APPG General Aviation spreads its wings
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on General Aviation was established earlier this year as a special-interest parliamentary organisation established to promote the Government’s stated objective of ‘…making the UK the best country in the world for General Aviation.’, The Chair of the APPG GA – Grant Shapps MP – has now written to Ministers calling for urgent and co-ordinated action to support GA. Shapps, who was instrumental in driving...
‘Hard Copy’ Skyway Code now on sale
The ‘Skyway Code’ is a CAA publication designed to be the General Aviation equivalent of the UK’s ‘Highway Code’, containing essential information on all aspects of VFR flight in the UK including rules and procedures, airspace, RT and ATC procedures, pilot licencing and general safety advice. First published on-line in May, the updated ‘V1.1’ version was launched at the end of August to co-incide with the annual LAA Rally at Sywell....
A race to the bottom?
Are pilots being selected on ability to fly, or ability to pay? According to a BBC report, between 2011 and 2016, airline pilot salaries have increased at an average rate of 26%, putting them at number six in a list of the most inflation-proof careers. However, according to the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA), entry to an airline pilot career is also at the top of a list of the most inaccessible careers, in terms of cost of...
International Aviation Academy – Norwich – is officially open
The building was officially opened by Group Captain Carol Vorderman, Air Cadet Honorary Ambassador and Air Commodore Dawn McAfferty, Commandant of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets, at a ceremony at the Academy. Sir Peter Rigby, Chairman of Rigby Group plc and owners of Norwich Airport, also announced their support for the building’s Board Room and Seminar Room. The opening is the culmination of plans, first unveiled in September 2013,...
New aircraft arrive for UK military flight training
Embraer has delivered the first Phenom 100 to Affinity Flight Training Services in the UK. The Phenom 100 has been selected to provide multi-engine pilot training to UK Armed Forces as part of the UK Ministry of Defence’s Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) programme. The contract with Affinity comprises of a firm order for five Phenom 100s with services support, as well as an option for additional follow on aircraft. The...
Where is the next generation of pilots? (Part 2)
In the first part of this article, the efforts of airsports organisations such as the British Gliding Association and the Light Aircraft Association to attract new, young, pilots into aviation were detailed. The second part of this article looks at what is being done in other sectors of aviation to ensure that the current generation of aviators does not represent a ‘high water’ mark in pilot numbers. While airsports groups have led...
