The Britten-Norman Islander Has Been in the Skies for More Than 50 Years
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The official magazine of the Aircraft Owner and Pilots Association www.aopa.co.uk The Britten-Norman Islander has been in the skies for more than 50 years. We talk to CEO William Hynett OBE about why after all this time this hard-wearing British bird is so popular ALL THE WAY AROUND CLOUDBASEGA REVIEW AOPA COMMUNITY David Hastings tells all about Henry Simpson looks at one Find out what the his epic adventure flying of the newest tools for schools organisation is doing for you around the USA in a Cessna and explains how it can help and how it's keeping us flying MAGAZINE 10.2019 FREE TO MEMBERS WWW.AOPA.CO.UK 03 CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE IT'S TIME FOR EDITOR David Rawlings A CHANGE [email protected] ET'S START with a quote: “There is nothing permanent except change.” – Heraclitus of Ephesus. ART EDITOR Dan Payne By the time you are reading this the AOPA AGM will have come and gone [email protected] L for another year. I remark upon it, not only because it will have been my first as Chairman but also because the AGM presents an opportunity for change. SUB EDITOR This year we will have marked George Done’s nineteen years as Chairman of the Lucy Debenham Board with the honorary title of Life Vice President, nineteen years that have seen a lot of change. I’m certain that most of you will remember the turn of the century, and CONTRIBUTORS the worry that computers would crash to a halt when we entered the noughties. Pauline Vahey, John Walker, David During this time dictators have come and gone, there have been natural disasters Hastings, Malcolm Bird, George and we seem to have weathered a financial crash, after a fashion. Through this time Done, Nick Wilcock George has steered the path of AOPA such that we’re still here and still working for the membership. George will continue to chair the Maintenance Working Group PUBLISHED BY so members need not worry that we are losing his experience and expertise in AOPA UK engineering matters, and he’ll still be on hand to help members with their engineering 50a Cambridge Street, and maintenance issues. London, SW1V 4QQ We hope to welcome, if elected at the AGM, Philip Church to the AOPA Board and +44 (0)20 7834 5631 Executive Committee. Please read Phil’s achievements in the Aviation industry at http://bit.ly/2kezDKY. I hope you’ll agree that he will be an asset to AOPA. He has ADVERTISING & SUBSCRIPTIONS already made a significant contribution to the suite of projects that AOPA is now involved in for the benefit of our members. These include projects on conspicuity, AOPA UK GPS navigation approaches, and the next generation of ELTs. British Light Aviation Centre Demonstrating that the aviation world we fly in is not constant, improvements in 50a Cambridge Street London, SW1V 4QQ technology are going to change the airspace we fly in, the way it is managed for +44 (0)20 7834 5631 us and other participants in the space, as well as the technology of the aircraft we will fly. To continue to participate in these discussions and influence the change for HEAD OF ADVERTISING everyone’s benefit, AOPA also has to change to meet the new challenges. We expect David Impey this will include a new post-Brexit world where we’ll be re-establishing UK GA in a +44 (0)7742 605338 global industry. To this end, I mentioned last time that the Board has decided to move the AOPA PRINTING HQ away from 50a Cambridge Street. This will secure the financial future of the Ruddocks association and give AOPA the opportunity to realign its resources and invest in new 56 Great Northern Terrace, endeavours for the benefit of our membership. Lincoln LN5 8HL In moving our AOPA HQ the Board continues to show its commitment to keeping +44 (0)1522 529591 overheads low and as a consequence membership fees unchanged, whilst still www.ruddocks.co.uk ensuring the association has the resources to continue its work. We’ll be keeping you all informed with regular updates. © British Light Aviation Centre Ltd In the words of Martin, our CEO, “The work AOPA carries out on your behalf AOPA is a member of the International doesn’t change, there’s just more of it.” AOPA doesn’t intend to step down from Council of Aircraft Owners and protecting the rights and privileges of its members to fly in the UK and beyond. • Pilots Association. IAOPA 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 Pauline Vahey October issue should be recieved no later Chairman, AOPA UK than 01 November 2019 [email