Nigel Everett is a very experienced UK GA pilot, and a very well respected
aviation
journalist.
The following message is one of many that are now beginning to be circulated, at
least in UK, amongst the GA fraternity. It is absolutely vital that every pilot
takes this threat seriously - failure to influence Eurocontrol to remove VFR
traffic from its net will mean extensive extra cost, and loads of administrative
hassle, and yet more completely unnecessary European over-regulation.
Start thinking now about what action you propose to take; I already have copies
of replies from 2 important UK GA organisations and, when I have digested them,
I may well post them onto this forum. The blank reply forms are attached. Note
Nigel's warning about the strict format and timing required for replies.
This is serious - we have all been warned!
David
G-BZAM - UK 265
----- Original Message -----
From: nigeleverett
Subject: Single Sky. All of GA to pay?
Dear Colleague
At a recent meeting the UK Department for Trade (DfT) revealed that under The
European
Single Skies Policy to which the UK signed up earlier this year, it has
been decided that in future all aircraft, regardless of whether they are IFR
or VFR, and with no minimum weight cut off, should be required to pay for use
of 'services' provided, such as air traffic control, NOTAMS and weather
information,
search and rescue and so on, whether directly or indirectly used. The
main criterion for charging is that the aircraft should land somewhere other
than
its take off point. No exemptions are offered in the draft proposals even
for gliders, microlights or balloons. The proposals seem to have been drafted
without any thought of their impact on General Aviation (GA) and are directed
mostly at getting short haul airline flights to pay more and long haul
overflying
flights to pay less.
Costs are to be apportioned on a total, not marginal, cost basis so that VFR
aircraft
will, for example, bear the cost of a VOR if it provides a service in
uncontrolled
airspace. This will be regardless of whether the aircraft actually
uses the VOR.
Nothing in the draft proposals suggests that even a light aircraft flying non
radio, from one private strip in uncontrolled airspace to another will escape
being charged. The proposals apply to all civil air traffic and General
Aviation (GA) is not mentioned. It will, apparently, be up to the governments
of individual states to decide how the payments are levied. Details may be
found at http://www.eurocontrol.int/enprm/
DfT is said to be sympathetic to the plight of GA and wants to exclude us as per
the current airways charges exemptions but the regulations do not permit that
unless the Government pays the costs thereof to the Air Navigation Service
Providers
- and it won't.
Eurocontrol has been charged with undertaking a consultation on how the charges
are to be made and has given European aviation until 17 September to make
representations.
Not only has Eurocontrol imposed this outrageously short deadline,
but it has also declined to recognise any representation unless it is made
on its official form, a copy of which is attached.
I don't think that I need spell out what this proposal could do to European GA
and I hope that you will feel moved to do what you can to argue for the
retention
of the current exemption for all VFR aircraft and for IFR aircraft below the
minimum weight for incurring Eurocontrol En Route charges. If you are willing
to join in, I ask that you now undertake two tasks:
1. Complete and return the attached form to Eurocontrol by e mail, post or
fax,
as shown on the form. You may like to consult whatever aviation body you belong
to as to the detail of your objections and they may have already formulated
some points that they are making in their own representations. I have set
out on an attached sheet three fundamental points that I regard as being central
to the issue. The list, however, is neither exhaustive nor authoritative: it
should not be copied out word for word or it is likely to be dismissed as a
mere duplicate. Set out your objections, remembering all the time, that it is
more important to get some sort of objection properly registered than to spend
days polishing up your irrefutable arguments and then failing to get the form
back in time. If you can also find the time to copy your objections to your MEPs
and MP, so much the better.
2. Contact as many GA colleagues as possible, by e mail, or however. Send
them
a copy of the form and ask them to object and to distribute the form and a
similar request to all of their contacts. An avalanche of objections from all
over Europe would give Eurocontrol a lot to think about.
Please remember that time is desperately short and immediate action is needed.
Thanks
Nigel Everett
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