Strong member demand for IAOPA Europe Part-IS guidance

Following the publication of the IAOPA Europe December 2025 newsletter, IAOPA Europe has received an unexpectedly high number of requests from members for a Part-IS template manual. The response has been particularly strong from small organisations such as flight schools, commercial and NCC operators, indicating a significant need for practical, proportionate guidance on how to implement EASA’s information security (Part-IS) requirements without excessive administrative burden.

The scale of interest highlights a clear concern within the GA community about how Part-IS should be applied in a realistic and operationally meaningful way for small organisations, where digital connectivity is often limited and operational risk exposure differs fundamentally from that of large commercial operators. Members have specifically expressed the need for simple, understandable compliance models rather than complex corporate-style information security systems.

In response, IAOPA Europe is developing a proportionate implementation concept focused on flight safety rather than business IT systems. The approach being worked on is based on identifying the few genuinely safety-critical digital processes within small GA organisations – in particular, the secure updating of aircraft navigation databases –  and defining practical protective measures around these processes. This includes concepts such as the use of dedicated systems for data downloads, limited network exposure, and clearly defined operational procedures, rather than broad and complex cybersecurity frameworks.

This concept has already been discussed informally with regulatory stakeholders, including EASA representatives, and has received positive initial feedback as a risk-based, proportionate and safety-focused approach to Part-IS compliance. IAOPA Europe is exploring regulatory pathways through both national authorities and EASA mechanisms to ensure that such an approach can be formally recognised within the existing regulatory framework.

IAOPA Europe acknowledges the strong interest from members and confirms that work is underway to develop practical guidance material that can realistically support small organisations in meeting Part-IS obligations. Further communication will follow as this work progresses, with the aim of providing clear, usable solutions rather than creating unnecessary administrative complexity.

ForeFlight and IAOPA Europe Expand Partnership to Offer Increased Discounts for General Aviation Pilots in Europe

After a successful partnership between IAOPA Europe and ForeFlight this last year, ForeFlight is increasing the discount percentage it offers to members of IAOPA Europe from fifteen (15%) to twenty five percent (25%). This discount encompasses all available individual ForeFlight Starter, Essential, and Premium subscriptions, additional regions, Jeppesen Charts, FLARM, and any third-party chart add-ons – all available through Foreflight. 

In order to qualify for this exclusive offer, visit the dedicated Foreflight IAOPA Europe Member Benefits page  to validate your AOPA membership before purchasing or renewing any subscription. *Restrictions apply.

ForeFlight simplifies the flying experience for European pilots with integrated, all-in-one capabilities for both VFR & IFR flying. Going beyond traditional chart viewers and route planners, ForeFlight serves as a comprehensive flight app that supports pilots at every stage. From detailed flight planning and real-time weather updates to advanced charting and inflight support, ForeFlight offers an intuitive suite of features designed to enhance your flying experience. (click on the picture for the AOPA benefits from Foreflight)

ForeFlight’s commitment to improving flight safety, efficiency, and situational awareness aligns closely with IAOPA Europe’s mission to support and advance general aviation across the region.

New to ForeFlight? You can explore the app risk-free with a 30-day free trial before committing to a subscription. Simply download ForeFlight from the App Store to start your free trial or visit our website. This trial includes access to our suite of intuitive features such as customizable aeronautical maps, real-time weather updates, flight planning tools, and the new EASA-compliant logbook for streamlined European record-keeping and FCL.050 reporting.

Leadership transition at AOPA Switzerland

After 16 years as President of AOPA Switzerland, Daniel Affolter has decided to step down from his position at the end of the year, marking the conclusion of a long and highly impactful period of leadership.
During his presidency, Daniel Affolter played a key role in promoting and explaining General Aviation within national and international bodies, engaging constructively with a wide range of partners and institutions. As a lawyer, he made significant contributions in representing GA interests, including dialogue with European customs and border authorities, and he was a highly respected contributor to IAOPA Regional Meetings and World Assemblies. He was also a strong advocate for keeping the “older generation” of aircraft flying safely for as long as possible — an important issue for Europe’s GA community.

IAOPA Europe and AOPA Switzerland extend sincere thanks to Daniel Affolter for his lasting contribution to General Aviation.

