[carlmeek]

I upgraded my aircraft long ago .... but I've been having a discussion with a few friends who still haven't and plan to leave it until (after) last minute on the hope it might be delayed.

Does anyone think there's a snowball's chance it might be? I reckon it's just wishful thinking....

[AndyR]

Good luck to them. We booked our fitment months ago. Even then we were quoted a 5 month wait.
So an early annual in January and new radio in February.

[T67M]

That sounds surprisingly quick - we booked ours in November 2016 and fitting took place in February 2017. By the time we collected the aircraft, the waiting list was roughly seven months and growing!

[carlmeek]

Sounds like we are expecting a lot of grounded aircraft in early 2017! Perhaps a reason for CAA to extend?

[Peter Gristwood]

Not going to happen but I doubt there'll be prosecutions

[Sooty25]

or people going back to non radio if they are based somewhere that allows it.

[scottish_ppl]

The answer is Yes, at individual aircraft owner level. The CAA position may be different....

[Paul_Sengupta]

I've bought a handheld.

[GAFlyer4Fun]

I thought that was a cunningly disguised cake!

[Flyin'Dutch']

Not going to happen but I doubt there'll be prosecutions

Don't fly to the Netherlands without 8.33kHz as they will prosecute.

They prosecuted someone who had 8.33 kHz equipment on board but did not know how to use it........

[johnm]

From AOPA

8.33 kHz Funding
The second call period for 8.33 kHz radio funding assistance ended on 30 Sep 2017; however, the third period is now open until 31 Dec 2017 and there is plenty of funding still available!

Some points from the CAA:

If your aircraft has never been fitted with any radio, you can still claim towards the cost of installing 8.33 kHz compliant radio(s), including all necessary ancillaries such as audio panel and headset etc. It seems that some owners mistakenly believed that funding was only available for replacing existing equipment, but that isn’t so.
Claims can be for up to 2 fixed and 2 hand-held radios per aircraft, plus ancillary equipment. If you’ve previously only submitted a claim for one radio and now wish to fit a further 8.33 kHz compliant radio, you may submit another claim up to the limit of 2 fixed and 2 hand-held per aircraft.
If the availability of funding has been influential in your decision to re-equip with an 8.33 kHz radio, provided that you place an order in good faith within the third call period, but cannot get the equipment fitted before the end of the year, a claim will still be accepted provided that the installation is completed and the claim submitted within a reasonable period of time.
There have been some who have said that they will still use their 25 kHz radios once 8.33 kHz becomes obligatory. However, the UK has no intention of introducing any extension or derogation towards 8.33 kHz requirements; the UK situation is as follows:

On 1 January 2018 the law changes and all aircraft operating in airspace that requires the carriage of a radio must have 8.33 kHz-compatible equipment fitted and operational.

After this date all 25 kHz radios can no longer be used, although it will probably still be possible to receive most ATIS and VOLMET broadcasts on a 25 kHz radio and to keep it as a 121.5 MHz back-up, it will not be legal to use it for transmissions except on frequencies assigned for:

The emergency frequency (121.5 MHz)
The auxiliary frequency for search and rescue operations (123.1 MHz)
The VHF digital link (VDL) frequencies (136.725 MHz, 136.775 MHz, 136.825 MHz, 136.875 MHz, 136.925 MHz and 136.975 MHz)
The aircraft communications addressing and reporting system (ACARS) frequencies (131.525 MHz, 131.725 MHz and 131.825 MHz)
Where offset carrier operation within a 25 kHz channel spacing is utilised
This means that all General Aviation (GA) aircraft fitted with radios (incuding handheld) must comply with this change to UK law to maintain safe communications with ground stations.

So the moral of the story is if you haven’t yet planned your 8.33 kHz compliance programme, you should do so as soon as possible!

Full details about claiming can be found on the CAA website.

The CAA will be releasing a formal situation update shortly, which we will report on the AOPA Website.

[B1engineer]

I see old sarum has a new 8.33 frequency and is currently notam'd as changed.

B1

[CloudHound]

This is the key bit 'remain 25ers' seem not to want to acknowledge.

On 1 January 2018 the law changes and all aircraft operating in airspace that requires the carriage of a radio must have 8.33 kHz-compatible equipment fitted and operational.

After this date all 25 kHz radios can no longer be used, although it will probably still be possible to receive most ATIS and VOLMET broadcasts on a 25 kHz radio and to keep it as a 121.5 MHz back-up, it will not be legal to use it for transmissions except on frequencies assigned for:

In effect they'll be engaged in civil (aviation) disobedience, and I agree the CAA's Enforcement people wouldn't have the desire or resource to be the first line to help ensure compliance.

However, any pilot getting into a spot of bother that does require investigation and found to be in breach of this rule, may well have it added to the charge sheet. Be interesting to hear their defence.

[Shoestring Flyer]

Yes but it is understandable when as I understand it a large majority of A/G sites and other ground stations have applied for a temporary exemption by the CAA to 8.33.
As was discussed a couple of weeks ago.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=105891&start=75

[CloudHound]

Partially right SF,

The CAA has made the exemption application on the aerodromes behalf but we await news of if this has been successful.

Nick Wilcox of this parish reported that an announcement was due and even if it was good news we'll still need 8.33 for other frequencies. If one is based at say Redhill for instance.