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Published: 13 November 2023

2024 Membership Rates

AOPA membership rates were last increased in 2022 for non-Direct Debit payers and payments by Direct Debit (DD) were last increased in 2019.

At the last Board meeting membership rates for 2024 were reviewed against the rising costs being experienced by the business, with the inevitable conclusion that membership rates would have to be raised. The Board agreed to limit the overall increase to around 5%. From 1 January 2024 the revised rates will be:

GoCardless Payers:

In preparation for the increase, we have updated your payment plan if you are due to renew in 2024. GoCardless will have nortified you that your payment will be changed from the next payment. You will NOT be charged the higher rate until your renewal date and you approve the payment. AOPA will also email a reminder to you in advance.

It is regretable that we have had to announce this increase, which we have kept to an absolute minimum.

Martin Robinson

CEO AOPA UK

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Published: 30 October 2023

Revised CAP1616 airspace change process

From the CAA:

The UK Civil Aviation Authority has today published its revised CAP1616 airspace change process. The package of improvements makes the airspace change process easier to understand and clarifies the requirements needed to be met to progress an airspace change proposal.

Our improvements focus on simplification, clarification, and proportionality. The way the UK Civil Aviation Authority makes airspace decisions is not changing, with the revised airspace change process and improved guidance clearly defining the requirements.

This makes it simpler for change sponsors and stakeholders to better understand what they need to do in the process, and the engagement airspace change sponsors have with stakeholders should be more focussed and meaningful.

We have also made it clear how the requirements can be applied proportionately and tailored to each proposal put forward.

The revised process takes into consideration feedback and insights from stakeholders affected by airspace change. We’d like to thank everyone who took the time to give us feedback.

The revised documents can be found on the UK Civil Aviation Authority website. Further associated guidance will be published in due course.

Transition arrangements

This airspace change process (CAP1616, version 5) will come into force on 2 January 2024.

Any airspace change proposals commenced on or after that date will be assessed against the requirements of the process as described in this document. All change sponsors with airspace change proposals in process under CAP1616 (i.e., where an assessment meeting has already taken place) and in Stages 1-4, will be informed of the requirements that apply to their submissions and this will be published on the portal.

We aim to inform all change sponsors of such requirements by 30 November 2023. Airspace change proposals in Stages 5-6 will continue as planned and will not be affected by the publication of CAP1616, version 5.

You can read our full statement on transition arrangements on our website.

Date for the diary – CAP1616 webinar

We are holding a webinar for stakeholders to attend, where we will talk through the revised process and be on hand to answer any questions you may have. This is taking place on Tuesday 28 November.

We will share more information and registration details in the coming weeks.

The webinar will be recorded and available on our website for those unable to attend.

Training

We are in the early stages of developing a two-day course on the airspace change process to help stakeholders gain a deeper understanding of the airspace change process and why it exists.

It will provide an overview of the regulatory process and the related legislative framework, to outline process requirements for changing the notified airspace design and to explain how the CAA applies those when assessing airspace change proposals (ACPs). It will be designed for aviation organisations sponsoring and/or developing airspace change proposals (including their consultants) and for new airspace regulators. This course is a foundation and pre-requisite for a more detailed and specific training.
 
We would be keen to hear from you as to whether this would be of interest, what you would like to see included or what objectives you may wish the course to achieve, and whether you would still attend this training if it was needed to be paid for. Please reply to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 30 November 2023 if you would be interested in such a training course.

Once again, we’d like to thank everyone who gave feedback over the review period.

