IAOPA eNews Europe August 2015 - Welcome to the IAOPA Europe enews which goes to 23,000 aircraft owners and pilots in 27 countries across the continent

Light Aircraft Maintenance

The General Aviation Road Map project is under way within the walls of EASA and now we see great progress as simpler maintenance requirements for ELA1 non-commercial is now in effect. With the entry of Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1088 on 27 July we see some grea changes that will contribute a lot to aircraft owners and operators.

The main differences are:


1. Self-declaration of the maintenance programme – If the aircraft owner wants to, he/she can write and sign his own maintenance programme. By doing so it is possible to deviate from recommendations by the manufacturer and service bulletins. We are not saying that this should always be done, but there is a possibility to do it. Just as examples, TBO recommendations and the infamous Cessna SIDs are possible to deviate from, but it may not always be wise without making an informed decision taking into account environmental factors, type of operation and so on.


2. CAMO, not a requirement anymore – For non-commercial ELA1 aircraft, CAMOs are optional from now on. If you develop your own maintenance programme you are be responsible for your own airworthiness review.


3. Minimum Inspection Programme (MIP) – As an owner you can choose to follow the service manual from the manufacturer or the Minimum Inspection Programme. This gives greater flexibility to the owner since you can do deviations from the manufacturer service manual as long as you do the tasks set out in the MIP. The MIP can be found in the Regulation and later in September EASA will release guidance material.



As you can see, a lot of responsibilities are transferred from organisations to the aircraft owner or operator which has many positive effects, but do not forget that you as an owner are obliged to gather enough information to make informed and safe decisions when it comes to your and others safety.

AOPA should not go into details on what should be done since the owner is in the end responsible, and there are plenty of data around to make the best out of your aircraft ownership. In the US, these alleviations already exist. We hope that these new set of rules will encourage the owners to learn more about aircraft maintenance and to make the community more important as a forum for sharing information and experiences.

These alleviations are all part of the Phase I goals formulated by the Task Force group that was created to develop the new Light Part-M for aircraft up to 2000 kg. The complete Light Part-M is expected to enter into force in the beginning of 2017. IAOPA has been represented by Dan Åkerman from AOPA Sweden in Phase I and later by Niklas Larsson, also AOPA Sweden, in Phase II.


Kind regards, Niklas Larsson


niklas.larsson@aopa.se

Startpac Groundpower Banner

European GA Survey

In January 2015, the Directorate General for Transport and Mobility of the European Commission (DG MOVE) commissioned the consultants COWI and Integra to study GA operations in Europe in order to better understand the current state of play in European GA so that they can decide better how to promote GA activities. This study is aligned with the GA roadmap initiated by EASA.

In order to understand this sector of aviation, a data collection initiative has been initiated through an online survey.

The objective is to reach as much as possible individual end-users with the support of the European and national associations, aero clubs and any organisations dealing with GA.

Please forward this survey to fellow AOPA members and possibly to other national associations or organisations that the consultants may not have identified, but who could provide valuable data related to GA operations.

Please follow this link to access to the survey: https://survey.enalyzer.com/?pid=f7d8ks2h

The survey ends on Sunday 16th August 2015 (The questionnaire is available in 23 EU languages. Choose your language and then, you will be directed to the questions).

Should you have any question, please contact Viviane Davy, senior expert, Integra A/S, Bruxelles. Mobile:  +32  477 88 77 87, Phone: +32 2 502 0159/+32 2 512 5933, e-mail: vid@integra.dk

Startpac Groundpower Banner

VFR Guide for Norway - 2015 Edition

The CAA Norway has updated its VFR Guide. The booklet is made to assist you as a VFR pilot in your planning and conduct of flight within Norwegian airspace. Here you can download it for free.


The vast majority of the Norwegian land masses consist of mountainous terrain with countless valleys and deep fjords. You will enjoy a spectacular scenery and great fun while flying in these areas, but you should also bear in mind that the environment may suddenly “bite” you during unfavourable flight conditions.

This booklet tries to raise the awareness of such unfavourable flight conditions. Relevant rules and regulations applicable to VFR flights within Norway are covered and so is other information necessary for safe planning and conduct of flight. Set your own limitations and prepare for the expected so you do not have to recover from the unexpected!

