistorted...

The Red Tape Challenge drew quite a few comments, this document outlines those comments along with the CAA's replies. It;s worth a read both to avoid duplication, and to gain an insight into progress that is, or shortly will be underway. The...

LAA Permit aircraft can overfly congested areas whereas CAA Permit aircraft can't. Even more of a nonsense when the same type on C of A can do so and doesn't need a CAA surveyor visit every like it does for the CAA Permit.

I can't remember if this has been brought up before, but I would suggest that Mode C should be allowed in a Transponder Mandatory Zone. There is no logical reason why Mode S should be required, Mode C gives all the information a controller requires...

Airfields under threat

Manston closed for housing development.
Panshanger to close but ultimately under threat from housing proposals.
Old Sarum under threat from housing proposals.
Wellesborne Mountford under threat from housing proposals.

These...

And that's not for the hire of the aircraft that the amount you pay to the CAA. The examiner (I believe) receives 200 quid the CAA banks the rest.

Can't we chop out flight test bookings and pay the examiner direct. That's what happens in Spain and...

According to the Schengen code:
2.3. Checks on persons on private flights
(...)
2.3.4. The arrangements for the entry and exit of gliders, micro-light aircraft, helicopters, small-scale aircraft capable of flying short distances only and airships...

This is a relatively recent introduction by EASA I believe. You need to email the CAA with the name of the student, airfield, time, date and the examiner. You then can't conduct the skills test until you have email confirmation from the CAA.

This...

8.33 radios
I see from the latest IAOPA newsletter that states can decide which portion of airspace are 8.33 compliant.
To me this is going to cost alot. I fly a microlight that has a panel mounted radio which is not 8.33 compliant which means i...

The comments by CAA to the Red Tape Challenge are often positive, but how does an individual discover how to take advantage of the solutions.

For example in Maintenance - Suggestion 107 said :-

Many called for a way of voluntarily orphaning...

Since the introduction of EASA, examiners may now only sign a licence for renewal where that rating or certificate has expired by less than 36 months. Beyond this, an application for renewal of that rating or certificate must be sent to the CAA with...

I don't understand why when an aircraft, whose type certificate holder no longer manufactures genuine parts for these aircraft, can't be transferred to a permit ?

This especially applies to simple 2 seat aircraft over 40 years old of which many...

Many aerodromes still have a habit of prohibiting movements of visiting aircraft after 6 or 7pm local time, even in the summer and where the sun sets at 10pm. The light GA scene across the country after about 6pm looks pretty much dead.

Reasons...

... below the EASA definition of "Complex" (basically anything below 5.7 tonnes / below twin turboprop).

Instead, make turbine engines differences training with sign-off, in the same way that retractable undercarriage etc. are...

The CAA are consulting on a proposed change to the 90-day rule to allow a pilot who hasn't made the required take-offs and landings to carry a passenger who is a pilot qualified to fly the aircraft. The reason they are giving to allow this is that...

I have no idea why the CAA need certified copies of documents they already have, thats another issue but as they do, why does the HOT have to certify them?
I think, as the owner of a flying club and an unrestricted instructor, I can be trusted to...

This has cropped up on some threads in the past, but I thought it's worth mentioning here again.

The four ATSOCAS services are out of line with Europe and poorly understood by some UK based pilots as well as everyone visiting from outside the UK....

Following its presentation on the Sunday of this year's AeroExpo at Sywell, the CAA has released an update from its GA Unit, covering the changes to UK regulation so far. Here's the full document detailing the changes so far. Discussion thread .

Should we be developing another means of collision avoidance for VFR and IFR OCAS

I am very disappointed in the comment response document recently published by the CAA. CAP 774 - UK Flight Information Services - Notice of Proposed Amendment ( )...

Currently, for a PPL SEP to fly a Touring Motor Glider (such as Dimona, Falke, Grob 109B etc) it is necessary to conduct training for issue of a Class Rating, and then find a TMG Examiner (currently a very rare beast) to conduct a skills test.

I am...

This is going to be costly for owners and operators , instead of blanket compliance for everyone surely concessions could be made as was the case with Mode S.

Establish a demarcation where 8.33 would be mandatory, such as class A, and or above a...

Ok, not one strictly for the CAA per-se, but why do we need the Special Branch requirements with the 12 hours notice these days for travel to/from Ireland, the IoM and the Channel Islands?

Mentioned in the 'Interview with Tony Rapson" thread, here's a link to a recent PDF from the GA Unit reporting on their achievements over the last year, what they are working on now and some "myths" debunked.

What do we think?

I've been a contact lens wearer now for 35 years. Been through various types and technologies, and my optometrist is always keen on trying new products out on me as he always gets a lot of useful feedback because I've been round the block so many...

Our training fleet is now generally 30 to 50 years old, we have to get new training aircraft in.Why, if EASA control European aviation, is it impossible to get a full and proper C of A for many European training aircraft? Most new models are on...

I thought I'd raise this as an example of what we're up against here.

