SkyboltI well remember doing a low pass at Emden en-route to a show in Sweden with Lindsey Walton’s Nord 1002 Pingouin in Luftwaffe markings as a Bf108 Taifun complete with swastikas on the fin. This at the request of ATC who were profuse in their thanks but offered the advice not to land in Germany with the tail markings. In case of an unscheduled diversion we carried two squares of black fablon to slap over the swastika immediately after landing. Lindsey once took it to a show at Essen and I do not recall if he covered up the swastikas on that occasion.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
SkyboltHere are the responses Lembit Opik MP got from the DfT –
Aircraft Transponders
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what exemptions he will be introducing to the mandatory installation of Mode 5 transponders in aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [193032]
Charlotte Atkins: Legislation to require the carriage of Mode S transponders in aircraft will be introduced in 2 phases. The first of these will take effect from 31*March 2005 and will apply only to aircraft with a take off mass of more than 5,700kgs and a maximum cruising true airspeed of more than 250 knots that fly under Instrument Flight Rules. This does not include the majority of General Aviation aircraft. Exemptions to the carriage requirements are permitted for certain technical reasons and for those aircraft that infrequently operate under Instrument Flight Rules. The full details*of the exemption criteria are available on the Eurocontrol website http://www.eurocontrol.int/mode***s.
The second phase of Mode S introduction is expected to take effect on 31*March 2008. The details of the widened mandate and the associated exemption policy have not yet been decided. The Civil Aviation Authority will conduct a wide-ranging consultation on these issues commencing next year.
Navigation Services
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans he has to charge aircraft flying under visual flight rules for aircraft navigation services; and if he will make a statement; [193031]
(2) what plans he has to provide non-commercial air traffic with air navigation services without charge; and if he will make a statement; [193033]
(3) what plans he has to impose Eurocontrol charges on aircraft with maximum take off weight below 2,000 kilograms; and if he will make a statement; [193035]
(4) what plans he has to impose Eurocontrol charges on (a) gliders, (b) microlight aircraft, (c) hangliders, (d) paragliders and (e) balloons; and if he will make a statement; [193036]
(5) what plans he has to charge for air navigation services in airspace classified as (a) E, (b) F and (c) G; and if he will make a statement. [193037]
Charlotte Atkins: The Single European Sky (SES) Regulations, which came into force on the 20*April 2004, require the development of a transparent common charging scheme for the recovery of the costs of air navigation services provided by the member states. One of the underlying principles of the charging scheme is that air navigation service costs should be recovered according to the ‘user pays’ principle, that is airspace users should pay for the services they use.
The current draft of the European Commission’s Implementing Rules on charging provides for member states to exempt certain categories of airspace users from the charges scheme. The costs for such an exemption would have to met by the state. The text has not been finalised so it impossible to make any decision on whether or not to grant exemptions.
Correspondence
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for***Transport on what date he responded to the communication from the Chief Executive of the Aircraft***Owners and Pilots Association UK, dated 22*September; and if he will make a statement. [193029]
Charlotte Atkins: Martin Robinson wrote to a Department for Transport official on the 22*September 2004. Department for Transport officials met with him on 5*October to discuss the issues raised by his letter and responded to the communication on 13*October 2004.
Its all happening and further pressure is being applied. Why not do YOUR bit to assist.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
SkyboltI remember choosing “The Big Show” as a school subject prize in the early 1950’s and to balance the picture chose “I flew for the Fuhrer” as my second prize. My headmaster was not pleased, called me in for a stern lecture on the need to pick scholastic tomes, but failed totally and I was immensely pleased to get my choices. A pair of good books then and now.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
SkyboltLiving in the village of Kings Cliffe, around a couple of miles from the WW2 home of the 20th Fighter Group, I am so sorry to learn of Jack Ilfreys death. He was indeed one of those Texans who contributed so much to our victory in 1945. I have a fine print of that remarkable mid air coming together over Germany in “Happy Jack’s Go-Buggy” and it will serve as a reminder of a fine man and a true American patriot. RIP Jack, I bet the reunion up there was fantastic. Tomorrow I will spend a few minutes at the memorial on the Roman road that runs past the old aerodrome and think of Jack and his buddies back then.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
SkyboltJust heard from Lembit Opik the LibDem MP who is a keen PPL and AOPA member (though we all have our cross to bear – joking of course……..!!!).
He has written to the Minister for Aviation at the Department for Transport and has also tabled many Parliamentary Written Questions on the subject. Responses are awaited and I will keep the forum informed as to developments.
Keep up the pressure – it is starting to pay off.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
SkyboltDazDaMan,
I stand corrected but no matter what the Mark it was a real cream puff that anyone would lust after. Many thanks.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
SkyboltJust had a reply from one of my regional MEP’s enclosing a written question he and his colleagues had put to the EU Transport commissioner along with her reply. It was fairly anodyne however Eurocontrol is to make their formal request to the EU early in 2005 and they are considering the final proposal now. The MEP’s intend to keep their eye on developments. It certainly is not too late to apply pressure through your own elected parliamentary representatives in Westminster and Brussels.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
SkyboltFabulous photographs. Many thanks. Just had a thought – how about each of the forums digital aces submitting one shot each and allowing all of us non photographers to vote on what, in a personal opinion, is the best of the 2004 airshow seasons crop?
