The official magazine of the Aircraft Owner and Pilots Association www.aopa.co.uk The aircraft that will put schools on the grid Slovenian airplane maker Pipistrel has just received EASA certification for its Velis Electro – we take a look at how it could revolutionise training… SYCAMORE RETURNS AIRSPACE CHANGES ONLINE TRAINING Henry Simpson reports on Nick Wilcock discusses the AOPA has launched a the Bristol Sycamore that changes to airspace regarding range of training courses returned to British skies Air Cadet glider sites online – find out more MAGAZINE 08.2020 FREE TO MEMBERS WWW.AOPA.CO.UK 03 CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE THERE MAY BE EDITOR David Rawlings TROUBLE AHEAD [email protected] S I WRITE this, General Aviation Flight Training has restarted, or is in the process of restarting. Pubs and restaurants are opening, we’re all being ART EDITOR Dan Payne urged to get back to work on public transport and then spend, spend, [email protected] A spend. The UK economy, across all main sectors, has been hit by its worst quarterly SUB EDITOR contraction in 41 years: three times greater than the decline seen during the whole Lucy Debenham of the 2008–9 economic downturn and the deepest recession in almost a century. Added to which, Brexit is back. CONTRIBUTORS Where does this leave the aviation sector and specifically GA’s place in the sector? John Walker, All of the well-known airlines are in discussions with staff and unions about large- David Chambers, Henry Simpson, scale job losses, with predictions of 100,000 to be lost. This will surely impact George Done, Carol Cooper Flight Training, not only for an integrated ATPL level but also, in particular, a modular ATPL, since there will be a surplus of qualified ATPLs already out there on PUBLISHED BY the market. Added to which, how are the FTOs going to deliver EASA ATPLs after AOPA UK 31 December this year? Students will have completed the same training to the same 50a Cambridge Street, standard but the licence will be issued by the CAA and to date there is no prospect London, SW1V 4QQ of mutual recognition by EASA. +44 (0)20 7834 5631 One regional airport has already lost half of its flight movements as an ATO that was based there took its training to Europe. This has further ripple effects: if ADVERTISING & SUBSCRIPTIONS Flight Training moves to Europe then there will be less need for infrastructure and people in the UK: fewer airfields, hangars, aeroplanes, and the people supporting AOPA UK them: Engineers, Flight Instructors, Operations staff and Air Traffic Controllers, and British Light Aviation Centre critically people willing to invest in the sector. How many people will want to start 50a Cambridge Street London, SW1V 4QQ PPL training if there is no confidence in the economy or job security? How many +44 (0)20 7834 5631 people will want to get back to travelling by air? Anecdotally, friends of mine who are leaving the UK are all driving to Europe now. HEAD OF ADVERTISING AOPA is putting pressure on the DfT and the CAA to help them understand the David Impey interconnectedness of the Aviation sector. What happens in General Aviation +44 (0)7742 605338 impacts Commercial Aviation and vice versa. Another example is the issue of availability of Authorised Medical Examiners, who earn most of their fees from PRINTING examining Commercial Pilots. In addition to prioritising their efforts during Ruddocks COVID-19 and beyond, they may not think it worth their while continuing to be an 56 Great Northern Terrace, AME. Lincoln LN5 8HL This also affects the CAA, which with a downturn in the sector is already seeing a +44 (0)1522 529591 downturn in income from fees and charges. To help mitigate this staff have taken a www.ruddocks.co.uk 20 per cent pay cut whilst their workload has probably doubled during the outbreak. The team at AOPA is continuing to lobby the Treasury for a reduction in VAT for © British Light Aviation Centre Ltd Professional Flight Training and looking at a number of ways this could be done, AOPA is a member of the International such as linking the qualification to a degree. The DfT is also looking into other Council of Aircraft Owners and incentives that can be used to kick-start the sector. Pilots Association. IAOPA Go flying, while we still can. • Articles, photographs and news items from AOPA members and other readers are welcome. Please send to the Editor. Inclusion of material in AOPA Magazine cannot be guaranteed, however, and remains at the discretion of the Editor. Material for consideration for the August Pauline Vahey 2020 issue should be recieved no later Chairman, AOPA UK than 1 September 2020. [email protected] August 2020 AOPA Aircraft Owner and Pilot 04 INSIDE THIS MONTH CONTENTS AUGUST 2020 07AOPA AFFAIRS AOPA's CEO Martin Robinson 18NEWS The news from around the globe discusses the latest hot topics from the world affecting GA, including the VC10s under threat, of aviation and how AOPA is ensuring your the Mosquito project, first flights of aircraft and rights aren't violated. much more. 09AOPA COMMUNITY The latest happenings 24TRAVEL FEATURE Regular contributor Henry from inside the world of AOPA. Everything is Simpson talks to legendary helicopter pilot, covered from advice on decision-making to Siegfried 'Blacky' Schwarz about bringing the airfields under threat. Bristol Sycamore back to the UK's skies. 