9 January 2014
The CAA has announced that the head of the its new General Aviation unit will be Tony Rapson (pictured), a former Royal Air Force Group Captain, air traffic controller and aviation policy expert.
The announcement states, ‘Tony Rapson is currently seconded from the CAA to the Department for Transport (DfT) as the UK’s policy lead for the implementation of the Single European Sky legislation. Following a 27 year career in the RAF, including tours in the Ministry of Defence, Air Command Headquarters and as Officer Commanding the London Air Traffic Control Centre (Military), he joined the CAA as an airspace policy expert in 2008. He was instrumental in the development of the Future Airspace Strategy, in the context of the Single European Sky, before moving to the DfT in 2012 to lead negotiations with the European Commission on this complex and sensitive subject at an economic and politically challenging time.’
The announcement continued, ‘The General Aviation Unit was established by the CAA following the Government’s Red Tape Challenge consultation into how the CAA regulates the GA sector. The unit will be dedicated to a more proportionate, effective, regulation that supports and encourages a dynamic general aviation sector for the UK. The unit will be operational by April 2014, but Tony Rapson will return full time to the CAA this month.’
The CAA added that Rob Bishton, a senior airline executive, will take over as Head of the CAA’s Flight Operations department.
Bishton joins the CAA from Fastjet Plc, where he is the Group Operations Director. He had previously enjoyed several prominent positions with easyJet, including Head of Flight and Aircraft Operations and Chief Pilot, and Astraeus Airlines as Director of Flight Operations and Flight Training Manager. Rob is still a current A320 and B737 captain and instructor and was formerly type rated on B757s and 767s. He has also held helicopter type ratings.
Speaking about both appointments Mark Swan, Director of the CAA’s Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, said, “I am delighted that we have two such high calibre individuals joining our team. Rob and Tony bring a wealth of relevant knowledge and experience to the CAA which will prove invaluable to the organisation. I am very confident that the aviation industry will benefit from their dedication and focus.”
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