The official magazine of the Aircraft Owner and Pilots Association www.aopa.co.uk LusciousThe LuscombeCharlotte Bailey speaks to Richie Piper to discover why this lovely Luscombe Silvaire is “Just His Type” THE GA ROADMAP WATTS NEW? AIRCRAFT INSURANCE What does the Department The latest developments Are you properly covered? In for Transport's ‘General Aviation in electric, hydrogen and the first of a new series we talk Roadmap’ really mean? hybrid-powered aircraft to a broker about insurance MAGAZINE 06.2021 FREE TO MEMBERS WWW.AOPA.CO.UK 03 CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE IT ’S THE TIME TO EDITOR BE OPTIMISTIC Steve Bridgewater [email protected] RE YOU an optimist or a pessimist? Winston Churchill said: “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the ART EDITOR A opportunity in every difficulty”. Dan Payne I’m beginning to feel optimistic on a number of fronts as the UK’s [email protected] vaccination programme begins to enable a slow return to normal life. In parallel, the economy is beginning to recover, exports to the EU are increasing after the SUB EDITOR immediate post Brexit January slump and the IMF is predicting an overall growth Charlotte Bailey rate of 5.3% for the UK economy this year. Historically, the GA sector has always benefitted from a buoyant economy. PROOFREADING In the same week that the Department for Transport (DfT) issued its eagerly Gabrielle Chambers awaited GA Roadmap the CAA published a list of changes it intends to implement to support the British Government’s oft stated aim to make the UK “the best place CONTRIBUTORS in the world for General Aviation”. Charlotte Bailey, Malcolm Bird, Further detail and analysis can be found in a major feature later in the magazine David Chambers, George Done, and, of course, more details on all of these plans have yet to emerge and timing John Walker is always important. Sadly it may be too late for Coventry. The Government is supporting a new innovative Gigafactory at Coventry, which if it goes ahead will PUBLISHED BY almost certainly see the demise of the airfield. AOPA UK Fortunately, the new owners of Carlisle Airport see “significant opportunities for c/o 1 Jason Close, Orsett, Grays, increased regional connectivity as economies recover”– let’s hope there are more Essex, RM16 3DY stories like this. +44 (0)20 7834 5631 Commercial Air Transport (CAT) always fuels demand for pilots and facilities within GA and following the pandemic the industry is taking off (pun intended) ADVERTISING once again. As I write these words 3,000 people were in the process of leaving & SUBSCRIPTIONS Heathrow bound for Portugal. Pilots are being recalled and the publication of the AOPA UK Green list of nations to which travel is permitted is adding to everyone’s optimism c/o 1 Jason Close, Orsett, Grays, for a getaway this year. Essex, RM16 3DY Although the numbers will not reach pre-pandemic levels anytime soon an airline pilot shortage is already beginning to become apparent in North America with HEAD OF ADVERTISING airlines recalling furloughed pilots and recruiting new ones. The post COVID-19 David Impey demand for aircrew remains high because, despite the downturn, there are still a +44 (0)7742 605338 significant number of pilots due to retire in the next twenty years. So, it’s not all bad. However, there remains a lot of work for AOPA UK to do PRINTING as we continue to represent your interests whilst the DfT’s General Aviation Ruddocks Roadmap is rolled out. 56 Great Northern Terrace, Now is a time of optimism. Whether you’re a flying school or flight instructor Lincoln LN5 8HL optimistic about the return to training for both private and commercial aviation, or +44 (0)1522 529591 an aircraft owner or pilot delighted that we can now get airborne, there is much to www.ruddocks.co.uk look forward to. Let’s keep seeing the opportunities in every difficulty. • © British Light Aviation Centre Ltd AOPA is a member of the International Council of Aircraft Owners and 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. Pauline Vahey Material for consideration for the August issue Chairman, AOPA UK should be received no later than July 2021. [email protected] June 2021 AOPA Aircraft Owner and Pilot 04 INSIDE THIS MONTH CONTENTS JUNE 2021 STOP PRESS! The editor has the opportunity to interview the head of the CAA’s new Unmanned Aircraft Systems Unit & General Aviation Unit for the next issue of AOPA UK – WHAT QUESTIONS WOULD YOU LIKE ANSWERING? Email them to [email protected] and we will endeavour to get as many responses for you as possible. 