General aviation news archive for September 2012

Six UK pilots are the latest graduates of a unique course aimed at providing pilots with the skills required to flight test light aircraft. Run jointly by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Light Aircraft Association (LAA), the latest course offered dedicated training to enable experienced AutoGyro pilots to be able to test and evaluate such aircraft. This is believed to be the first course to teach autogyro testing ever developed.

Two additional airports -- Exeter and Coventry -- have confirmed their involvement in this year's Visit ATC Day, an annual Airspace & Safety Initiative (ASI) event.

The Royal Aero Club Trust, as part of its Flying for Youth programme, has announced its 2013 Bursary Scheme for young people aged 16-21. In 2013 bursaries will include The President's Award (two awards, each worth up to £750); a The Peter Cruddas Foundation Scholarship worth up to £1,000; the Breitling Bursary worth up to £750; and the Bramson Bursary worth up to £500 -- as well as a number of other awards worth up to £500, each, offered to suitable candidates.

Cessna Aircraft Company today announced the first Cessna-owned Citation Service Center in the UK, located at Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield.

Classic Aviation organisation Chiltern Classic Flight has received CAA M3 approval for the Annex 11 aircraft which, combined with their CAA-registered training facility approval gained earlier in the year, allows them to not only restore and maintain classic/vintage aircraft, but also to train pilots to fly the aircraft.

The formal backing of a General Aviation Safety Strategy by the Management Board of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) was warmly welcomed by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), and EGAMA, the general aviation membership of the AeroSpace & Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD).

XH558 will take off in the afternoon this Saturday (29th September) for a three-hour sortie to commemorate Sixty Glorious Years of the Avro Vulcan as she makes a tour of various airports near to sites that played a significant part in their development or service life.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has begun issuing the new European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) pilot licences. The first licences, which will replace JAR and many older ‘national’ versions, were printed for the first time at the CAA’s Gatwick headquarters earlier today. The transition process to the new pan European format is expected to last five years.

Well, almost! In October Gareth Owens will be part of a team of pilots attempting to set a new Guinness world record, by flying a PA-28 flight simulator around the world in 10 days.

The Visit ATC Day will once again take place this Autumn, giving UK pilots the opportunity to view proceedings at Air Traffic Control units around the country. The Airspace & Safety Initiative (ASI) which helps co-ordinate the event has now released details of this year’s participating units. Pilots curious to see life from an air traffic controller’s perspective are encouraged to sign up for a tour of their nearest unit during October and November.