New IFR regulation for GA finally adopted

In a vote on October 27'th the EU States unanimously adopted new rules for IFR Operations. The section for non-commercial operations (NCO) is made particularly with the specific needs of General Aviation in mind and IAOPA is happy to see the previously published EASA opinion adopted with no significant changes.

The new rules are supporting the ongoing efforts to make instrument flying available at smaller airfields and are in many ways simplifying IFR operations. As an example the approach-ban rule is now based on a single value of 550m RVR and it is clarified that if no RVR value is reported then the approach ban does not apply and the approach can be continued to minimums. Another example is GNSS based approaches where both the destination and alternate may now under certain conditions be based on GNSS.

Most of the regulation is introducing more flexibilty for non commercial (NCO) IFR operations, but in a few places it was found appropriate to make more stringent regulation. For instance when it comes to planning minima for the destination alternate: Here an add-on to the operational minima is now required.

IAOPA Europe has been taking part in the process from the outset and was represented in the EASA working group by Jacob Pedersen from AOPA Denmark.

AMC and guidance material is expected to be published in Q1 2022 and the new rules applies from October 30'th 2022.

VTOL Show and safety conference
EUROPEAN ROTORS 16. – 18. November 2021 in Cologne

With more than 150 exhibitors and a unique educational programme including conferences, workshops and certified training courses from around 130 speakers „EUROPEAN ROTORS - The VTOL show and safety conference" brings together all industry stakeholders (including Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM), suppliers and operators).
For the first time, the European Helicopter Association (EHA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) are teaming up to create an exceptional showcase for the European rotorcraft community. 

Symposium

One of the highlights is EASA´s Rotorcraft and VTOL Symposium, held by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. The symposium is developed to be the premier platform for European helicopter operators and the industry to jointly discuss current and future challenges with the European regulator.
On-site more than 15 aircraft will be showcased on exhibitor booths and in the indoor static display. Beside Helicopters other vertical take-off and landing aircraft (VTOL) with difference level of autonomy will also be integrated, as they are an important future technology.

Interesting topics for pilots and flight schools – just to mention a few:

• 16.11.: Vuichard Safety Seminar – fee based
• 16.11. EASA briefing on helicopter OPS rules –free
• 17.11.: Safe Helicopter Operations – Focus on General Aviation – conference on stage
• 17.11. Safety Culture and Leadership – fee based
• 17.11.: What you don't know about the Vortex Ring State –presentation on stage
• 18.11. PBN Workshop – free

Beside the unique cooperation between EHA and EASA EUROPEAN ROTORS has the full support of the leading OEMs such as Airbus, Bell, Leonardo and Safran. Messe Friedrichshafen, the organizer of the well-known General Aviation show AERO Friedrichshafen, is the service provider for the new show.

The venue will be in Hall 8, including the Conference Centre North of Kölnmesse in Cologne, Germany.

EUROPEAN ROTORS will be held annually from 2021 onwards

Book your tickets now to finally re-connect face to face with the industry at www.visit.europeanrotors.eu/en/ticket
Tickets can only be booked online – no cash desk available onsite at the venue for purchasing tickets!
Further information is available at https://www.visit.europeanrotors.eu/en

Gerrit Jacobs, Grand Old man of the Dutch General Aviation, passed away

From the board of AOPA Netherlands we received the sad news that former chairman Gerrit Jacobs passed away on November 6. Gerrit would have turned 90 years old at the end of this month. He was closely involved with AOPA, both in the Netherlands and internationally. Not only in recent years, but from the very beginning. Many knew him and he knew many.

Gerrit Jacobs (1931) served in the Royal Dutch Air Force from 1951 to 1989. He was one of the first jet fighter pilots in the Netherlands. He was also and afterwards very active in civil aviation, as a flight instructor. He was chairman of AOPA Netherlands from 1996 to 2003.
A dedicated GA pilot is gone! We wish his loved ones and relatives strength in coping with the loss of this remarkable man, who we can safely call the Grand Old Man of Dutch General Aviation.

