Fact Sheets from the General Aviation Awareness Council

Fact Sheet 2 - What is the General Aviation Awareness Council?

What is the General Aviation Awareness Council?

Background

The General Aviation Awareness Council (GAAC) was formed in 1991 in response to a growing concern that there was no one organisation responsible for protecting and promoting the interests of a wide range of General Aviation (GA) activities in the UK.  It was apparent that the lack of any co-ordinated approach to major issues such as Government policy was resulting in the anti-GA lobby being increasingly successful in promoting its aims. 

The organisation

The GAAC is a national body representing the general and light aviation movement.  It is a registered company limited by guarantee, with full public accountability.  There is a Board of Directors, drawn from different sectors of GA.

Members of the active Working Group are drawn from a wide range of member organisations and include a chartered town planner, who is engaged as Planning Co-ordinator.  The group meets on a regular basis to ensure that the body’s stated aims are put into practice.

Aims

The GAAC aims to explain the nature of GA, promote its purpose and value, protect its facilities and ensure its future.

Membership

Members include the national aviation associations, companies in the GA industry, including aerodrome operators, flying training organisations and other bodies.  Total membership currently stands at some 80 organisations, together with individual members who are registered as supporters.

Key areas of work

Planning

• Representations in respect of Structure Plans, Local Plans, Unitary Development Plans and Regional Planning Guidance to promote positively worded policies relating to GA.

• ·Representations in respect of Local Transport Plans and Minerals and Waste Local Plans.

• ·A comprehensive database of planning application/appeal decisions and associated legal issues relating to GA.

• Advice on a wide range of planning relating issues regarding individual sites where there are wider implications for GA.

• Submission of representations to Central Government regarding national policy issues.

• Publication of a range of documents which give advice to both Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) and site owners/operators faced with planning problems affecting GA sites.  In particular, publication of a series of free Fact Sheets, this being one.

Education

• Promotion of GA, in all its forms.

• Development of aviation related material that teachers can use in class rooms as part of course work for students.

• Development of a greater understanding of aerodromes and their importance to local communities by publishing suitable material for LPAs, flying clubs and aerodrome operators.  Current publications include “How Green is Your Airfield?”, “Your Local Aerodrome”, “More Considerate Flying” and “Why General Aviation?”

Other activities

• Talks and seminars to planners and Environmental Health Officers.

• Attendance at aviation events.

• Raising awareness of GA issues at European Parliament level and internationally.

• Participation in the development of world-wide standards on noise and emissions through the International Civil Aviation Organisation (I.C.A.O).

• Commissioning independent research into matters affecting GA.

• Advice on the safeguarding of flying sites.

November 2004

General Aviation Awareness Council

RAeS House, 4 Hamilton Place, London W1J 7BQ.

Tel: +44 (0)20 7670 4501

This is one of a series of Fact Sheets available from the GAAC.

For further information please contact the above address.

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