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The 2006 CAA Consultation is now closed. The following information is therefore "historical", and simply provided as background to the 2008 CAA Mode S Transponder Phase 2 Consultation.
CAA presentation Barton - 23 August 2006
Based on the quality of the CAA presentation and their receptive attitude at Lasham this event should be well worth attending by BHPA pilots. Mark Dale will be representing the airspace panel.
Transponders update 22 August 2006
The RIA is very technical in its nature and has drawn much criticism from BHPA members (often flagged up by solicitor members!) that completing the response form is difficult when they don‘t understand either the question or the implications of their answer. This concern was shared by BGA members at the Lasham presentation.
If you don‘t feel suitable informed to be able to answer the questions in the response document please flag this up in the Response 10 section, adding any other constructive comments you feel appropriate.
We understand from market research experts for on line returns where questions cannot be stuck through with a pen it is best to put an ‘X‘ in all possible response boxes if you feel unable to give a reasoned response.
Please be aware the on-line response form does not allow the sender to save a copy. The CAA have been advised!
Thanks.
BHPA Airspace Panel
Transponders update 18 August 2006
Feedback from members
Thank you to all the constructive criticism and feedback received by the airspace panel and the many copies of individual responses already sent to the CAA.
We actively encourage ideas from members that we may have missed in our draft response which is already being re-written for a fourth time (!) by Tom Hardie in light of recent developments.
At the moment we don‘t have time to read individual ROA responses so please let us know by Wednesday 23rd by separate mail if you think we‘ve missed an important point. Our formal response will be sent electronically to the CAA on 29 August but we need time to incorporate feedback!
Individual responses to the RIA not required?
Not so! Some CAA staff have responded to a number of BHPA members that individual responses are not required and they are well aware of the BHPA position already. They have been corrected by their boss who has issued us with a full apology. Individual responses are relevant and encouraged by the CAA. All narratives will be included in the CAA report to the DoT so do take time to consider a reasoned Response 10 - it will count!
As of early this week around 200 responses have been received by the CAA from BHPA members. Whilst some members are waiting for further guidance please ensure you do reply by the 29th.
We accept some members do not have computer access and hope that local clubs will provide assistance to their members in this situation.
Exemption for Paragliders (and hang gliders) or Stay of Execution?
Again, Max Seaman at the CAA has been trying to defuse concerns of BHPA pilots by stating in emails that paragliders (and hang gliders) will be exempt from the proposals. His exact wording is "Until a certified LPST is available commercially for use within UK airspace, all paragliders will operate under a blanket exemption". In other words, an exemption of indeterminate time until the CAA see fit to cancel it because equipment they consider suitable has come to market. No mention of costs and obviously an attempt to deter criticism of the current RIA from the foot launch community.
The section F exemption offers no such qualification and does not include hang gliders. We have to assume that all foot launch pilots will be expected to carry a transponder at some time in the future if the proposal becomes law, especially now they‘ve realised we fly cross country (as they state on the legend of their airmaps!).
CAA transponder presentation Lasham - 17 August 2006
Very well attended with an estimated audience of 320 pilots of mainly a gliding background, many familiar faces from the hang gliding community of old.
Well chaired by the BGA and well presented by the CAA in the face of obvious disagreement.
A very useful evening where the CAA were left in no doubt that they have grossly misunderstood the nature and extent of soaring flight of all disciplines in the UK. As such many of the suggestions and presupposed exemptions were shown to be flawed. The CAA also found it difficult to explain a proposed 50% reduction in the current GA/CAT accident rate which in the UK has been zero since 1946.
The BGA fielded a series of questions also pertinent to us and we corrected the CAA on the nature of our flying as well as querying their recent strategy of deterring responses from individual BHPA members.
The short response period, the lack of second stage consultation and lack of qualifying safety data were also criticised.
Analysis of the responses received by the CAA to date suggeststhe GA community agree there is a need to improve collision avoidance measures although 77% believe a transponder will not improve safety. A worrying 17% support airspace segregation - in other word supporting the idea of "flying reserves" for GA rather than an integrated airspace usage.
Thanks to all members who attended, especially Justin Needham for his valid point about EMC interference with our unshielded, uncertified instrumentation which may well be damaged by a 20-30 or even 70W transmission burst from a transponder.
CAA small business presentation - 15 August 2006
Poorly attended by BHPA schools and dealers who will be severely effected by the proposals. Please take time to consider the burden of transponder costs to a new pilot, tugging operations and indeed demand for wings and equipment.
The CAA Mode S Transponder story so far.....
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