Falcon109: Thanks for posting. I enjoy news and reviews of airshows in Europe. Some of the most enjoyable displays I have flown were in Germany at places like Schamader, Dornsode, Hodenhagen, Osnabruck and Zwickau. Happy times indeed with memories of great pilots like Manfred Strossenreuther and the Eichorn family.
On a serious note, have you any information on how the “Tante Ju’s” are coping with the hugely increased EU liability insurance requirements for heavy “heritage” aircraft?
Cheers,
Trapper 69

STOP PRESS

B-17 Flypast at Madingley cancelled
Eurocharges keep Sally B grounded

It is with the greatest regret that in the absence to date of an exemption to the European regulation that puts the B-17 into the weight category of an airliner, boosting its insurance by an unaffordable 500 per cent, it will not be possible for Sally B to participate in the official Memorial Day flypast over Madingley

For the past thirty years, this has been this B-17’s most important and poignant annual engagement, carried out in honour of the 79,000 Allied airmen who lost their lives fighting for our freedom in the Second World War.

We are devastated not to be able to pay tribute to all those young men, especially in this 60th Anniversary of the end of the War. The idea that the aircraft that flew to liberate Europe and now flies in honour of all those young men who gave their lives for that cause, should be put out of action by the very people who owe their freedom to its existence, simply beggars belief.

We remain hopeful that a way can be found through this illogical and unjust law, so that Sally B’s 30th Anniversary season in this country might not be her last.
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It is so sad that this memorial flypast cannot take place.
Cheers,
Trapper 69

How on earth “Sally B” survived the Bullock era God only knows. However on that day it might well have been another pilot since Don would almost certainly have been flying the Invader.
I share your thoughts on the state of the UK these days and also on the pleasure I too get from the forum.
Cheers,
Trapper 69

The problem of insurance under the new EU rules for the heavier “heritage” aircraft such as “Sally B” is attracting support from MEP’s in terms of alleviating the huge additional premium cost with no added value.

Release time: Immediate, Date: 25 May 2005, Issued by: Sir Robert Atkins MEP, Tel: +32 (0)2 284 5373

MEP campaigns to avert grounding of Memphis Belle plane

BRUSSELS, 25 May 2005 — The famous ‘Sally B’ war plane, the only World War II B17 bomber in flying condition and the star of blockbuster film Memphis Belle, faces a dishonourable discharge thanks to a new EU Directive that has sent the plane’s insurance bill soaring.

The Rt. Hon Sir Robert Atkins MEP, Deputy Leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament and a member of the Parliament’s Transport Committee, has taken up the case of the ‘Sally B’ with the European Commission.

Sir Robert said:

“I have already discussed the situation with Sir Roy McNulty, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority, and as a result of his advice, have tabled an urgent Parliamentary Question to Transport Commissioner Barrot.”

“It appears that no-one spotted this flaw in the Directive when it passed through the Commission, Parliament and the Council of Ministers and unless it is rectified as soon as possible, vintage aircraft like the ‘Sally B’ will never fly again because of prohibitive insurance costs.”

“I want the Commission to return the specific insurance requirements of these popular veteran aeroplanes to the Regulatory Agencies in Member States – in Britain’s case, the Civil Aviation Authority. That way, minimal usage will only require minimal insurance, just like for veteran and vintage motor vehicles.”

You could help the campaign hugely by contacting your own regional MEP’s for your area and asking them to support this effort by Sir Robert and others in the EU parliament. In my opinion this is not a matter to divide on party political grounds. It is simply something that was missed in the drafting of the EU regulation.

Cheers,

Trapper 69

Janie,
As requested. We may be making progress. You could all lobby your own MP to add his or her name to the EDM. After all your vote, or otherwise, got them the position of MP for your constituency so they owe you one.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
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EDM 141

B17 FLYING FORTRESS AND GENERAL AVIATION CHARGES. 18.05.2005

Howarth, Gerald supported by 7 signatures of other MP’s as follows –
Dismore, Andrew Duncan, Alan Loughton, Tim
Opik, Lembit Penning, Michael Waterson, Nigel

That this House, recognising that air shows are the UK’s second most popular outdoor spectator activity, greatly regrets that the B17 Flying Fortress was forced to withdraw from the VE day celebrations owing to a £25,000 increase in its insurance costs, resulting from new EU regulations; notes with concern the threat to air displays and the operation of historic aircraft posed by a new charging regime to be introduced by the Civil Aviation Authority; and calls on the authorities to reconsider these increased charges in the interests of ensuring that general and sporting aviation in the UK continues to flourish and inspire a new generation.