At the recent AOPA Switzerland board meeting, elections were held for a new leadership team. Roland Kaps-Becker will assume the role of President of AOPA Switzerland as of 1 January 2026. He expressed his commitment to continuing the promotion of the spirit and joy of flying, while also working toward simplifying regulatory frameworks for pilots and aircraft owners.

In addition, Deborah Müller has been elected as Vice President of AOPA Switzerland. She previously served as Vice President of Women Pilots Switzerland and joined the AOPA Switzerland board in spring 2025. Deborah Müller works as Technical & Space Lead at ETH Zurich Space, the space activities institute of the Polytechnic University of Zurich, bringing strong technical expertise and new perspectives to the leadership team.
IAOPA Europe congratulates the new leadership and looks forward to continued close cooperation with AOPA Switzerland in strengthening General Aviation across Europe.

100-Octane unleaded fuel developments in Europe

The transition to unleaded aviation fuels continues to gain momentum, with growing international attention on new 100-octane unleaded alternatives for the general aviation fleet.

Recent discussions within the IAOPA Europe community focused on the question of European availability and distribution of emerging fuels such as Swift Fuels and GAMI UL. While no confirmed European distribution networks have yet been formally announced, an important connection has come to light: Clemens Bollinger, board member of AOPA Germany, also serves as the German representative for Swift Fuels.
This represents a potentially significant link for future coordination and development of European supply chains, regulatory alignment, and implementation strategies.

IAOPA Europe will continue to monitor progress in certification, distribution, and infrastructure development of unleaded avgas solutions and will keep members informed as concrete developments emerge.

Airfield Directory: A new open European platform for GA airfield information

IAOPA Europe is drawing attention to a new community-driven initiative that aims to improve access to operational information for general aviation pilots across Europe: Airfield Directory.

The project, developed by AOPA Germany member Thomas Witt, is a free, open, and non-commercial online platform that collects and publishes pilot-written airfield reports (“PIREPs”), landing fees, fuel prices, and operational notes for GA airfields. The concept is often described as a “Wikipedia for airports”, designed to make essential flight planning information easily accessible, reusable, and openly available.

Within just four months, the platform has already gathered over 540 airfield reports, with contributions coming from across Europe, including the UK, France, the Netherlands and beyond. All content is automatically translated into six languages (DE, EN, ES, FR, IT, NL), supporting cross-border accessibility and the European GA community.

Key features include:

• Community-written airfield reports under an open Creative Commons license
• Landing fees and fuel price information
• Interactive maps and advanced filtering
• Integrated webcams and weather data
• Multilingual auto-translation
• Telegram bot access for low-bandwidth environments
• Open data access and APIs for integration with other platforms

The platform is already supported and featured by AOPA Germany, and discussions are ongoing about possible cooperation with international partners, including AOPA USA and other data providers.

IAOPA Europe sees this as a positive, pilot-driven initiative that aligns strongly with the goals of accessibility, safety, transparency, and cross-border cooperation in general aviation. Members are encouraged to explore the platform, contribute reports, and support the development of this open European information resource.

You find the Airfield Directory here.

Chris Scott new president AOPA Luxembourg

On 17 January 2026, AOPA Luxembourg held its General Assembly. Members gathered to review the past year, discuss the future of General Aviation in Luxembourg, and formalize an important leadership transition.
After many years of dedicated and distinguished service, Peter Sodermans stepped down as President of AOPA Luxembourg. The Assembly elected Ms. Chris Scott – previously a board member, Vice‑President, and Secretary General – as the new President.

Chris is a committed and enthusiastic pilot who flies ultralights (including her own WT9), as well as light aircraft such as the Cirrus and Robin, and vintage aircraft like the Cessna C140. In addition to her aviation experience, she brings a strong professional background as a lawyer and parliamentary advisor, enhancing her ability to navigate complex regulatory environments and advocate effectively for the General Aviation community.

As both AOPA’s representative and Luxembourg’s delegate to the World Air Sports Federation (FAI), she intends to continue the course set by her predecessor: promoting and protecting ultralight flying and General Aviation at both national and international levels, particularly at a time when the sector faces increasing regulatory, operational, and infrastructure challenges.