Airspace Regulation team
UK Civil Aviation Authority
 

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Published: 08 September 2023

Farnborough Airport - Notice of Consultation

Farnborough Airport have given notice of their latest consultation as below. The Airport is seeking your views on their proposals to submit a planning application to amend the Airport’s:

• Existing annual flight limit from 50,000 to 70,000 flights per year to meet the market demand for flights by 2040

• Existing annual non-weekday (i.e. weekends and public holidays) flight limit from 8,900 to 18,900 flights per year, maintaining the same percentage of non-weekday flights as exists today

• Operating hours on non-weekdays from 8am-8pm to 7am-9pm to reduce congestion at either end of the day

• Restricted aircraft weight category from 50-80 tonnes to 55-80 tonnes, and increase the related amount of annual flights allowed within this category, to accommodate modern aircraft which are slightly heavier

AOPA members: If you have any views or comments please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

You can find ful detAils and keep up to date here: https://farnboroughairport2040.com/ Press releases from Farnborough follow:

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Published: 05 September 2023

Home Office Universal Permission to Travel; Submit a General Aviation Report (sGAR), Future Border & Immigration System

In August 2023 the Home Office produced this information pack to provide more information on the Home Office’s new Universal Permission to Travel (UPT) scheme, along with further information regarding the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), Electronic Visas (eVisas), Carriers’ Liability Scheme and the Common Travel Area (CTA), alongside how it will effect the Submit a General Aviation Report (sGAR) interface. The current Roadmap wil see the introduction of some elements towards the end of 2023.

sGAR is for all general aviation pilots, operators and agents making international journeys or travelling within the Common Travel Area, to advise UK authorities of their expected journey in advance of travel. It enables users to submit digitised data about the aircraft, the flight and persons and goods on board.

It includes the following sections:

1. Future Border and Immigration System
2. Digital-only Immigration Products: Electronic Travel Authorisation
3. Digital-only Immigration Products: eVisa
4. Common Travel Area and Carriers' Liability Scheme
5. UPT and Health-Related Responses
6. Delivery Roadmap and Next Steps

The UK Government is committed to strengthening the UK’s borders by ensuring that everyone travelling to the UK (except British and Irish citizens) seek permission in advance of travel – this is our Universal Permission to Travel (UPT) requirement. It is our ambition for those operating services across all modes– including General Aviation - to use a Home Office system to check each person’s permission to travel prior to check-in and boarding.

A pilot, operator or agent will be able to use the Home Office’s sGAR interface to check whether an individual has a valid permission. When a person’s information is submitted via sGAR, we will return a response confirming whether a person has met the security and immigration (and, when applicable, health requirements) to travel to the UK.

The Home Office is:

• Moving from physical immigration documents to digital-only immigration products (e.g. eVisas).
• Introducing the Universal Permission to Travel (UPT) scheme which will require everyone travelling to the UK (except
• British and Irish citizens) to hold an immigration permission before they travel.
• Introducing a new digital-only immigration product for non-visa nationals, Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
• Updating the Carriers’ Liability Scheme to require pilots, operators and agents to check immigration permissions for non-visa nationals (as well as visa nationals).

To support the move to digital-only immigration products and the introduction of the UPT scheme, the Home Office is updating the sGAR web user interface so that when users submit passenger information we can return a response confirming whether or not a passenger has a valid immigration permission.

Impact on Pilots, Operators and Agents:

• Pilots, operators and agents will be responsible for confirming each passenger is the rightful holder of the travel document presented and that the document is genuine and unaltered.
• Where a pilot, operator or agent has not complied with this requirement, they will be liable to a penalty.
• Where the Home Office has confirmed a passenger has a valid permission, pilots, operators or agents will not need to check for physical permission.
• There will be some limited exceptions for those who we cannot require to hold a permission – e.g. diplomats.

Change to Submit a General Aviation Report:

• Submit a General Aviation Report (sGAR) already exists and is being used by General Aviation. However currently this only provides pilots, operators and agents with an API submission receipt confirmation.
• UPT will build on this interface by sending back responses relating to each passenger’s permission to travel.
• The responses will provide the pilot, operator or agent with information on whether the passenger has a valid permission to travel to the UK, or whether any additional manual checks should be carried out.