Cheers,
Trapper 69
SkyboltFor all that he was a really contrary bloke at times I thought Doug Arnold contributed an enormous amount to the warbird preservation movement for a long time prior to his death. I first met him at Blackbushe when he owned the joint and admired his pristine Spitfire XVIII JM-R and his Harvard. A memorable character indeed. I sat next to him at a couple of aircraft auctions when he was the high bidder on Spitfires and saw how he just could not resist trying to have yet another in his collection.
RIP Doug.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
SkyboltAny guy who can entertain the French as a comedian in France and survive has my vote for more bottle than usual. If he is prepared to spend serious amounts of cash then all is possible. Dreams are for all of us, even camp comedians – and I really like his humour. Jeremy Paxton is another great entertainer and far from being PC – the problem is when you take his opinions too seriously.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
PS – My one and only trip in a two seat Spit was all that I had imagined it to be for so long. I still relish the thought of the flight and offer my sincere thanks to all concerned.
SkyboltThere are a few things that everyone can do to try to get Eurocontrol to see reason. If all forum readers could write or email their local MP and regional MEP’s it could bring pressure on the UK Department for Transport and the Transport Commissioner in the EU in Brussels to revise their stance in terms of levying SES charges from General Aviation. Although there is a small working group now set up by the DfT with representatives from AOPA, PFA, GASCo and the PPL/IR Network to discuss ways by which the SES charges could be applied to GA the DfT has fully committed itself to making sure GA are to pay what they see as facilities provided even if they are not used by GA. What a dreadful state of affairs.
Why not spend a little time enlisting the aid of your democratically elected representatives in Westminster and Brussels? It just might pay off in applying pressure to the bureaucrats within DfT and in Eurocontrol through the EU parliament.
In sorrow.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
SkyboltJanie,
Glad you enjoyed the day. Great venue, great speakers and great buffet lunch. Loads of real aviation celebrities there who were approachable. There was plenty of room for more folk so perhaps next years event will approach the full house.
I had not picked up my copy of the programme so had no raw material for the aerial origami – damn……………!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jock Lowe really oozed his passionate relationship with Concorde – I have rarely heard such an enthusiast present his subject so well and with such emotive visuals.
Till the next time.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
SkyboltTo all historic forum addicts,
Just a reminder that the HAA symposium is at the RAF Museum tomorrow, Sunday 17 October starting at 0930. If you can come along as it should be a great programme.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
SkyboltMoggy,
Here is the email I sent to my MP and MEP’s. It seems to be having an effect in terms of action but who knows what will emerge. It is well worth a try and also to persuade all your aviation friends to do the same. Apathy simply cannot be allowed to rule this time as it has so often before.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
___________________
Sirs,
As my local MP and MEP’s, with the exception of Robert Kilroy-Silk for whom I have no emailing address, I respectfully request your assistance in a matter of great concern to the General Aviation community right across Europe and specifically in the UK.
EUROCONTROL are conducting a consultation exercise on a user charging scheme in conjunction with the Single European Sky air traffic control project currently being developed. It is proposed that all users pay to fly in order to finance the, often unnecessary, air traffic control and navigation aid infrastructure.
Up to now in the UK aircraft weighing less than 2 metric tonnes maximum take off weight have been free of any such charge levied for very many years by EUROCONTROL. This while flying in any airspace – controlled or uncontrolled. The vast majority of General Aviation aircraft fall into this category and probably 70% of them are operated privately with no commercial gain involved.
There is no mandatory requirement in the UK for any aircraft to be equipped with communications radio or any electronic navigation aid. When flying under Visual Flight Rules and by day in good weather such items are a safety enhancement but they are not essential to safe flight. To some motorists the development of in car global positioning navigation systems has proved an aid to getting around but the vast majority of the rest of us still seem to get to our destination without this expensive accessory. The almost universal availability of mobile telephones has enabled us to communicate while driving however this has led to innumerable accidents due to driver distraction resulting in a ban on the use of such devices while in motion. I hope you will see my point here when applied to a more familiar form of transportation.
In my submission to EUROCONTROL I have expressed my concern that the next proposal coming from an EU organisation might well be to charge folk for the air we breathe since EUROCONTROL want to charge us for the same air that we fly in. Perhaps that encapsulates my personal views along with thousands of fellow flyers who use the sky for private, sporting and recreational purposes.
Your support in this matter along with any personal views that you may have would be very much appreciated. If you need any amplification of the attachments do please let me know.
Kind regards,
Barry Tempest MRAeS
Armageddon Aviation
2 Church Walk, Kings Cliffe, Peterborough PE8 6XD, Northamptonshire
01780 470273
PS – Perhaps David Clark would forward this email and attachments to his UKIP colleague Robert Kilroy-Silk along with the request that he publish his email address to enable his constituents to contact him. Everyone else has for which I thank you all.
SkyboltMoggy,
The technology is out there but until it reduces in price to an affordable figure I will not be fitting one. By affordable I mean on the lines of an ICOM handheld VHF at less than 500GBP. There is a lot of water to flow under this particular bridge and it aint over till the fat lady sings. My own MP and three of my regional MEP’s have offered to assist so if you can spare a few minutes to let your own elected representatives know what is going on you may help cosiderably.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
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