EASA HLC ON DRONES: 18-19 JANUARY 2022 | UAM BECOMING A REALITY

Save the date for the next EASA High Level Conference on Drones taking place from 18 - 19 January during the fourth edition of Amsterdam Drone Week at RAI Amsterdam. This essential 2-day conference brings together experts, policy makers and leading companies in the field of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) to discuss the outcome of EASA’s Social Acceptance study, U-Space implementation and the Multi-Level Governance of Urban Skies. 

UAM becoming a reality

The main theme of the EASA High Level Conference on Drones will be ‘UAM becoming a reality’. EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky, said: “Drones and Urban Air Mobility are extremely dynamic areas at the moment and EASA is working at speed to make sure everything is in place to allow this industry to develop quickly and safely. Contact and interaction with our stakeholders is an important part of that process and I am looking forward to meeting up with the wider community in Amsterdam.”

Opening

The first day of the conference – Tuesday 18 January - is dedicated to the new reality of UAM. The official opening by Patrick Ky will be followed by keynote speeches delivered by high level representatives of UAM politics and industry. Three panel discussions on the central theme are planned in the afternoon. 

Technical Workshops

The second day of the conference - Wednesday 19 January - will be devoted to technical workshops, giving attendees opportunities to discuss their questions in an open Q&A setting. Subjects under discussion will be, for example, the application of the guidelines related to design verification of UAS, technical requirements on vertiports, counter drones technology, U-Space implementation and UAM Infrastructure.

From 18 – 20 January the global UAM community will gather in Amsterdam to discuss all topics related to the main theme of ADW Hybrid: Adding value to society with Urban Air Mobility. The High Level Conference will provide you with the full picture on European drone rules and give you the chance to discuss and directly engage with European policy makers. With an EASA HLC Delegate pass, delegates will have all area access to the leading international platform for Urban Air Mobility: Amsterdam Drone Week, ADW Hybrid from 18 – 20 January 2022. For more information click here.

Icon A5 technology not to be sold to China

Rotorschmiede: helicopter with counter-rotating rotors

German helicopter manufacturer Rotorschmiede has begun the first test flights of its new VA250 helicopter, which will be marketed alongside the single-seat VA150.

The two-seat VA250 is powered by a three-cylinder Hirth H37 engine of 91 hp (67 kW).  The helicopter, which is offered as an MLA with an MTOW of 550 kg, has no tail rotor but is kept in the air by a coaxial rotor system (where two main rotors rotate counter-rotationally).

Rotorschmiede - officially RS Helikopter GmbH - in Munich foresees a great future for its VA250 especially in the training of helicopter pilots.

New task for old Twin Otter

Climate change is making aircraft manufacturers get creative. The manufacturer of the twin-engine DHC-6 Twin Otter, Canada's Viking Air Ltd, has partnered with PAL Aerospace, also from Canada, to make the Twin Otter suitable for fighting forest fires.

The Twin Otter first flew in 1965 but is still in production. Some 1,000 examples of this aircraft have now been built. Viking and PAL are now working together on a fast-track modification that will allow existing Twin Otters to be converted to Aerial FireFighting System (AFFS) in a short period of time.

The Egg of a Cherokee

Let's face it: new variants of the Piper Cherokee are like dinosaur eggs; they are the offspring of developments from long ago. But Piper is trying to squeeze the very last inspiration and dollars out of the classic PA-28 bestseller. And it seems to be succeeding, as dozens of orders have already been received for the new Piper 100i, which apparently can no longer be called a Cherokee. The first Piper Cherokee flew on January 14, 1960. The main differences between that Cherokee of 62 years ago and the Piper 100i of today are the modified wing (introduced as early as 1978)and the new IFR avionics: a Garmin G3X and a G500 autopilot. But it remains a great-grandchild of the Cherokee, which you can therefore view with as much respect as cynicism. 

Piper 100i, a great-grandchild of the Cherokee, more about the plane on this link

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.