07AOPA AFFAIRS Among other topics, AOPA 16NEWS The latest news from the GA world, CEO Martin Robinson turns his attention including the latest on the risk to Coventry towards the GA Roadmap, the demise of Airport, Textron’s 75th Anniversary Bonanza EGNOS and the segregation of airspace. and the Great Human-Powered Air Race. 09MAINTENANCE Do we need a Skyway Code 20WATTS NEW So much GA news now relates for Maintenance? With the CAA seeking to to electric powerplants, we have introduced rationalise airworthiness and maintenance, this new regular roundup of ‘Watts New’ in there is an opportunity to have our say. the world of alternative propulsion. 22REVIEWS We test the latest software 10GA SAFETY They say good safety is no accident and that’s an ethos shared by the update for ForeFlight. Plus a brilliant book 25 airfields that have signed up to the newly about Beagle and a face mask to make you formed GASBG. the envy of the flying club. 12ARE YOU PROPERLY INSURED? Insurance AOPA24 WINGS A group of AOPA members is like a parachute: if you don’t have it the has a vision for the future of the AOPA first time you need it, there is no second WINGS scheme. Have you applied for an chance. We ask why premiums are rising. award yet? 14AOPA COMMUNITY Following the 28GA ROADMAP The Department for restriction of lockdown flying restrictions Transport recently issued its much-awaited AOPA members reflect on their return to General Aviation Roadmap; but what does the skies. this actually mean for the average GA pilot? 15AIRFIELDS UPDATE John Walker provides 34JUST MY TYPE Charlotte Bailey meets Richie updates on aerodromes under threat from Piper at a windswept Popham airfield to developers, including Bourn, Coventry, discuss what makes the beautiful Elvington, Oakley and Panshanger. Luscombe 8 Silvaire ‘just his type’. AOPA Aircraft Owner and Pilot June 2021 05 EDITOR’S COMMENT AS I SIT down to reflect on what – but a few will float to the top has happened in the aviation and carve out a future for us all. world since my last editorial However, I will close with a ramblings I feel compelled to word of caution. Many of these comment on the passing of the new ‘eco’ designs require battery Duke of Edinburgh. Prince Philip packs, which in turn need to be was an accomplished pilot who manufactured in large factories gained his RAF ‘wings’ in 1953, his such as the one proposed at helicopter qualification in 1956 Coventry Airport [see p16]. and his private pilot’s licence in Coventry has a fond place in 1959; achieving a total of 5,986 my heart; my first aeroplane ride hours in 59 types of aircraft. He as a child was from the airport, I was a tremendous ambassador attended my first airshow at the for all types of aviation and a airfield and whilst at University, huge supporter of innovation. I would spend most weekends The latest technical push within volunteering with the resident Air the GA world is for ever ‘greener’ Atlantique Classic Flight (AACF). aircraft, which has led to huge Many years later I would become advances in electric, hydrogen AACF’s Commercial Director and hybrid powerplants. In fact, and my heart is filled with dread there is now so much news about at the possibility of losing this such developments that we have 85-year-old aerodrome. It was introduced a dedicated ‘Watts once home to numerous aircraft New’ (sorry for the pun) section manufacturers and remains to analyse these announcements. home to flying schools, private There are myriad plug-in projects operators and the air ambulance. in various stages of development, The team behind the project 2 4 but how many will reach says it is unable to hold a public production and will they really exhibition or event “because of change our lives? Well, when I Covid restrictions” so if you have started editing aviation magazines ever flown into Coventry – and/or two decades ago, the GA world would like to do so in the future was buzzing with promises of a – please can I urge you to visit Very Light Jet (VLJ) revolution. We gigafactoryconsultation.co.uk reported that pilots would soon to lodge your comments about 16 have access to small, private jets the proposal by June 6, 2021! and manufacturers such as Adam, When it’s gone, it’s gone. Diamond, Piper and many more promised cutting-edge designs. Some reached flight testing, far fewer reached production and 20 years later the only VLJs that remain in production are the Embraer Phenom 100 and Steve Bridgewater Editor, AOPA UK Magazine the Cirrus Vision SF50. Other [email protected] companies dreamed of changing air travel and while their designs may not have reached production those ‘dreamers’ all contributed to the advancement of technology, had their own way of doing things and played a part in shaping the industry.