VFR Guide for Norway - 2015 edition.

IAOPA World Assembly 2016

In the July IAOPA newsletter, Craig Spence wrote that with a little over a year until the next IAOPA World Assembly, AOPA US events and outreach staff along with IAOPA HQ representatives had selected the venue location and would be announcing it shortly with all the essential details.

The host city is Chicago, Illinois and a central location on the scenic Chicago River in the heart of Chicago’s business, theatre and shopping districts.

Until that time, be sure to mark your calendars for Thursday July 21st through Sunday July 24th, 2016 for the assembly and a few days additional to visit EAA’s AirVenture 2016.

“I fully expect that this will be a very well attended event and the follow-on visit to Oshkosh is a journey that every pilot should make,” said Spence. “It is not too early to start thinking about topics for discussion and areas that you would like to focus on. Please be sure to pass any suggestions onto IAOPA HQ.”

For people who want to go flying themselves when visiting the World Assembly and Oshkosh (pictured is Pioneer Airport) it is important to note the helpful arrangement that FAA has made for European pilots who have old FAA validations of their national or JAR licences. These licences are no longer valid because pilots will have been given new licence numbers on their European (EASA) licence, or because they still have the old paper version of the FAA license. Free of charge you can have a new FAA plastic license sent to your home address without all the normal formalities. More details can be found here:

http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification/easa/

Startpac Groundpower Banner

Mandatory Occurrence Reporting

Martin Robinson, CEO of AOPA UK, writes:

Pilots should be aware of the new Mandatory Occurrence Reporting EU Regulation that will come into effect in November 2015.  EC Reg. 376/2014 is supported by Implementing Rule (IR) 1018/2015. This Regulation is above national law and has the same status as the Basic Regulation BR216/2018, when establishes EASA.

The original draft of this Regulation was far worse than the final version.  During the original debates the IAOPA executive committee argued that the integrity of safety reporting systems needs to be maintained as such systems are paramount to improving safety. Learning the lesson through a free reporting regime has to be the bedrock of the 'Just Culture’ system. The two relevant documents can be found on the Internet as well as the AOPA/IAOPA websites. In IR 1018/2015 you should read Annexe V.

There is some concern that pilots will not file reports. I disagree, as I believe most pilots take an interest in safety matters, and that they understand why occurrences need to be reported. I think that most pilots will use their common sense when they read the Regulation as the safety improvements that follow from having the right information may save lives. This EC Regulation applies to EASA aircraft and licensed pilots; however, the CAA is yet to decide if it will apply to Annex II aircraft.

Pilots will be able to use a web portal from November to file reports. I expect more information from the CAA in the near future.


Startpac Groundpower Banner

News from AOPA Romania

June was peak airshow season in Romania. Each weekend a major airshow took place on an airport or airfield. June 1st was the traditional Child Day Airshow at Clinceni Airfield (10 NM West of Bucharest) organized by the Romanian Airclub with AOPA Romania as its partner. A large public enjoyed a half day full of aerobatics performed by the Hawks team of Romania flying their Extra aircraft, and there were also military aircraft and skydiver "daredevils". In the opening of the show two AOPA aircraft performed and departed directly to Vadeni Airfield (100 NM east of Bucharest) where a large fly-in was organized by Mr. Albert Malaxa, an AOPA Romania member.

June 6th was Bobocu Airshow. Bobocu Airfield, situated 70 NM north-east of Bucharest, belongs to the Romanian Airforce Flight Academy. It is where a lot of commercial and military pilots started to fly. Going back to this airfield brought back a lot of memories for all the seasoned pilots that had graduated there. AOPA Romania was present on the field and flew a three-aircraft formation in front of the public.

June 13th was the Bacau Airshow held at LRBC airport (home of Aerostar). Similar to Bobocu Airshow, this airshow was also organized by the Romanian Airforce.

The roar of Mig-21 fighter jets (similar to the one in the picture, left) pleased the very large public that had gathered to enjoy a day that offered a lot of surprises. A two-ship A-10 formation made a special appearance at the show, surprising the public with some low and slow passes over the runway before vanishing into the blue sky. Helicopters, special forces, support aircraft circling low and high performance military aircraft all entertained the crowds.

