CAA provides update on pilot licensing reform project
Following a 10-week public consultation on plans to reform pilot licensing, the UK CAA has now published its latest update, confirming that responses have proven broadly favourable to its proposals and the Authority will now move forward to enact changes. The consultation, launched in March 2024, proposed a number of key changes to pilot licensing, including: Reduced minimum flight time for PPL(A) – down from 45 to 40 hours –...
CAA publishes mountain flying guidance
The UK CAA has published a new webpage providing guidance on mountain flying. The guidance provides information on terrain clearances, flying abroad in mountainous areas such as the Alps, mountain weather conditions, situational awareness, physiological affects of high altitude flying and aircraft performance. When flying in the mountainous areas such as the Alps, the CAA says: “Mountain ranges such as the Alps may be too high to...
Liz Inwood Taildragger Scholarship open for applications
The Vintage Aircraft Club (VAC) has opened its doors to applications for its long-running Liz Inwood Taildragger Scholarship. Established in memory of the late Tiger Moth pilot and flying instructor Liz Inwood, the scholarship is open to licensed pilots under the age of 35. The successful recipient is offered five hours flying to assist them in transitioning from flying nose wheel aircraft to tailwheel heritage types. The applicant...
Strategic Aerodrome Network calls for airfield protection in National Planning Policy
The Strategic Aerodrome Network (SAN) reports that it now has 118 airfields listed as being strategically important to UK aviation infrastructure, and its programme directors are continuing to encourage more airfields to join. Ann Bartby and Louise Southern, who run the programme, says that the SAN is now of even more importance as Government’s new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) proposals gives the highest priority for new...
Castle Air Academy launches its first integrated training course
Gloucestershire Airport based Castle Air Academy has commenced training its first intake of cadets enrolled on the academy’s new Integrated Commercial Pilot Licence (Helicopter) Course with Instrument Rating, signalling a first for the UK’s helicopter training industry. The new, fully integrated course will take cadets with no prior flying experience to CPL/IR level, making them eligible to apply for careers across the helicopter...
EFA cadets offered new fATPL financing opportunity
Following a tie-in with finance company Brain Capital, the European Flight Academy (EFA), Lufthansa Group’s flight school, is now able to offer frozen Air Transport Pilot Licence (fATPL) training programmes that only require a €10,000 payment contribution from cadets, regardless of individual financial circumstances. According to EFA, once a candidate has secured a training contract with the academy, no other financial securities,...
