253rd GASCO MEETING – CAA HOUSE KINGSWAY

20 NOVEMBER 2008

UKFSC CE MEETINGSUMMARY

· Agenda

· ATSOCAS BRIEF – Colin Gill CAA

CD content is posted on the ASI/ATSOCAS website.

· Matters Arising

o 4.2 Stall/spin report gp. Latest position is:

§ Analyse 106 fatal crashes 1980 - 2006 for trends in activity and ac types

§ Focus on stalls in aeros, climb out, 20% of crashes had instructors on board!

§ Exclude warbirds twins and jets – slingsby T67 treated as special case

§ Home builds rates are high but modern tourer kit builds are zero rate

o Certification Standards were questioned in that stall behaviour is tested in balance

o 20% losses with instructors on board. At Southend no spin stalls until 2006.

o Aero and displays killed in 80s and 90s high but this decade significant improvements

o Problems with engine or airframe lead to increasing numbers of fatals this decade.

o Climb outs are biggest problem area. No probs with spin stalls except T67 – most fatals due to starting with insufficient height. (fuel dist in T67 may be worth another look)

o Failure to fly the aircraft after an engine or airframe problem ---Why?

o Training – diverse standards Jars require + 15/-5 knots for climb and approach!

o Variations with instructors standards and training methods

§ Should there be a model code of practice

§ Should an instructor teach in an ac he has not flown

§ Revision of earlier lessons

· 4.4 Alcohol in fuel – response from EASA to GASCO – they will tender for a project off to investigate the effects and propose a trial programme to address the issue.

· 4.5 IMC rating questionnaire responses were just 50 but all were very supportive of the retention of the IMC rating. Cost was the major stopper for several pilots undertaking the course. Responses to the AOPA IMC survey are about 600 – still open on the website.

· 4.6 Listening squawks - needs to be formally proposed by the pilot community to NATS

· 4.8 Continuing new controllers more aware of GA issues and environment.

o Possible WG to make an appreciation of the cost benefit of training ATC controllers.

· 4.9 406 beacons sale is slow at the moment but this will be needed next March! CAA are considering whether to extend the exemption on ELT.

· 3.1 CAA proposals for safety promotion.

o CAA proposal to combine all UK - extensive discussion on the subject – general support to pursue the idea and report back to the Council

· 3.2 Flight Safety will move to Jeremy Pratt as the publisher from the Spring edition but CAA support may not be available to distribute it on a long term basis – pending the outcome of the New Flt safety org way ahead.

· 3.3 Concerns about the withdrawal of the need for a CofA flight test for private aircraft expressed. Council consider the case to push for the reinstatement of the flight test every 3 years, which is the recommendation of the AAIB report from the Sandown accident.

o There was another view that the owners could do an annual climb rate check themselves – but the counter view is that they may not be competent or willing.

o Letter to support the AAIB recommendation to be sent

· Spectrum charging for a radio on the ground supporting aircraft operations. Safety comm. will become a seriously overloaded – safety will be hit by this issue. Support from GASCO to protest against the objective.

Round the Table Input from Organisations!

· NATS reports an increase in infringements by GA – generally in first solos and with instructors! NATS visits to brief instructors on the issue.

· Gazelle crash in Cotswold

· Admin charges for paperwork towards CofA for helicopters to be levied! (£300)

· VLJs trial in Budapest which injected 10% VLJ traffic to the normal traffic flow in a simulation – the outcome was minor overall effect, but bunching on the en route due to slow speed.

· Level busts staying high for business jets – 70% at Luton! Not just foreign – so are Luton pilots! Local initiative to fly ATCOs with Gulfstream from Luton to try and understand the why!

· Third party insurance cover for certain aircraft operations may have fallen below the EASA limit due to the Euro exchange rate and needs to be addressed with brokers.

· EASA FCL will have an aerobatic rating to the license.

· Advocation of investment in SMS and risk assessment in microlighting not in just old accident investigation and analysis – need for just culture and investment into the risk management. Legal action causing serious concerns with inspectors – several leaving.

Rich Jones

Chief Exec UKFSC