Hello there,
Thought you might like to see what was said in the House of Commons yesterday. It all helps the campaign.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
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Extracts from Hansard – Tuesday 24 May –

Gerald Howarth (Aldershot, Con)

My third point relates to my principal passion outside politics, which is aviating. I have held a pilot’s licence since I was 17, and I am very proud to represent the birthplace of British aviation, Farnborough. Sadly, the Gracious Speech does not refer to any form of aviation. On 16 October 2008, which is within the probable lifetime of this Parliament, we shall celebrate the centenary of Samuel Cody’s first sustained flight from Laffan’s plain, Farnborough. Britain remains to this day a world leader in aerospace, and the movers and shakers in that business were invariably captivated from their earliest years by the magic of flight.

Today, general aviation faces a range of threats. As early-day motion 141 and the letter in yesterday’s The Daily Telegraph, which was signed by such legendary figures as Neville Duke and Raymond Baxter, testify, the wonderfully evocative vintage aircraft “Sally B”, the B-17 immortalised in the film “Memphis Belle”, is grounded thanks to new EU regulations, which demand that it be insured as if it were a passenger-carrying Boeing 737. How ironic that an aircraft that contributed to the liberation of Europe should be taken out of the sky by European bureaucrats. I hope that the EU will see the error of its ways and enable the B-17 to participate in the combined 60th anniversary VE-day/VJ-day celebrations on 10 July.

Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire, LDem)

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that that example is typical of the kind of stresses faced by general aviation in the United Kingdom? This country should be a centre of global excellence for training tomorrow’s pilots, but we face some serious legal restrictions. Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the Government should listen to existing aviators and try to change that dangerous and negative trend?

Gerald Howarth (Aldershot, Con)

The hon. Gentleman is right. We are making common cause because, as he has said, the Civil Aviation Authority, otherwise known as the “Campaign Against Aviation”, is about to publish a new policy on charging for its inspection and licensing functions, the effect of which threatens to increase general aviation’s costs by up to 170 per cent. I understand that British Airways and Monarch Airlines are driving that policy, because they want to see transparency of charging by the CAA. Today, I will do little more than serve notice that I intend to mount a vigorous challenge to that attempt to inflict severe damage on general aviation. I am delighted to be joined by my fellow aviator of 17 years standing, my aviating friend, the hon. Member for Montgomeryshire (Lembit Öpik), and we hope that Government Members will join us.

The CAA is due to publish its proposals on 10 June, but we expect the victims to include those who organise air shows, because members of the Air Display Association Europe, of which I have the privilege of being president, could be put out of business by the vastly increased costs. British Airways and other airlines draw some 70 per cent. of their aircrew from the pool of those who have learned to fly by paying their own way or obtaining sponsorship from the Air League or the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators.

The airlines are apparently seeking to transfer about £1.5 million of CAA costs to general aviation, which is less than British Airways paid a few years ago to have absurd, politically correct graffiti, over which my noble Friend Baroness Thatcher put her handkerchief, painted on the tail fins of its aircraft. It is simply galling that an organisation which has just reported annual profits of £540 is intent upon inflicting such damage on general and sporting aviation. We—this includes me and the hon. Member for Montgomeryshire—pay about £5 million in VAT on the fuel that we consume as private aviators. British Airways pays no VAT on fuel or tickets, so we more than pay our way—I hope that Mr. Rod Eddington notes that point before he returns to Australia.

The issue is not confined to those of us who engage in recreational and sporting aviation. Air displays are the nation’s second largest outdoor spectator sport, attracting 6.5 million people according to the 2002 figures. I hope that hon. Members will take the time to visit their local airfields, to attend an air display, to sign early-day motion 141 and to support me, the hon. Member for Montgomeryshire and some clandestine operators on the Government Benches in our attempt to resolve the matter.

