Last week I wrote – “Well folks, it looks as if all the efforts may have been worthwhile. There are unconfirmed reports that the Eurocontrol council of ministers have totally rejected the proposal to levy charges for using the SES concept on VFR flights or on IFR flights in aircraft of less than 2MT. In other words the current situation as has been the case since Eurocontrol started charging back in the 1970’s.”
After attending the CAA seminar at Manchester it rather looks as though those unconfirmed reports were in error. In fact due to the UK governments refusal to pick up the tag of exempting UK aircraft flying VFR and IFR if under 2MT in terms of paying the ANSP for their costs we will ALL be stuck with EUROCONTROL charges for all of our flying. I suppose there may be some letouts to be announced but do not hold your breath if you fly any GA aircraft, powered or otherwise: heavier or lighter than air.
Hope fully when they look at the complexity of any charging scheme they will back off but I really doubt it.
We tried – we really did.
Commiserations,
Trapper 69

Another trademark Duxford display with something for everyone, including the FDSC…!!
The finale was awesome and the services put on some great displays however the Sea Fury had to abort its slot unfortunately. A great end to the 2004 season but dont forget next Sunday 17 October and the excellent HAA symposium at Hendon with a fascinating collection of speakers plus the chance to look round that world beating museum.
Cheers,
Trapper 69

A magic year indeed –
January – Florida and lots of flying in Senecas plus sunburn…………!!!!!!!!!
February – European Airshow Council extravaganza in Belgium – lots of old friends.
March – First shows in the Skybolt
April – New Zealand and Wanaka – what a superb setting for the last Breitling display.
May – New Zealand – loads of flying in aircraft various. Omarama wave soaring.
June – Home again for Shuttleworth evening show and back into Skybolt displays.
July – PFA rally and Flying Legends – what a choice and what events.
August – AWAC 2004 in Sweden and Little Gransden – the best yet.
September – Duxford and Sywell – really enjoyable and great to be Barnstorming again.
October – Looking forward to the final Duxford show and the HAA symposium.
November – The post season RAF displays washup. ADAE and CAA DA/DAE seminars.
December – A long weekend in Prague with friends from Leicestershire Aero Club….!!!
Its been and still is a fabulous year.
Cheers,
Trapper 69

Damien,
Watch out for those mixed grills – the chlorestorol count is huge. But they were sooooooooooooo delicious.
Cheers,
Trapper 69 (alias Colonel Ivor Bolokov ex SovAF Su27 OCU boss and Po2 driver)

Frankly I hope ALL the GA representative organisations really apply some pressure on the CAA for an explanation as to why our national aviation regulatory body can ignore such a huge number of “stakeholders” in all the varied aspects of GA. It really is appalling.
Cheers,
Trapper 69

Local TV tonight says Sunday should be good weather so keeping fingers crossed.
Cheers,
Trapper 69

A great job by Damien today at the press day. Rotten morning so left the Skybolt tucked up in its Leicester hangar and drove down with my cousin Colonel Ivor Bolokov, SovAF(retd) who enjoyed the day. Press and TV out in force so it should be on BBC East and Anglia tomorrow, Friday, plus lots in the local evening paper whose delicious damsel of a reporter thoroughly enjoyed her Wilga sortie for air to air photos. Some nice flying today and all the show preparations are going nicely.
See you on Sunday for a great aeronautical day out.
Cheers,
Trapper 69