Standardised European Rules of the Air

[John Brady]

Yes folks it's another one.

This time from Eurocontrol who have drafted a set of Rules of the Air that would replace all the national rules within the Union. These are based largely on the ICAO rules but with some significant additions. The requirement for flight plans is is expanded (written by Eurocontrol so you might expect that) and there are all sorts of other stuff that make the things that are normal at big airports mandatory everywhere. Like illuminating your aeroplane when it is parked at night and filing a flight plan if you want an ATC service such as clearance to taxi for a VFR flight! As the national differences would be removed, the CAA would have no opportunity to vary the rules for us. We know the CAA are very unhappy about the proposal.

I have put some stuff for you on the consultation pages - follow the link on the left sidebar. The deadline is 12 April.

Have fun...........

John

[mikeblyth]

Have fun!!. After trying to read what seems to be another committee document I gave up. This would seem to be directed at commercial operations and not the sport flyer, and what gives them the right to change the rules.

Mike

[John Brady]

What gives them (ie Eurocontrol acting on instructions from the European Parliament) the right is that they are the government and the people we elect to Westminster don't have much authority any more. So we have to do what we can to bring some sense to this.

Of the 27000 or so aircraft on the UK register only about 1000 are airliners so we (GA) are 96% of aircraft.
If we assume there are 2 pilots per GA aircraft and about 14 per airliner GA has 78% of pilots.
The average airliner landing in the UK carries 100 people. The average GA aircraft carries about 1.5 so we have 28% of the seat capacity in the UK.
There is no reason to think the figures across the union are different.

But Eurocontrol decided to exclude any input from our sector when it drew up these rules. So we have an uphill struggle but that is no reason to give up. If I might paraphrase an eminent Briton:

"I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm and outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone.

We shall go on to the end,
we shall fight on the seas and oceans,
we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be,
we shall fight on the beaches,
we shall fight on the landing grounds,
we shall fight in the fields and in the streets,
we shall fight in the hills;
we shall never surrender....."

Are you with us?

[Dennis Turner]

I shall follow the French, it the rules come into being, and IGNORE them

[Bill Scott]

I'm with Dennis

[Chris B]

John,

The number of registrations on which you have built your argument seems out of date. According to April's Pilot, "the annual CAA statistics show that the Register declined in total last year by 268, something not seen for 15 years...

...and the healthy sounding overall total of 21,063 registrations falls to 14,110 with valid certificates."

The Pilot article does not break down the 7k without valid certificates - but the majority could be unfinished projects of one sort or another - BMAA/LAA etc.

What about the 500 - 1000? UK GA a/c that are used for business around Europe, either on an AoC or privately. Most of these flights use airways/Eurocontrol but many flights are VFR, particularly piston twins.

It would be useful if you could explain how or why EAS and EFLEVA were unable to influence this work at the outset and what they are doing about it now. I wonder how an individual can make a difference if our established representative bodies in the UK and Europe can't??

Is this a last ditch attempt or a storm in a tea cup?

Regards,

Chris

[Harry Hopkins]

Come on guys. If I was John I'd be thinking `Why am I spending my time trying to save these guys from European bureaucracy when all they can do is suggest we put our heads in the sand or blame someone else for not doing it for us.'

EFLEVA is made up of associations like ours and they all need their members to respond if this madness is to be defeated.

Similarly, European Air Sports is a body made up of representatives of sporting aviation; it doesn't have a staff to do it for us and its voice alone wouldn't carry the weight of all of us shouting out against the proposals.

John needs help from us, not discouragement.

Harry Hopkins

[John Brady]

Thanks Harry you are most kind as always.

First for Dennis and Bill; you can ignore the law as set out in rules of the air if you wish but that is probably not a good basis for policy or life in general.

As for the French, they tend to ignore European rules at a national level so these sorts of things don't get written into French law and citizens can go about their lawful occasions without issue.

In the UK the laws will be written with great diligence. Probably in Germany and elsewhere too.

Chris; as to data I do not recognise your figures but use as my basis the Strategic Review of GA which you can download here. This set out the size, shape and value of GA. I keep a copy on my desk and use it often as it is an excellent source. The passenger figures are from 2009 CAA statistics and the sums are mine.

Of course much of GA does not have "certificates" such as the 7000 hang gliders and paragliders, all of whom are part of GA and all of whom must obey the rules of the air (except Dennis and Bill of course)

If you think we should use different data, please set it out for me but I don't have time to do much original research on this.

On EAS which we fund through the RAeC: they were specifically excluded from the initial part of the work by Eurocontrol. I am afraid that this is a technique that is used sometimes to make life managable (ie easier) for the rule makers.

Then we either work together (us and the other associations and EAS who are working hard on this) or we give in. Oh and EFLEVA are working on it as well - I discussed it with Barry Plumb (who is drafting for them) this very lunchtime just as I was emerging from my respirator having primed the insides of 2 wings - glad that is over!

Your choice on this folks - argue your corner or roll over and take what is coming but f you do that please don't whinge later.

