IAOPA Europe Enews May 2022 - Welcome to the IAOPA Europe enews which goes to 23,000 aircraft owners and pilots in 27 countries across the continent

AERO Friedrichshafen was a success

After a two-year absence, Aero 2022 was held in Friedrichshafen from April 27-30. This year's theme was the future of General Aviation. This theme was expressed by focusing on alternative propulsion, biofuels, urban air mobility and drones although the latter sector was only partially highlighted. It was notable that one entire hall was devoted to developments in the alternative field. Electrically powered aircraft, hybrid applications and initiatives using hydrogen. In the other halls, too, the various exhibitors were displaying this type of trial set-up. By researching and experimenting, the long road to sustainability will hopefully be found. It is clear that the GA sector serves as the incubator for large-scale aviation. After all, most developments take off in our sector.

 

Strong IAOPA presence at the booth

What was important at AERO from AOPA's point of view? In addition to the opportunity to meet existing and new members, especially the exchange with the trade audience was significant for us. Our booth was again directly adjacent to that of EASA, the LBA was only 20 meters away, our colleagues from DAeC and DULV were in the hall opposite, and many IAOPA colleagues were also present. So we were able to meet and exchange ideas on various topics at short notice.
Besides the many exhibitors (everyone of any importance in the world of General Aviation was there), IAOPA was traditionally present with an impressive booth. Anyway, the many AOPA members from Germany and Switzerland, but also from the other European countries and even the USA could meet each other at the AOPA booth. We also met there besides the chairman of IAOPA Europe, Michael Erb, among others Daniel Affolter and Philippe Hauser (Switzerland), Elmar Giemulla (Germany), Mark Rademaker (The Netherlands), Esa Harju (Finland), Emmanuel Davidson (France), Martin Robinson (UK), Blazej Krupa (Poland), Jiri Marousek (USA), Carlos Marti (Spain), Andrei Zincenco (Romania) and Peter Sodermans (Luxembourg). 

Unfortunately this newsletter is not extensive enough to show many pictures of the fair. Therefore a somewhat businesslike report, in words.
General Aviation is optimistically tackling the challenges of the future and presented a wide range of solutions for even greater safety and sustainability at the four-day leading trade show in Friedrichshafen.
The exhibiting companies and the international trade audience were thrilled to meet and exchange ideas in person again.

Great response

The great response to AERO 2022 (April 27-30) shows how indispensable face-to-face meetings are for an industry. 27,700 trade visitors from 75 nations flocked to the exhibition center on Lake Constance, which was almost completely booked with 633 exhibitors, during the four days of the trade show. Reunions radiated throughout AERO and the industry was once again shown the value of face-to-face networking, chance encounters, as well as many scheduled appointments and physical product experiences.

The general aviation industry has made good use of the past few years of AERO's forced hiatus. Even during the Corona crisis, company development departments have been working flat out on new products and services that make flying more sustainable, safer and easier.

The focus at the show was therefore on innovative and sustainable propulsion, with electric motors and green, renewable fuels. We also saw new turboprop concepts with only 150 hp, also in ultralights. Ultralights seem to have the future in GA anyway. Another focus was on modern avionics, also for easy retrofit (Garmin G5 und GI 275) with very wide approval via AMLs.

It became clear that many manufacturers are already sold out for the coming time, aircraft sales are booming from Microlight to Business Jet. As Tobias Bretzel, project manager of AERO said: The high-tech technologies from general aviation will flow into large-scale aviation. The spirit of optimism and the impetus generated by AERO 2022 will have an impact far beyond the trade show.

EASA

Also EASA was clearly present with a booth (near the AOPA booth) so that there was a lot of networking with the authorities. Something that proves the success of the GA Roadmap.At EASA, the General Aviation Roadmap was presented, what has already been achieved, what the next goals are. In doing so, we presented how we have managed to move in Europe, against considerable resistance, from the previously completely over-regulated instrument rating, which was almost unattainable for a PPL holder, first to the competency-based, and now also to the Basic Instrument Rating.
It is noteworthy that this is Dominique Roland's last AERO before retirement. At EASA, the Aerobatic pilot has been the dedicated mind behind the GA Roadmap for years, but the new team around Alain Leroy and Vladimir Turin also shows high motivation.

