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06.07.10 – CAA publishes CAP793!

CAA publishes CAP793 – Safe Operating Practices at Unlicensed
Aerodromes, giving the guidance required to enable aerodrome
operators and operators to establish a safe auditable location from which to operate.

Please visit this link for the document: CAP 793

09.04.10 – Flying training from unlicensed aerodromes set to begin!

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced that flying training at unlicensed aerodromes will be allowed from Wednesday 14 April 2010. The change comes into force following the relevant amendments to the Air Navigation Order and the Rules of the Air Regulations by the Department for Transport. It will now be possible for fixed-wing aircraft up to 2,730kg Maximum Take-Off Mass (MTOM) and Helicopters and Gyroplanes up to 3,175kg MTOM to be used for flight training at unlicensed airfields. The CAA announced the intended change earlier this year.

The responsibility for ensuring an airfield is suitable for training will rest with flying instructors and aerodrome operators. To assist them the CAA will be revising its document, CAP428 Safety Standards at Unlicensed Aerodromes, to include guidance on how to assess whether an airfield is suitable for training.

The decision follows a recommendation from the UK General Aviation community, two public consultations, in 2006 and 2008, and an analysis of the safety record of flight training in the UK. This concluded that the requirement for an airfield to be licensed for the purpose of flying training with light aeroplanes and rotorcraft could be removed without a significant effect on safety.

The CAA had previously published a Letter of Intent, explaining the changes to the Air Navigation Order and the Rules of the Air. This elicited various questions from the flight training community and aerodrome managers, and the CAA has now published a supplementary letter explaining two additional measures to be taken in respect of the low flying provisions of the Rules of the Air.

06.04.10 – No change to ATZ requirements!

Training from Unlicensed Aerodromes and the applicability of an ATZ (Aerodrome Traffic Zone)

The Alteration to the ANO (Air Navigation Order) which will occur in April 2010 to allow certain training activity to be conducted from aerodromes that do not hold a CAA Aerodrome License, will not alter the criteria that apply to the ability to have an ATZ (Aerodrome Traffic Zone).

Any aerodrome may apply for an Aerodrome Traffic Zone (ATZ) to be allocated to provide a degree of protection for aircraft operating in the immediate vicinity of the aerodrome; ATZ dimensions are set out at Article 258 of the UK ANO. However, notwithstanding ANO amendment such as to allow flying training at unlicensed aerodromes, the level of ATC, AFIS or air/ground support that an aerodrome requires to support an ATZ remains unchanged (Rule 45). In respect of non-Government Aerodromes, the level of ATC, AFIS or air/ground support that an aerodrome requires to be considered for the establishment or retention of an ATZ will depend upon the site’s licensed status. Whereas a licensed aerodrome need only be served by a “means of two-way radio communication” (air/ground) to support an ATZ, an unlicensed aerodrome requires the support of an ATC or AFIS unit. The difference is associated with regulatory oversight. An unlicensed aerodrome and an unregulated ‘service’ (air/ground) would result in a lack of regulatory oversight to ensure that the airspace was being appropriately managed. In order to prevent such a situation an unlicensed aerodrome will need a minimum of AFIS for the establishment or maintenance of an ATZ to be considered. Unless supported by ATC or AFIS, an existing ATZ will necessarily be withdrawn on revocation of the aerodrome licence.

The need in the alteration of the ANO for either “the operator, or the commander of an aircraft to be satisfied on reasonable grounds that of an aerodrome has adequate facilities for the safe conduct of such flights” could be interpreted in implying that it should have adequate protection in terms of an “Aerodrome traffic zone”. In that case Rule 45 could well play a part in this alteration.

The interpretation of licensed as far as the aerodrome is concerned, also needs to be carefully considered, when this alteration is applied to existing licensed aerodromes that feel that they could take advantage of this alteration.
Rule 45 of the ANO 2010

02.04.10 – Amendment to ANO

Statutory Instruments

2010 No. 770

Civil Aviation

The Air Navigation (Amendment) Order 2010

Citation and commencement

1. This Order may be cited as the Air Navigation (Amendment) Order 2010 and comes into force on 14th April 2010.

Amendment of the Air Navigation Order 2009

2. The Air Navigation Order 2009(2) is amended as follows.

Requirements for aerodromes used for flying training and testing

3.—(1) In article 208(2), omit sub-paragraphs (c) and (d) and at the end of sub-paragraph (b) insert “or”.

(2) For article 208(3) substitute—

“(3) Subject to paragraph (5), article 207 applies to any helicopter or gyroplane flying on a flight which is a scheduled journey for the purpose of the public transport of passengers.

(3A) Subject to paragraph (5), article 207 applies to any helicopter or gyroplane of which the maximum total weight authorised is more than 3175kg flying on a flight—

(a) for the purpose of instruction in flying given to any person for the purpose of becoming qualified for the grant of a pilot’s licence or the inclusion of an aircraft rating, a night rating or a night qualification in a licence; or

(b) for the purpose of a flying test for the grant of a pilot’s licence or the inclusion of an aircraft rating, a night rating or a night qualification in a licence.”.

(3) After article 208 insert—

“Aerodromes – use for purposes of flying instruction and testing

208A.—(1) The operator of an aerodrome which is not a licensed aerodrome must not permit an aircraft flying or intended to fly for a purpose specified in paragraph (3) to take off from or land at the aerodrome unless satisfied on reasonable grounds that the aerodrome has adequate facilities for the safe conduct of such flights.

(2) The commander of an aircraft must not take off from or land at an aerodrome which is not a licensed aerodrome on a flight for a purpose specified in paragraph (3) unless satisfied on reasonable grounds that the aerodrome has adequate facilities for the safe conduct of such flights.

(3) A flight is for a purpose specified in this paragraph if it is for the purpose of—

(a) instruction in flying given to any person for the purpose of becoming qualified for the grant of a pilot’s licence or the inclusion of an aircraft rating, a night rating or a night qualification in a licence; or

(b) carrying out flying tests for the grant of a pilot’s licence or the inclusion of an aircraft rating, a night rating or a night qualification in a licence.”.

(4) In Section 1 of Part B of Schedule 13, after the entry relating to article 207 insert—

“208A(1) Aerodrome operator permitting flying training or testing at aerodrome without adequate facilities

208A(2) Commander conducting flying training or testing at aerodrome without adequate facilities.”

16.03.10 – UNNA Goes live
April 2010 sees the launch of the UNAA (UN licensed Aerodrome Association)