10WORKING FOR YOU David Chambers brings 28COVER STORY The Velis Electro, the members up to date with the latest news and first electric aircraft to receive EASA Type discussions from the recent Members Working Certification – we look at how it might change Group meeting. the world of flight training. 12MAINTENANCE George Done looks into how 36TRAINING FEATURE Nick Wilcock explains you can ensure that your aircraft remains the changes in airspace concerning Air Cadet airworthy during the current pandemic, with gliding sites. The new AOPA online training help from your maintenance organisation. courses are also explained. 14PPL CORNER In this two-part series, CFI Carol 40TECH & BOOK REVIEWS Breitling has Cooper discusses decision-making and how to launched a new Chronomat, which we take a ensure you don't fall through the Swiss cheese, look at. Plus a third book in the series of airmen by letting one mistake compound another. obituaries. 16AIRFIELDS UPDATE John Walker reports 43CLASSIFIEDS Find pages packed with aviation- on the UK's airfields that are currently under related listings, as well as opportunities for threat from property developers as well as shares in aircraft, and reputable maintenance local councils. organisations. AOPA Aircraft Owner and Pilot August 2020 05 EDITOR'S MOMENT Despite the lack of flying, the skies being quiet and a general downturn in aviation activities, this issue is filled with positive flying stories: from Henry Simpson talking to Blacky Schwarz about the Bristol Sycamore to the certification of the Pipistrel Velis Electro, which could revolutionise schools and is a very exciting prospect for the future of aviation and new pilots. AOPA has also launched online training courses – many of which are free – so if you need to refresh your skills after being grounded for the last few months, then turn to page 39 to find out more. For more self-improvement, Carol Cooper is offering fantastic advice (in this two-part special) on decision-making in this month's PPL Corner, so flick to p14 if it's something you need to work on. So, put the kettle on, sit back, enjoy the issue and plan where you're going to fly next. 24 Blue skies! David Rawlings Editor, AOPA Magazine UK 40 [email protected] 09 August 2020 AOPA Aircraft Owner and Pilot 07 AOPA AFFAIRS TRYING TO GET GA BACK TO NORMAL HROUGHOUT THE lockdown FLIGHT TRAINING there have been regular "The CAA also took the AOPA worked on getting flight training weekly meetings across many decision to postpone the restarted and as you will know the green T areas of interest: General light was switched on; due to the weather Aviation recovery workshops hosted implementation of any on that day there was clearly no massive by the CAA with the Department for leap into the air by GA, which is probably Transport, which identified the issues and increases in charges to just as well, as I was fearing a number of concerns that GA was facing during the incidents happening. lockdown – AOPA kept members updated later this year" COVID-19 has not gone away and social as information was released. There were distancing is still required. The matter at least two workshops with the CAA COVID on GA businesses seeking is an HSE one and not a CAA issue, covering the development of 600 kg a period of grace, but the authority therefore the advice is to contact the HSE microlight aircraft; the UK will push explained why it could only offer payment if you have concerns about how some ahead and a date in mid 2021 is being plans. The CC also took the decision businesses might be failing to apply the considered for the introduction into UK to postpone the implementation of any right approach to maintaining the correct legal framework. increases in charges to later this year. interpretation of the COVID-19 rules on social distancing and sanitation. PROJECT GAGA THE DRONE COMMUNITY The General and Business Aviation Work continues with project GAGA, The U-Space demonstration workshops Strategic Forum (GBASF) met recently which aims to deliver RNP approaches were a series of seminars which and it’s clear that the DfT and CAA are at three locations.