Good News from France.

J.C. · Post by **J.C.** » Wed Sep 08, 2010 7:22 am

As a result of the campaign to get a blanket exemption for factory built LAA aircraft to attend fly in at St.Omer this coming weekend,The DGAC have issued (as of last night) new paperwork exempting ALL LAA aircraft for the whole of France permenantly!
This follows earlier discussions, where the French said this was their intention.In view of the request for St.Omer, they have pulled out the stops and made it a general exemption!
Well done them!
All registered pilots for the flyin will receive an email today to that effect.
Meanwhile I have forwarded an e mail to Roger Hopkinson via Brian Hope to this effect , following this mornings email.

Nigel Hitchman · Post by **Nigel Hitchman** » Wed Sep 08, 2010 10:28 am

Great News John, thanks for all your hard work on this, as well as the hard work by Roger Hopkinson and team on this matter.

Now please can you start on the Belgians!! Blanket exemption for all LAA permit aircraft with no charge!

hope you have a great fly-in at St. Omer

Brian Hope · Post by **Brian Hope** » Wed Sep 08, 2010 12:38 pm

Hi all, just a short note of caution. The letter as sent by DGAC to St Omer Aeroclub does leave a bit of a question mark over some LAA types (ex military types for instance, and types that still have a Type Certificate holder - Piper Cubs and Taylorcraft for example), though certainly Jodels can nip over to St Omer this weekend. It is a matter of the wording, which hopefully will be resolved very quickly. Until LAA (Roger) has the letter with the wording as he and Barry Plumb have been negotiating with DGAC in his hand please exercise caution in deciding that the entire problem has been resolved.

bertdeleporte · Post by **bertdeleporte** » Wed Sep 08, 2010 2:38 pm

The warmest congratulations for the job to all contributors.

DGAC seems a little bit opened now than a few years ago, very good news for GA in France and in Europe indeed.

Bertrand (French flyer, who can appreciate the effort for the discussion with DGAC!!!)

johnkempton · Post by **johnkempton** » Wed Sep 15, 2010 9:51 am

Looking good - Well done

Could the LAA 'strike while the iron is hot' and try for the same exemption to the other countries in Europe who ban factory built aircraft from free access

John Kempton

merlin · Post by **merlin** » Wed Sep 15, 2010 1:11 pm

Free access to European airspace is to be welcomed, however it is a great pity that the CAA does not allow free access to UK airspace to all.

J.C. · Post by **J.C.** » Wed Sep 15, 2010 2:48 pm

This is an ongoing process and once everything is set in stone the next step is to go to the CAA for reciprocal arrangements.

Brian Hope · Post by **Brian Hope** » Thu Sep 16, 2010 4:44 am

John, Merlin, free access to UK is now available subject to certain conditions. The main one is that a list of info is required with first communication. If that list is filed correctly then no charge will be made but if it isn't and a CAA person has to become involved seking the correct info then a £61 charge is made. I will detail info in next mag and also send a press release to the major European associations at the same time.

Ian Melville · Post by **Ian Melville** » Thu Sep 16, 2010 8:47 am

Brian (and Penny)
Can I suggest a template application on this website so that our friends in the EU are assured of avoiding the charge?

Brian Hope · Post by **Brian Hope** » Thu Sep 16, 2010 6:26 pm

Yes Ian, good idea. When I get it done for the mag I'll ask Penny to get it onto the website.