There is a small team beavering away centrally in pursuit of the objectives of the GAAC, but we are greatly in need of more help at ’grass roots’ level.

Of course we need more funds to enable us to carry out our many tasks, but you could also help in any of the following ways:

• Visit your local aerodrome and ensure that the management and clubs, groups etc are aware of our activities
  

• Persuade them to support the GAAC by distributing GAAC literature and undertaking to make an annual donation
  

• Contact your County Council and establish whether your County Structure Plan is due for review and if so contact the GAAC office for a copy of our guidance notes on how to proceed. These are also being posted on our web site (gaac.co.uk)
  

• Arrange for your club or association to display GAAC literature, particularly at flying events.

GAAC literature - the three main publications are ‘Your Local Aerodrome’, ‘More Considerate Flying’ and ‘How Green is Your Airfield ?’ - can be obtained from the GAAC office. Just let us know how many copies you would like.

Let’s hear from you.

Our New Age of Enlightenment?

These extracts from the notes of a conference at the House of Commons should provide encouragement to the aviation fraternity:

‘Taking into consideration existing aerodromes and adding these there will be no place in the country more than 15 miles from an aerodrome or landing ground….. This scheme makes it easier for private owners, whereas today it is very difficult for a private owner if he does not live near an aerodrome.

very city has got to have an aerodrome sooner or later whether it likes it or not. Towns that disregard warnings to establish aerodromes at once will suffer the same fate as those that delayed in having railways.

… asked whether five miles could be thought of as a considerable distance from a town….

…… replied that 5 miles was not an excessive distance, but he added that an aerodrome should be as near to the town as possible...’

Are we living in a new age of enlightenment?

Alas, no, for this meeting took place on 20 February 1928 to discuss the Northampton Aerodrome. In addition to the MPs there were representatives of Northampton County Borough Council, National

Flying Services and Northamptonshire Aero Club. There is ample evidence that people were more air-minded then than they are in the NIMBY ridden 21st century. We can think of several civic ears that should be burning.

(Kindly provided by Michael Bletsoe-Brown, Managing Director of Sywell Aerodrome)

Planning Notes

Representations about Structure Plans continue to be made at a searing pace, ranging geographically from the far north of Scotland to the extremities of Wales and to Northern Ireland. A particularly positive reaction, seeking further views, has been received from Wolverhampton MBC - possibly reflecting an interest in the newly named Wolverhampton Business Airport.

A very positive response has also been received following GAAC representations about the Cheshire Local Transport Plan. They have noted in particular the importance attached by the GAAC to the need for Barton to continue as a viable aerodrome.

Two days are allocated to the aviation section of the South Cambridgeshire plan inquiry. They are 25 and 26 July, with GAAC representation of course.

Discussions have taken place with the DETR about the regional airport studies that are currently in hand and about funding for the GA economic study referred to below.

Our Chairman was invited recently to advise on an aviation policy for Hampshire County Council. Fortunately, unlike many local authorities, Hampshire, with 6 licensed aerodromes and at least 12 known airstrips, has a positive attitude to aviation. The only unresolved situation concerns Lee-on-Solent, for which there is a known demand but which has been the subject of numerous counter proposals for more than six years. The Council has promised the GAAC that it will contact the Ministry of Defence in an attempt to speed up the transfer to civil ownership.

Current Tasks

We have to devote more effort to planning consultancy to cope with the ever increasing demands on us,

especially as our planning activities become more widely appreciated.

There are also two major projects to be undertaken.

The first, which has already been commissioned, relates to noise measurement, the results of which will be used to make an input to the relevant government Planning Policy Guidance document (PPG24) which will be coming up for review early next year. It is being undertaken by a noise and vibration specialist firm to identify more comprehensive procedures involving the calculation of noise contours of total noise at several points. The cost is likely to be just over £2,000 and funds are needed to cover this over and above the GAAC’s normal donation income.

Any Offers? — we have received just two to date.

The second concerns the role of General Aviation in the Economy. At public inquiries the Inspector frequently asks for evidence of the benefits of GA to the local and national economies. In the absence of soundly based information the GA case that can be presented is far less robust that it could be.

Although getting a fair wind from the Economic and Social Research Council, other projects were ahead in the queue for the limited funding available. All avenues are being explored as this size of project can be carried out only with specific support or sponsorship. Projects of this size cannot be funded from GAAC’s normal annual income.


Finance

As the result of careful management of our finances we just managed to break even last year. In the current year we shall limit our expenditure on publishing and disseminate more through our web site (gaac.co.uk).

Since the last Newsletter donations have been received from Bickerton’s Aerodromes, the British Model Flying Association, Diana Britten Aerobatics, Fairoaks Airport, Fleetlands Flying Assn, GAMTA, Great Massingham Airfield, HBC Aviation, the Helicopter Club of Great Britain, the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians,LAASI Aviation, the Lawyers’ Flying Association, the Popular Flying Association, the PFA Southern Strut, the RAF Gliding and Soaring Association, the Shadow Owners Club, Sywell Aero Club, The Air League and the Vintage Aircraft Club. Also personal donations have been received from .M R Allen, P A Gray and R A Keech.

It is needed as soon as possible please. We need your commitment now to enable us to plan our work for the year.

The GAAC is given as much exposure as possible at various events and recently featured on the AOPA stand at the North Weald Aerofair.

The Chairman and the Secretary were on hand to deal with any queries and there was a steady demand for the literature that was displayed. Our next major event is the PFA Rally at Cranfield from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 June.

At the AGM on 3 April Richard Noble gave a stimulating account of the development of the Farnborough F1 and how its success will depend on the availability of sufficient suitable aerodromes from which it can operate if the objectives for the aircraft are to be fulfilled.

Board elections resulted in the addition of David Murray of Portsmouth Naval Gliding Club to replace Alastair MacKinnon who had resigned due to pressure of work.

At the following Board meeting the Council’s officers agreed to continue in their posts for a further year.

Some maintenance complaints logged by USAF pilots and replies from the maintenance crews:

[P = problem S = Solution]

P Test flight OK except auto land very rough.

S. Auto land not fitted to this aircraft.


P Something loose in the cockpit

S Something tightened in the cockpit


P Number three engine missing

S Number three engine found on right wing after brief search

P IFF inoperative

S IFF always inoperative in ‘Off’ mode

P Dead bugs on windshield

S Live bugs on order

Newsletter Distribution

A new option is to receive the Newsletter direct by E-mail. This would benefit the GAAC by reducing distribution costs, particularly postage. Visit the web page [www.gaac.co.uk] for details of this service.

This Newsletter is available on the GAAC Web Site. Please distribute it as widely as possible.

Would a friend or colleague like to receive this Newsletter in future?

Do you wish to continue to see this Newsletter?

Do we have your correct address?

Please inform the GAAC Office:

General Aviation Awareness Council
British Light Aviation Centre
50A Cambridge Street
LONDON SW1V 4QQ
 
Telephone: 020 7834 5631
Fax: 020 7834 8623

E-mail: info@gaac.co.uk
Web Site: www.gaac.co.uk