Among her priorities is the revitalisation of Luxembourg’s air‑sports and General Aviation activities, with a strong focus on fostering cooperation across all branches of aviation in the country. Chris also encourages members to play a more active role (whether by joining the board or contributing to specific projects) to strengthen AOPA’s capacity to represent the General Aviation community effectively.

AOPA Monaco launches new aviation newsletter

AOPA Monaco has launched its first monthly newsletter, creating a new communication platform for pilots, aircraft owners, operators and aviation professionals active in general aviation, business aviation and helicopter operations in Monaco and across Europe. The publication is designed as a structured regulatory, operational and market intelligence platform, providing practical information and policy-relevant insight for a complex and evolving civil aviation environment.

The inaugural January 2026 edition reflects this ambition with a strategically focused scope. It covers national regulatory measures in Monaco, including temporary restrictions on drone and UAS operations linked to major public events and national security, as well as the carbon accreditation of Monaco Heliport, presented as a strategic “license to operate” within ESG, procurement and tendering frameworks. At European level, it addresses key developments such as ReFuelEU Aviation and sustainable aviation fuel obligations, including Switzerland’s adoption of the framework from 1 January 2026, EASA cyber and information security compliance under Part-IS, continuing airworthiness regulation updates, and France’s private jet and helicopter departure tax regime.

The newsletter also examines emerging legal and market trends, including the Swedish data protection authority’s decision on Flightradar24 and GDPR, the planned launch of Gibraltar’s VP-G aircraft registry in 2026, and the partnership between Héli Air Monaco and Vertical Aerospace for future eVTOL operations along the French Riviera. Major European and international aviation events are integrated into the editorial scope, reinforcing the publication’s role as a comprehensive information platform.

In his foreword, Oliver Oberhofer, President of AOPA Monaco, states that the newsletter aims to strengthen access to reliable information, protect the freedom to fly, promote safety and accessibility, and keep members informed at both national and international levels. IAOPA Europe welcomes the initiative as a valuable contribution to European general aviation communication and policy coordination within the IAOPA network.

Vertical Aerospace unveils Valo eVTOL aircraft

UK-based Vertical Aerospace has unveiled its new electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL), the Valo, marking a transition from prototype development to a commercially focused operational platform. Unlike earlier experimental models, Valo is designed specifically for future commercial service, subject to regulatory certification.

The Valo succeeds Vertical’s VX4 prototype programme, of which three aircraft have been flying since January. It is designed for zero-emission operations, with a projected range of up to 160 km and cruise speeds of up to 240 km/h. Vertical Aerospace is targeting full passenger aircraft-level safety certification by 2028, after which the aircraft is expected to enter service with airlines and commercial operators.

EASA approves a pragmatic solution to the fire extinguisher issue

You may recall previous articles on this topic: The EU has banned halon-containing fire extinguishers in aircraft cabins for environmental reasons. What does this mean for general aviation? Non-commercial aircraft under 1200 kg are exempt from the requirement to carry fire extinguishers. However, aircraft over 1200 kg MTOM are required to carry a fire extinguisher, even in non-commercial operation. The legal basis for this is NCO.IDE.A.160. Currently, halon-free extinguishers with aviation approval are scarce, as airlines are currently buying up all available stock and are themselves retrofitting their aircraft. Aviation-certified fire extinguishers with the permitted successor substance "Halotron 2" are also very expensive, costing around €1500 for the smallest available size.

But above all, aviation-approved fire extinguishers create a completely different problem for the occupants of confined cabins: Their use poses a serious health risk, as the extinguishing agents severely irritate the respiratory system. Typically, the smallest fire extinguishers are approved for cabin sizes starting at around 10 m³, but a four-seater aircraft only has a cabin volume of approximately 2 m³. A fire extinguisher empties in about 10 seconds. Therefore, after a spray lasting just 2 seconds, the health risk threshold for aircraft occupants is already reached.
So, in the event of a fire, are we supposed to choose between burning to death or suffocating, or are there other solutions that are ideally not only safe but also cost-effective?
Yes, there are. It's quite obvious that there are also inexpensive, compact fire extinguishers weighing around 500g and costing under €100. These are specifically designed for use in small spaces like kitchens, cars, and sports boats. They use harmless aerosols and therefore, even when used in the cockpit, do not endanger the occupants or even the avionics. What more could you want?
The European IAOPA has recommended to EASA that aircraft operators be officially allowed to choose suitable fire extinguishers themselves.
It took some time, but it has now been successful. The EASA experts apparently find our argument convincing and have adopted it. Only equipment that is permanently installed must be approved for aviation according to NCO.IDE.A.100 (4).