Benefits to Pilots, Operators and Agents:

• With the full implementation of UPT, in the majority of cases, pilots, operators or agents will receive a response from the Home Office to confirm whether a passenger has met the travel requirements rather than having to determine it for themselves.
• Where we can confirm a digital permission, pilots, operators and agents will not have to check physical immigration permissions (e.g. visa, vignette, BRP) but will still need to perform a document identity check at boarding
• Pilots, Operators and Agents can rely on the message from the Home Office to confirm permission – reducing liability/risk of error
• Pilots, Operators and Agents are provided with confirmation of whether a passenger has met requirements in advance of travel, or what action they need to take
• Introduced the ability for Pilots, Operators and Agents to detect fraudulent permissions

Next Steps:

1. General Aviation Engagement Event – Autumn 2023
2. sGAR Testing Begins – October 2023
3. sGAR Go Live with UPT functionality – November 2023

The Home Office will be holding our next series of UPT engagement in Autumn 2023 and will provide further information on the changes being introduced to sGAR. Pilots, operators and agents will have the opportunity to ask any further questions they may have prior and during the engagements sessions

Registration will be free for the General Aviation event. Details on how to register through Eventbrite will be published.

These changes will clearly impact flights to and from the UK, with Pilots, Operators and Agents being responsible for compliance. AOPA would encourage any Pilot who does travel abroad and will be affected to attend any engagement event offered. We would also like to hear any members views on these changes - email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Published: 30 August 2023

CAA: Update on Daventry CTA 6 Airspace Amendment

After a comprehensive review, the UK Civil Aviation Authority is withdrawing its proposal to amend the base level of Daventry Control Area (CTA) 6 airspace due to safety concerns identified through analysis with NATS En-Route Plc (NERL). 

The CAA had proposed to raise the lower limit of Daventry CTA 6 by 2000 feet vertically from FL65 to FL85, in line with our findings that the base levels of Daventry CTA 6 appear to be used infrequently. The proposal did not include any changes to the amount of CAS above FL85.

By raising the lower limit of CTA 6 the base of this volume of airspace would then be aligned to the lower limit of the adjacent airspace volume: Daventry CTA 14. It was, therefore, further proposed that for simplification both areas be combined into a single block of airspace as the defining limits would have been identical for both CTAs (FL85 to FL195).

From the CAA Report:

The full report and more information on this decision can be found on the CAA website.

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Published: 27 August 2023

Belgium: Frequency monitoring code (FMC) 5101 from 7 September 2023

Belgium are introducing a single frequecny monitoring code (FMC) from 7 Septmeber 2023 for any pilot of mode S equipped aircraft within the Belgian FIR (Luxembourg excluded) in Class G airspace and not requesting flight information service, but willing to keep situational awareness of what’s happening on the frequency while being reachable.

Pilots are encouraged to use a FMC when they are flying outside controlled airspace, (e.g. below Brussels TMA), in order to increase situational awareness and help to avoid infringements.

The transponder code will be displayed on the situation display, implying the pilot is monitoring the FIC frequency and can then hear transmissions. There is no requirement for the pilot to contact the FISO when the FMC is selected, however, it is important that the pilot reverts to the conspicuity code when leaving the Belgian FIR ( Luxembourg excluded ) or changing frequency/intentions.

FMC can reduce cockpit workload, allowing the pilot to concentrate on the ‘aviate and navigate’ job which also reduces the FISO’s workload. It also provides reassurance to the pilot that in the event of an emergency, a call to the FIS unit can be made immediately.

In the event of a pilot likely to infringe controlled airspace the FMC permits the FISO to conduct a ‘blind transmission’ with the knowledge that the pilot is ‘listening-out’. In addition, aircraft equipped with mode S transponder allow the use of the call-sign in the blind transmission, leading to a much faster resolution. The use of a FMC does not replace contacting the local ATS unit when required and appropriate, but it is a good alternative when flying in uncontrolled airspace.

A squawk does not imply that a pilot is receiving an air traffic service, nor that they are cleared to enter controlled airspace.

Full information can be downloaded here.

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Published: 23 August 2023

uAvionics: Report on Trial of ADS-B Obstruction Beacons on 978Mhz UAT

The CAA’s Airspace Modernisation Strategy calls out a requirement for electronic Obstruction Beacons.

This report documents a trial of these beacons operating on 978MHz UAT ADS-B from the point of view of the operator and other airspace users. The trial was undertaken at 13 glider winch launch sites, hang-gliding/paragliding sites and model flying sites.

