The UK government intends to appoint a General Aviation Airfield Champion to be the ‘eyes and ears’ for ministers, the Aviation Minister Lord Callanan revealed at a conference titled ‘The Future of UK Airfields’ today (Tuesday).
The conference was staged by the Royal Aeronautical Society at its London HQ. The minister also said, “We want the UK to be home to the best General Aviation sector in the world.”
The appointment of the GA champion is ‘imminent’ and a key priority for the Department for Transport is to preserve the benefits of the UK GA sector.
7 comments
Hmmm. These are warm words we’ve heard many times, but it’s hard to see any real concrete action to deliver the UK being the best place in the world for GA.
wonder what will take priority…airfields or more so-called ‘garden villages’…aka urban sprawl? call me cynical …
Just get rid of the “brown field” definition of airfields, bequeathed to us by that champion of GA, John Prescott. MP. Merchant Navy.
That single move will keep the majority of the hawk developers at bay and permit an opportunity for long term investment without fear.
Flown into Turweston lately ? Fantastic what can be done.
Coming from the Aviation Minister that is very heartening but they are but words. Action is called for and soon if we are to retain a reasonable number of GA airfields. His further comment that “We want the UK to be home to the best General Aviation sector in the world.” needs more than an “Airfield Champion” we desperately need a champion for thw whole of GA including especially the UK Air Display Industry which is suffering at present with a draconian level of charges and some regulatory changes that really impact the ‘grass roots’ of the industry.
Several years on I notice little has been done with regards to lowering or removing excessive mandatory handling fees at the larger aerodromes.
Well it’s not negative…… another step (potentially) in the right direction. Red Tape Challenge; wider LARS coverage (free) etc. Get onto your MP, political activists (Local Elections in May) and ask what it will/is intended to achieve.
Support and encourage. Negativity never achieved anything. Positive support can…..
Stop taking our eyes out in fuel taxes etc and we may be in with a chance