Many new products and innovations at AERO 2022. Sustainability first

At AERO 2022 trade show visitors experienced a greater number of new products and innovations than ever before. The topic of sustainability was very clearly in the foreground. Aviation is facing a technological generation change in drives. Which type of drive - electric, hybrid-electric, hydrogen fuel cell or bio- and eFuels - will prevail in the future is not yet foreseeable and was the subject of many discussions at the most extensive AERO conference program ever. What is certain, however, is that the future of aviation will be sustainable. The newly created Sustainable Aviation Trail - marked by large green balloons above the booths of participating exhibitors - highlighted companies and institutions that are particularly committed to sustainability in aviation.

New products on display for the first time at AERO included the Alpi Twin twin-engine powered aircraft from Italian manufacturer Alpi Aviation, the A414 four-seat single-engine aircraft from Schönhagen-based Aquila Aviation, the Elixir 915iS two-seat training and touring aircraft from the French company Elixir Aircraft with a 100 hp (74 kW) Rotax 915iS engine, the VL3 Evolution ultralight aircraft from the Belgian manufacturer JMB Aircraft with a turboprop engine from the French manufacturer Turbotech, and the Junkers A50 Junior and Junkers A60 ultralight aircraft.

There were also many innovations to be discovered in aircraft systems and accessories at AERO 2022, ranging from new avionics (aircraft electronics) and new software for flight planning and execution to aviation-related services.

The next AEROwill be held in Friedrichshafen from April 19 - 22, 2023.

 

 

TEL will require authorization in Europe after November 2023

An important topic at AERO were the developments around leaded Avgas. An update was given on GAMI fuel. But we are not there yet. The fact that the use of Avgas is being phased out may still cause major problems for the producers of traditional engines and aircraft.
 

TEL stands for Tetraethyllead, an additive (leaded) to Avgas. TEL has now officially been added to the list of substances requiring an authorization in Europe. See this link if you want to know more about it. 

The latest possible date for an application to continue the import into the EU and the provision of pure TEL for blending into Avgas 100LL within the EU is 1st November 2023.
The Sunset Date for TEL import and blending, in case no such authorization will be granted, is 1st May 2025. 

 

EU Commission sees Danish ban on third-country aircraft as "ongoing infringement". Spain is now also in the spotlight.

The EU Commission is now actively pursuing those States that do not accept third-country-registered aircraft in their countries. In addition to the previously reported case against Denmark which the Commission now refers to as an "ongoing infringement", a similar case has also been launched against Spain. Third-country-registered aircraft are regulated in the Basic EU regulation so individual states cannot outlaw them as has happened in both Denmark and Spain. The case was initiated by the Commission after a complaint from AOPA Denmark.

In the latest Infringement newsletter the "Commission calls on DENMARK to respect the rules on foreign-registered aircraft" and mentions that "Denmark accepted to change its administrative practices as regards aircraft registered in other EU Member States. However, the national legal base for these practices has not yet been amended, which constitutes an ongoing infringement. Denmark is also continuing such restrictive practices with regard to aircraft registered in third countries." Denmark now has 2 month to respond before the Commission may decide to refer the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union

In a similar case against Spain the EU Commission points out that "The Spanish obligation for re-registration of certain aircraft imposes an additional requirement that hinders the harmonisation needed to guarantee a high and uniform level of civil aviation safety in the Union, and it infringes on the right of operators of aircraft registered in other Member States or third countries to base such aircraft in Spain."

Please keep us informed about the aviation news in your country

If you have any news or things that you would like to share with pilots in other countries - for instance if you organize a Fly-in that might be of interest or if there is news about airports or new rules and regulations in your country that other pilots should know - please don't hesitate to send all your news to me:
Gerrit Brand | Netherlands | email: newsletteriaopaeu@hotmail.com, telephone or whatsapp + 31 6 50831893.