I was on a course yesterday to revalidate my instructors qualification, paperwork signed off by HoT at the end. He also advised me that I need to pull my finger out and convert...

Why can't I simply put a signature in the logbook?

Since a tech stop is permitted (fuel etc.), what's to stop clearing customs in (say) Friedrichshafen and then landing in France for fuel without bothering les Douaniers for the UK leg?

I'm surprised no one has said...

(selected) LAA aircraft IFR and at night.

Cookie

Both of the latest issues of Pilot and Flyer magazines dropped through the letter box yesterday and both contained an interview with Tony Rapson, Head of the GA Unit at the CAA.

Both interviews were, frankly, disappointing. A lot of "watch...

With the exception of parts of Scotland, this seems to have disappeared from the UK scene?

Perhaps the government should allow seaplanes to access more public lakes, rivers and coastlines to revive this area...?

Not a thread on a new diet.

My carburettor had a small leak. My maintenance shop was not authorised to deal with it. It went off to the engineers who overhauled the engine. They were not authorised to deal with it. It has now gone stateside,...

I know this subject has been touched upon in the GA forum.

For the uninitiated, the CAA in its new "hands off" attitude has mandated that all pilots diagnosed with Diabetes, whether Type 1 or Type II, whether controlled or not and whether...

Doing a bit of lunchtime googling, I noticed that the PS-28 Cruzer type certificate doesn't indicate UL91 as a fuel, but the Sportstar one does. Both within weeks of each other, from from Czech Republic, both with the mighty Rotax 912. Do people on...

With approval by the European Parliament of the changes to Instrument flight qualifications (EIR, CBMIR) now imminent, the required content of the IR Theortical Knowledge exams is to be cut by approximately 50%.

Can we have an assurance that the...

Remove
The Foreign Aircraft Exemptions
CAA restrictions on non CofA Foreign Aircraft visiting the UK.

Remove or rewite
Official Record Series 4 Exemption No. 909 / 910 /911

So a foreign registered aircraft from any other ICAO country can vist...

(One for the CAA to consider in conjunction with DAP, the MAA and NATS.)

AIAAs were introduced decades ago when the military fleet sizes, let alone flying hours expended, were many times more than they are now.

They take up vast areas on the...

Over the past year or so, it has become a requirement for all new-fit transponders to be Mode S, usually at the cost of a couple of grand. If you have an existing Mode C, it is permitted to replace it with another Mode C unit in the event of a...

Whilst we are stuck with what I believe is an unjustified and unwarranted system of EASA licences being needed for EASA certified aircraft even for private flights from April 8th 2015, (unless of course the EASA group looking at private flying...

The furore over Jepps' sudden dissapearance from the paper map business suggests that there's still demand for these. So isn't it high time the CAA did away with the crazy laminated 1/2 mil tablecloth and introduced a foldable plain paper map in US...

The government should relax travel restrictions for pets on private flights into the UK, and aligning them to private cars or boats.

There have been a few points raised about gold plating of minimum sensible or legal requirements at aerodromes.

Those already mentioned have been:-

- Mandatory hi-viz (probably on quiet airfields in blazing sunshine!)

- Mandatory ground handling...

Now the proud possessor of a Part-FCL ATPL(A) with SEP: before long this Class Rating will need revalidation in accordance with FCL.740.A(b)(1)(ii).

I shall not be doing any class or type rating proficiency check or skill test on any other class or...

Currently there is a distinction between "differences training" (formal sign off) and "familiarisation training" (essentially self certification)

The following items should be differences training:
- Retractable U/C
- VP Prop...

Nobody has a good word to say for the current dog's dinner of Basic, Traffic, Deconfliction and Procedural services, so let's have a fresh look at making it simpler, less anal and more like the rest of Europe.

I think there has been some cracking suggestions on this forum. Many if not most would have a real positive impact on general aviation and the UK economy as well.

So all these great suggestions how long will it be until they become reality.

My...

(One for the CAA to consider in conjunction with DAP and NATS.)

Airfield such as Exeter, typically in Class G and for whom no Controlled Airspace is applied, often have fleches ("arrows") marked on the chart to denote the presence of an...

This occurred to me whilst reading the airspace bits of the CAA interim report.

Look at any randomly selected bit of airspace on the UK chart, and there will be controlled airspace there somewhere.

Here's a typical example:-

Much of that...

Given that there is no requirement for the pilot flying with an instructor to demonstrate any minimum standard in their flying, or even pay any attention to what the instructor says or asks, it is hard to see any safety benefit in this as currently...

The new ground exams do not tie up with the corresponding books either AFE or Pooleys. My flying school has had students walk away from their training as they cannot work out where to get all the info for the Ops procs exam. Another is confused as...

(One for the CAA to consider in conjunction with DAP, the MAA and NATS.)

Whilst HIRTA are marked on the charts, it is suggested that there is no practical means by which their presence can be managed by non-military aircraft.

Whilst in theory...