New Aviation Minister says DfT will ‘champion’ General Aviation

The new Aviation Minister, Paul Maynard MP, has said the Department for Transport (DfT) is “committed to championing aviation, including GA”.

Maynard said, “This department is considering a wide range of policy options… which will support GA.” He said he looked forward to making “rapid progress” on this agenda.

His comments came in a response to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on General Aviation (APPG-GA), in which they outlined their priorities for General Aviation policy in the short term.

The APPG highlighted a five-point plan starting with taking measures to improve airfield protection and to urgently undertake a programme of airspace reform.

The APPG-GA also encouraged Government to look at increasing the regulatory flexibility for GA and lower the level of taxation which GA is subject to, especially on pilot training.

Lastly, the APPG called on the Government to expedite the process of creating GNSS approaches to GA airfields.

The new Aviation Minister also said that he recognised “the benefits to young people of piloting unmanned aircraft”, pledging to look “closely” at policies to encourage the drone and model flying communities.

Sir Roger Gale MP, President of the APPG-GA, said, “As a group of parliamentarians, we feel urgent policy decisions need to be made in these five key problem areas for General Aviation if the industry is to grow to its full potential.

“We look forward to working with the new Secretary of State and new Aviation Minister to make these aspirations a reality in the coming months.”

All-Party Parliamentary Group on General Aviation