Feedback was gathered verbally, by email and via an online feedback form from beacon operators and pilots and also from two post-trial online review meetings with beacon operators. 978MHz UAT is not currently in general use in the UK so familiarity with UAT is low. The number of aircraft equipped/configured to receive 978MHz UAT ADS-B broadcasts is limited. Going into the trial it was recognised these facts would influence the trial in terms of the general level of readiness to receive beacon broadcast data. Therefore, the main focus of the Trial was on the transmission side; on the setup and use of the beacons and proving that the beacons do function as intended.

The operational period of the trial ran for 12½ weeks, from 10th September 2022. All 13 beacons were used whenever weather conditions permitted site flying activities. Although the time of year was not ideal - this was outside of the project’s control - data was successfully gathered showing examples of effective reception of broadcasts from beacons and presentation of obstacles to GA pilots on Electronic Flight Book (EFB) systems. Having been planned to run for two months, CAA requested a one month extension to the operational period of the trial, which continued until 30th November 2022.

Read the full report here.

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Published: 23 August 2023

Airspace Change Proposal ACP-2023-015: Newcastle and Northumbria Area (UAS)

Apian is a medical logistics company, focusing on the use of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) to deliver faster, smarter and greener healthcare. Founded by a team of NHS doctors and ex-Googlers, we are building products and platforms that connect the healthcare industry with the drone industry to improve patients’ health outcomes and staff well-being.

Apian, in conjunction with the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust are looking to conduct feasibility flights using UAS between hospitals in Northumbria for the distribution of medical payloads such as chemotherapy drugs, urgent medical supplies and patient samples.

Operations will be conducted between 12 Feb 24 - 12 Aug 24. The UAS will operate between Seaton/Wansbeck/Hexham/Haltwhistle with the operation conducted in a Trial Temporary Danger Area (TDA). Apian has begun the airspace change request (ACP-2023-015) to establish the Trial TDA. A map of the proposed Trial TDA, together with other information, can be found below:

AOPA are a stakeholder in this ACP and would like to include input from users of the affected airspace. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any points to raise in respect of this ACP by 15 September 2023.

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Published: 23 August 2023

IAOPA - ICAO Report July 2023

The International Council of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Associations (IAOPA) is the only GA Association to have a seat at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). This is important as the agreed Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) issued by ICAO form the basis of international civil aviation regulation. 

Below is a summary of the meetings and activities held in July to give you a sense of the aviation discussions occupying IAOPA and various working groups at ICAO:

• Pilot Training and Licensing Panel’s Pilot Sub Group met to plan PTLP/4 Plenary Agenda;
• Mental Health Working Group met to discuss antidepressant use and their side-effects, and how various States’ regulations vary;  antidepressant use has increased 147% 2000-2020; about 12% of a population suffers depression;
  
• Safe Carriage of Goods Specific Working Group met to develop safeguards further.
  
• The Runway Classification group met to define an instrument runway.
  
• The Licensing and Training sub-group discussed the effect of Flying Schools to be able to employ Flying Instructors with only a PPL to teach ab-initio students to the PPL level. IAOPA participates in the Pilot Licensing and Training Working Group (PTLP-WG) to develop a Job Card for the ICAO Air Navigation Commission to approve.  That is the first step toward creating a change of the ICAO Annex 1 training environment Standard.

The proposals will be on the PTLP agenda for the November 2023 Plenary meeting. If the proposed actions are approved then the ICAO rulemaking process kicks in and a rule change could be in effect as soon as 3 years after that.

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Published: 23 August 2023

Reminder: Runway Excursions

Summer 2023 flying season is well underway, however when flying or operating please remember to appropriately plan for the departing and arriving phase of flight.

Please see some helpful advice and guidance below that we would encourage you to review.

• SSL: Aerodrome sense
• Clued Up: Unstable Approaches
• Clued Up: Rejected Take Offs
• Trim runaways
• Take off decisions - go or no go? - CAA Safety files
• CAP1950 GA Landing Issues
• Arrivals, departures and RT — Astral Aviation Consulting