What should you, as an aircraft owner, do now?

• Look for suitable fire extinguishers that extinguish a fire without endangering the occupants. We found two aerosol fire extinguishers on the market: the eJet Aerosol (approx. €60) and the Maus XTIN Klein (approx. €100), which you can easily find with an internet search.
• The fire extinguishers should be stored in the cabin in a way that allows easy access, but they shouldn't be unsecured when in use: for example, in the glove compartment, side pockets, etc., but not permanently attached to the aircraft.
• It's also a good idea to consider a fireproof bag and a glove for tablet computers or mobile phones, which, statistically speaking, have the highest probability of catching fire and which cannot usually be extinguished with a fire extinguisher. These are available online for around €20.

This solution does not help operators of aircraft in non-commercial complex (Part NCC) and AOC operators, as certified fire extinguishers are mandatory in these cases.

However, there is still room for discussion: If the aircraft is type certificated with a permanently installed fire extinguisher (according to CS23) and the aircraft's type approval, then the solution outlined above for non-permanently installed and non-aviation-approved equipment does not apply according to EASA interpretations. We believe, however, that according to OPS NCO.IDE.A.100 (b)(5), safety equipment such as emergency axes, first-aid kits, etc., do not require approval, and that the same should then apply to fire extinguishers that are easily removable and just mounted in a fixed installed bracket.

An official communication from EASA will be issued in the coming weeks.

AOPA UK highlights 2025 achievements and 2026 priorities

AOPA UK’s 2025 review outlines a year of sustained advocacy across licensing reform, airspace policy, medical regulation, fuel security and aerodrome protection, reinforcing its role as a key independent voice for UK General Aviation.

A central achievement was AOPA’s contribution to the UK CAA’s Licensing and Training Simplification Report, reflecting priorities such as clearer pathways between NPPL, LAPL and PPL licences, reduced administrative burden, and closer alignment with ICAO principles. AOPA continues to press for practical implementation from October 2025.

Further work in 2025 included engagement on medical policy, strengthened airspace representation through NATMAC during the UK’s major airspace redesign programme, protection of Class G access, and monitoring of the growing impact of UAS and BVLOS operations. AOPA UK also prioritised AVGAS supply security, supported the transition to unleaded fuels, and addressed challenges in aircraft maintenance, engineer availability and parts supply.

Looking ahead to 2026, AOPA UK remains engaged with the Department for Transport and CAA on airspace modernisation, drone integration, surveillance policy and regulatory capacity risks, while raising concerns over “user pays” principles and the long-term erosion of GA access.

AOPA US announces leadership transition

AOPA USA has announced a leadership transition, with president and CEO Darren Pleasance stepping out of the day-to-day executive role and moving into an advisory position. In this capacity, Pleasance will continue to support the organisation and its Board of Trustees during the search for a new CEO.

The Board noted that the CEO role is expected to be based full-time at AOPA headquarters in Frederick, Maryland. Pleasance has led the association while living in Oregon and travelling extensively to engage with members and staff, a commitment the Board acknowledged and thanked him for.

During the interim period, AOPA’s daily operations will be jointly led by chief financial officer Jill Baker and senior vice president of Membership Strategy and Growth Katie Pribyl, who will serve as acting co-presidents. Both are members of AOPA’s executive leadership team, ensuring continuity in management and decision-making.

AOPA emphasised that its core activities (including advocacy, aviation safety, pilot training, and member services) will continue without interruption while the Board conducts a formal and inclusive search for the next president and CEO of AOPA.

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: gerritbrand[at]hotmail[dot]com, telephone or WhatsApp + 31 6 50831893