protected] October 2019 AOPA Aircraft Owner and Pilot 04 INSIDE THIS MONTH CONTENTS OCTOBER 2019 07AOPA AFFAIRS This month AOPA's CEO 16NEWS The latest happenings from the world discusses the laws that need to be changed so of General Aviation. This issue includes the airspace remains safe for everyone – including newest aircraft from Extra, the Red Bull Air drone users. Race's final round and more. 09AOPA COMMUNITY The latest from inside 24FLYING FEATURE David Hastings MBE tells us AOPA, including the Members Working Group, the story of the time he flew all the way around the Maintenance Working Group and much the United States in his friend's beloved C-337 more. Cessna Skymaster twin. 10AOPA AWARDS This month we have a special 28COVER STORY Once upon a time Britain led feature on the recent AOPA Awards – the the world in aircraft manufacturing. Those days biannual event that celebrates those who have passed but Britten-Norman is still holding improve GA for everyone. the torch. We look at how it is still fighting on. 12PPL CORNER An AOPA member explains 36TRAINING FEATURE Pilot Medical what happens if you get caught infringing on Declarations can be a minefield. Luckily Nick restricted airspace – it's easily done, so read Wilcock is on hand to explain how to ensure this and take note. your licence remains current. 13AIRFIELDS UPDATE John Walker reports 40TECH & BOOK REVIEWS Henry Simpson on the UK's airfields that are currently under reviews CloudBaseGA, a planning tool threat from property developers as well as local for schools and fleet owners, to see if it's councils across the UK. something worth purchasing. 14HELP AND ADVICE George Done and the 43CLASSIFIEDS Find pages packed with aviation- AOPA Maintenance Working Group explain related listings, as well as opportunities for how to prepare for the dreaded annual shares in aircraft, and reputable maintenance inspection. organisations. AOPA Aircraft Owner and Pilot October 2019 05 EDITOR'S MOMENT It's been a fantastic summer for air sports. We've had the final Red Bull Air Race – 14 congratulations to Matt Hall and his team – and the French team dominated the World Aerobatics Championships. These events are a great way to attract the next generation and get them excited about becoming a pilot. It's a shame that the Red Bull Air Race has come to an end; it promoted great flying and competition that was thrilling. There are rumours that it might come back under a different title sponsor, but only time will tell. We also celebrate the people who are making a difference in the UK with the AOPA Awards. There are a lot of deserving people who have received these iconic awards and trophies. You can read all about that on page 10. Plus, in this issue, we look at one of the UK's last remaining aircraft manufacturers, Britten- Norman. If any company knows about keeping aviation alive, it's this one! David Rawlings Editor, AOPA Magazine UK [email protected] 24 20 October 2019 AOPA Aircraft Owner and Pilot 07 AOPA AFFAIRS PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT IS NOT THERE YET LD ROADS were not designed regulation can be seen in the number of for cars and if you look at the "AOPA is accidents both serious and fatal – the very early cars they were little following these question then is one of appetite – and O more than horse carriages with how much appetite do regulators have an engine. Airspace and its rules were not developments closely to reduce the number of regulations, if designed for drones. Early requirements it increases the accident rate? The main for automobiles travelling on country roads and has been invited problem is the cost of regulation i.e. the at night included sending up a rocket every CAA administration and oversight. Can the mile, then waiting ten minutes for the road to take part in oversight be reduced without making big to clear. The driver could then proceed, changes to regulations? I suspect that this with caution, blowing his horn and various forums" will depend on the kind of legal opinion shooting off Roman candles, as before. the CAA receives, particularly in light of If the driver of an automobile saw a team the development of Urban Air Mobility the Shoreham 2015 air crash – businesses of horses approaching, he was to stop, (UAM) vehicles that Airbus, Boeing and tend to like a clear regulatory framework pulling over to one side of the road, and Uber are developing along with Amazon as it gives them a degree of comfort when cover his machine with a blanket or dust who are looking at drone deliveries in operating/providing a service.