John

[Bill Scott]

Well, I'm glad to see that the discussion has been brought to life

I've had a read of Johns responses and am staggered at the proposals from the Eurocontrol folks. There can only be two reasons:
1. They know nowt about aviation
2. It is about control in the totalitarian sense
I suspect the latter and share Johns concerns about our administrators here in the UK. I say administrators as government is no longer appropriate since we have become a region in the European Fascist state.

Pardon my cynicism, but maybe the undue burden on ATC is intended? That might explain the desire to get us all to have Mode S and be able to charge per flight. It is no more extreme than the current Ofcom proposal to charge us an arm and a leg for thin air!

Any organistaion charged with overseeing aviation safety regulation that seeks to create laws that prevent sensible practices such as PFLs has to be run by incompetent fools or has a sinister agenda.

Frankly, I suspect that individual responses are likely to be treated with derision in the manner seen when we objected to Norwich District Airstrip trying to grab more airspace than is needed by Stansted. When do we get a decision on that daft idea?

Nonetheless, I will read the proposals and concoct a reply.

Also, regarding the security directive: I'm waiting for the dry weather and will then start digging the trenches for our gun emplacements at Priory Farm. Incidentally, we hope to have the usual Fathers Day fly-in again this year but you will need PPr in writing, flight plan, 5 minute arrival and departure slot, aircraft will be searched by SB for stowaways and pyrotechnics, paperz vill be inspechted.

[Dave Hall]

I just assumed it was an April 1st spoof, but you guys seem to be discussing it too much for that - guess I'd better take a look too, though it probably won't change anything except my blood pressure.

[John Brady]

Bill,

you asked when we get a decision on Norwich. Having reviewed the responses, Norwith Airport invited the LAA to visit them to discuss their revised proposal. We said before agreeing to incur yet more expense we would like to know how the proposal had changed but in their reply Norwich avoided answering the question. We therefore said we would not go to Norwich on that basis but if they wanted to come to us they could.

They phoned last week and are looking at a date in May to visit the LAA and BGA to set out their stall. We shall see.................

John

[Trevor Lyons]

I suspect the latter and share Johns concerns about our administrators here in the UK. I say administrators as government is no longer appropriate since we have become a region in the European Fascist state.

Fascist State? A bit of absurd Daily Mail middle-Englandism rears its nasty head!

Try not to forget that the EU has prevented the regular invasions of France by Germany that happened three times between 1870 & 1945; and that since 1957 there have been no wars between EU members, and that our lives have not been blighted by war and bereavement in the way that our parents' lives were. Don't forget that that we can not merely cross EU borders (except our own) without the need for passports; and that we have the right to travel and live and work and run businesses in every EU state.

The EU legislative process is cumbersome and labyrinthine; but Brussels does not have the absolute powers you suggest. Only the Commission can propose legislation; but if it doesn't get past the Council of Ministers, the proposals will come to nothing. And who makes up the Council of Ministers? Why, our very own democratically-elected UK ministers (and the ministers of every other EU State).

So there is scope for protest. Get your UK MP and your MEP to take action to prevent the Council of Ministers from rubber-stamping the proposals. There are fewer veto powers than there used to be (otherwise a Council of 27 Ministers might never reach a decision); but the fact remains that the EU is not and never will be a "Fascist State".

[Bill Scott]

Trevor,
"absurd Daily Mail middle-Englandism" Pah! I certainly don't read the Daily Mail. Middle England... Yep I guess that might be me, the pillock who never expects anything from the state but pays through the nose for those that do.

I don't need a lecture about european history as, unlike politicians, I appreciate the value of not forgetting these things. However, my grandparents generation fought six years of war to prevent our nation from being subjected too the will of a foreign power. My parents generation voted to enter a community of sovereign nations to prevent trade barriers and ensure a common future of shared prosperity. This alone ought to deter further wars.
The division of europe between East and West has actually been the greatest threat to peace since WW2 and I would contest that NATO had more influence in keeping the peace than the EU.
My view on constitutional matters is that the power of Parliamnet is ours. We choose who should exercise those powers on our behalf and every five years, take back those powers and re-allocate them by ballot. At no point have our counytrymen ceded those powers beyond these shore by ballot.
So, I will be interested to hear of any response from your MPs/MEPs to this matter. Particularly, I would be intereted to hear their views in light of what John says about this process:
"But Eurocontrol decided to exclude any input from our sector when it drew up these rules" Democracy at work ?
Perhaps you might share your views on the proposals ?

[John Brady]

Trevor,

your helpful post suggests a new front which we could use to argue in favour of our sport. However, I don't understand the structure and powers of the parliament nor how to influence it.

Would you be willing to research the subject and give us a system for taking our arguements to political level in Europe? We could then prepare briefing material and press our case much as we currently do at Wesminster.

Let me know what you think.

John

[Bill Scott]

Well, if our jousting produces such a positive outcome I shall be reetly chuffed. Democracy at the grass roots