Airshow Charges Changes
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will
phase in its new airshow charges following
consultation with the industry.
Airshow organisers had criticised the CAA’s
proposed changes (Aviation News April 2016,
p4), which would have left some events facing
signi cantly higher costs.
The CAA justi ed the new costs, saying
it had been signi cantly under-recovering its
own costs when regulating ying displays and
issuing Display Authorisations and Low Flying
Permissions.
In a statement posted on its website,
dated March 18, the CAA said: “The CAA
is not funded by the taxpayer and therefore
these charges must be met by the industry.
However, the CAA has recognised the
possible and immediate impact these
increased charges could have on airshoworganisers and has therefore implemented a
phased introduction of the new fees over the
next three years.
“While needing to ensure that the new
charges are in place, to enable us to introduce
these important new safety measures this
year, we recognise it may be difficult for some
airshows to absorb these additional charges in
2016/17.”
As a result, it has decided to phase in the
new fees for air display post-event charges.
The 2016/2017 charges will now be set to
recover £100,000 of the expected £200,000 of
additional costs, with the remaining £100,000
being absorbed by the CAA.
Andrew Haines, CEO of the CAA, said:
“We understand that people care passionately
about airshows and we want all events to be
a success. We are also very clear that wewill not compromise on safety. Enhancing the
safety of airshows is essential and this extra
work must be funded.
“However, we have listened to the
responses and recognise that some shows
could face challenges in absorbing the full
cost of these changes into this display season.
In making our nal decision on fees we
have, therefore, decided to phase in the new
charges, recovering only half of our costs for
the current year.
“In addition to the phased introduction
of new fees, we will also review any further
requests for assistance from smaller and
charitable airshow organisers who are
concerned about not being able to afford the
new charges.”
The CAA’s air display review continues and
it expects to publish its nal report shortly.Dutch Hunters to Sit
Out 2016 Season
Leeuwarden-based Dutch Hawker Hunter Foundation (DHHF)
will not participate in the 2016 airshow season due to the type’s
continued grounding by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The team’s two Hunters are both on the British Register –
G-BWGL and G-KAXF – and so are subject to the grounding
order issued by the CAA in the wake of last summer’s Shoreham
Airshow disaster, which claimed the lives of 11 people.
In a statement on its website, the DHHF says it expects to
be able to y in the second quarter of the year once the Air
Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has released its nal
report on the Shoreham incident. It says once the aircraft are
cleared to y again, the team’s rst priority will be to send them
for maintenance in Wales.Oshkosh to Celebrate
USCG Aviation Centenary
One hundred years of United States Coast Guard (USCG) aviation will
be recognised at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016.
The event, at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin,
from July 25 to 31, has been designated as one of the USCG’s official
aviation centennial events during 2016.
“The centennial of Coast Guard aviation allows EAA to focus
on a branch of the service that is often under-represented in many
airshows, but should rightly be recognised for its dedicated work to
protect our country and save lives every day,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s
Vice President of Communities and Member Programs, which co-
ordinates features and attractions at AirVenture.
The anniversary will be celebrated throughout the week-long event,
with many of the activities focused on Thursday, July 28. The day’s
events will include a large contingent of Coast Guard aircraft, both
xed-wing and helicopters.36 Aviation News incorporating Classic Aircraft May 2016AIRSHOW NEWS
AIRSHOW NEWS
French
Support
for RIAT
A new French Air Force Rafale C display
pilot, Capitaine ‘Marty’ Martinez, will
perform at the Royal International Air Tattoo
(RIAT) this summer. He will be joined by
the Ramex Delta Tactical Display team
which is returning with its two Mirage
2000Ns. RIAT takes place at RAF Fairford,
Gloucestershire, between July 8 and 10.
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