General aviation had a flying slot in the show as well, and we are glad that the majority of pilots were AOPA Romania members.

But the airshow not only of the month but also of the year took place on June 20th on Baneasa Airport (LRBS). BIAS 2015 – Bucharest International AirShow – attracted a record number 200,000 visitors that enjoyed a full day of aviation. Small or big, slow or fast, piston engine or jet engine, all performers gave their best to please the public. A large jet formation, consisting of the Turkish Stars and the Baltic Bees, amazed the public with their precise formation aerobatics.

An RAF Eurofighter Typhoon diong a solo display seemed to forget the law of physics while performing, leaving the public thrilled at the end of they display. The Hawks of Romania where at their best showing that the Extra 300 has no secrets their pilots don't know. There were a lot of gigantic hearts drawn on the sky of Bucharest that day, sending back to the public  a huge thank you for all the good vibes that the pilots received on that day.

BIAS was organized by the Bucharest Airports Company in partnership with sponsors, the Romanian Airforce and AOPA Romania. We are particularly proud that our involvement has become a tradition and also that this year the show was opened by the AOPA Romania flight.

On June 18th the AOPA Romania General Assembly took place at the LRBS GA Terminal. The bylaws were updated and a new management team was elected. To be able to better react to the problems of their members across Romania, for the first time, four regional vice-presidents have been elected. Also to answer specific problems to specific GA categories a certified GA VP and Non Certified GA (ultralight) VP were elected.

The new AOPA Romania Board elected for the next two years consists of:

- Mr. Andrei Zincenco – President
- Mr. Vlad Codreanu – VP Non Certified
- Mr. Gabriel Iosif – VP Certified
- Mr. Dragos Stoicescu – VP Romania South
- Mr. Albert Malaxa – VP Romania East
- Mr. Stefan Sabau – VP Romania West
- Mr. David Nagy Molnar – VP Romania North
- Mr. Vladimir Stoicescu – VP International Liaison

Finally: AOPA Romania has teamed up with ROMATSA – the Romanian Air Traffic Services Administration – and the local CAA to incorporate all its knowhow about non-certified airfields into the official “VFR Flight Manual” that is soon to be released. In this respect, AOPA Romania was appointed as the official data originator for the non-certified airfields.

Continental Banner

Beware Aircraft Purchase Fraud

The dream of buying an aircraft turned sour for two AOPA Romania members. It took a short time for them to realize that the fact that no one was waiting for them in Switzerland to assist in the final inspection of a DA42 aircraft, like the one pictured at the 2015 Paris Air Show but registered HB-LTV, was no accident but in fact was a very elaborate fraud scheme.

The down payment to an escrow account opened in UK vanished in the same time as the fake aircraft agent. AOPA Romania started assisting them in the quest to solve this fraud and as soon we found out about the whole story we requested information from other European AOPAs; maybe someone one knows the individuals or have a lead?

As a proof of the strong European bond that exist between national affiliates, AOPA Sweden answered and give us the contact details of a very fine gentleman from AOPA Estonia whose help was very useful.

After a brief information exchange we found out that an Estonian company involved was also fake and the person used for the façade was in fact an identity theft. We continue to support the affected members and we have already contacted the local cybercrime fighting unit.

The story is just unfolding. As soon as we will have more information we will share it with every national AOPA just to prevent other AOPA members fallingl into the same trap with these thieves.

Buy a House with an Airfield!

Buttermilk Hall Farm, Blisworth, Northamptonshire, UK: A very unique property is currently being offered for sale by Berry’s in Towcester

Buttermilk Farm presents a rare opportunity to acquire a residential property in a secluded rural setting with its own grass airstrip and hangar as well as 22 acres of land, a range of traditional barns with planning consent for conversion and further outbuildings for hobby use.

There are excellent links to the wider area via the nearby A43 that runs between the M1 and M40 motorways.

For sale as a whole at a guide price of £1,350,000.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For further information or to send submissions for the newsletter, please contact Ian Sheppard (ian.sheppard@aopa.co.uk). Tel +44 1737 821409 or +44 7759 455770.