For open cockpits I do prefer RAF new pattern black leather calf length flying boots plus, in winter, RAF loop pile long socks. Generally, in all but the coldest weather, I have found Reebok ankle length black leather upper and rubber soled trainers to be the best compromise of comfort, lightness and sensitivity. Pricey but well worth it.
Cheers,
Trapper 69

It looks as though the French have even more problems than we have in the UK with regard to airshows and our “heritage” aircraft – especially warbirds.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
😡 😡 😡
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VINTAGE AVIATION AND AIRSHOWS ARE UNDER THREAT IN FRANCE.

Although 60th anniversary of the end of WWII is celebrated everywhere in Europe, new rules threaten French vintage aviation and airshows. There are three problems that threaten vintage aviation and airshows in France.

1°- NEW FEES TO BE PAID BY AIRSHOW ORGANISERS TO THE DGAC.

French Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile (DGAC) (French Civil Aviation Authority) just released a project called « redevance de la manifestation aérienne » . It is a new fee to be paid soon by airshow organisers to the DGAC, according to DGAC rule R. 131-3 which delivers clearance to organise an airshow in France. Under this rule, a new “article 20” states prices to be paid by an airshow organiser so that he can get that clearance. A medium size event would have to pay around 10.000 Euros, and a big event would have a 20.000 Euros fee.

Even if there still are talks around the definite prices, everyone must know that airshows had nothing to pay before that rule. In France no airshow organiser makes enough benefits so that he would be able to pay such prices !

So “article 20” is a major blow to the French airscene, as most private and vintage aircraft airshows would not be able to pay, and so they would die. As an example, May 14th and 15th 2005 Ferté-Alais airshow may have been the last one ever. A call to the public and to official VIPs was also launched by airshow speaker Bernard Chabbert.

2°- NEW LAW IN FRANCE (2003-239) THAT PUTS VINTAGE AIRCRAFT INTO SECOND CATEGORY WEAPONS

In the beginning of 2003, a new law to enhance security against crime and terrorism was voted in France. This law is n°2003-239 – March 18th 2003. It banned all “second category” weapons (French legislation). But unfortunately former military aircraft were included in these “second category” weapons, because the law was badly written… So even a WWII or a WWI vintage aircraft would have been considered as a prohibited weapon…

However aircraft collectors in France obtained a modification in the law text, so that they would be allowed to keep and buy vintage aircraft. But this specific application on the law is still not voted by parliament, and we are still waiting. So two years later things are not definitely secured, and a representative of the Ministry of Defense even told that he did not see any reason or text that would allow warbirds not to be declared as “second category” weapons. The fight is going on to Keep warbirds flying, as a new law for National Defense under study by the government is also feared by aircraft collectors. ..

3°- EUROPEAN REGULATION EU785/2004
The details are included in this newsletter. The same problem is faced by B-17 “Forteresse toujours volante”. Of course this regulation may ground large aircraft such as B-17 “Forteresse toujours volante”, C-47s, and Dassault Flamants.

Official organisations involved with private aviation and airshows in France are fighting against these three threats to airshows and warbirds. I would recommend that EAC members contact these organisations in France so as to study common solutions to solve their problems :

1°- RSA France

Mme Catherine Dartois – Présidente RSA
46 rue Sauffroy
75017 PARIS
FRANCE

Tel. +33 (1) 42 28 25 54
Fax. +33 (1) 42 29 86 53
Mail . [email]info@rsafrance.com[/email]
Website : http://www.rsafrance.com

2°- AOPA France

M. Patrick Charrier – Président AOPA
Bâtiment Paul Bert
93350 Aéroport Le Bourget
FRANCE

Tel. +33 (1) 48 35 92 94
Fax. +33 (1) 48 35 96 40
Mail. [email]AOPAfr@aol.com[/email]
Website : http://www.aopa-fr.org

3°- Fédération Française Aéronautique
M. Jean-Claude Roussel – Président FFA
155, avenue de Wagram
75017 Paris
France

Tel . +33 (1) 44 29 92 00
Fax. +33 (1) 44 29 92 01
Mail. [email]contact@ff-aero.fr[/email]
Website : http://www.ff-aero.fr

François Brévot –European Airshow Council – Honorary Press Officer.