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HIAL Airport Charges Increase from 1 April 2024 |
Highland and Islands Airport Ltd (HIAL) have published charges for the use of their airports with effect from 1 April 2024. Details can be found here.
For private GA flights in light aircraft the charges have increased over 300% compared to 2023 charges. The significant changes have been the introduction of a navigation fee of £15 (+VAT) for aircraft under 2,500 kg and parking fees, the first 60 minutes are free and then charges of £40 (exc VAT) for the next 4 hours and then £2.50 (exc VAT) per hour, or part thereof, thereafter for aircraft up to 10,000 kg. An 8 hour stay for a private flight in an aircarft under 2,500 kg the basic cost will be:
Landing Fee: £21 +VAT
Navigation Fee: £15 + VAT
Parking: 60 minutes free, £40 + VAT for the next 4 Hours and £2.50 + VAT for the next 3 hours
Total: £100.20 inc VAT (The cost in 2023 would have been £31.18 inc VAT)
Other services would be additionally charged for if used.
When the 2024 charges were published, AOPA contacted HIAL with a number of questions in order to establish what charges would apply to private flights and some further clarifications. We have today received a response from Alastair Gleave, HIAL Chief Commercial Office. The salient points from his response are:
1) For clarification cost sharing flights meet the deifintion of a private flight. HIAL will review their wording.
2) The navigation fee covers all aspects of air navigation service provision, including Communication, Navigation, Surveillance (CNS), Meteorological (MET) and Air Traffic Services (ATS) – both Air Traffic Control (ATC) and Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS), as applicable. Therefore, the navigation fee for air navigation services will apply to both IFR and VFR operations.
AOPA: Many of the services listed are not required by private pilots who self-handle and this charge will be challenged.
3) The review of HIAL’s Conditions of Use and charges identified aircraft parking as an area that required re-assessment. The published parking fees apply for all aircraft. The feedback received has highlighted the unintended impact of the new pricing scales on the private light aircraft community. The inclusion of an additional parking scale for aircraft up to 2.5 tonnes will be explored.
AOPA: It has been pointed out to HIAL that Dundee offer a 24 hour flat fee of £15 (+VAT) per day for light aircraft parking on grass. A similar flat fee should be considered for other HIAL airports.
Martin Robinson
CEO AOPA UK
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ACP-2023-033 London Oxford Airport Airspace Change Proposal Stakeholder Engagement: CAP 1616 DESIGN PRINCIPLES |
Oxford Aviation Services Limited (OASL), the operator of London Oxford Airport proposes to modernise its air navigation procedures and associated infrastructure. To progress this, they are required to commence a formal Airspace Change Proposal (ACP) process which is regulated and overseen by the United Kingdom (UK) Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
In support of this stakeholed engagament, the following documents have been published:
To download either document click on the three dots.
Reponses regarding the draft Design Principles must be received by 24 April 2024. If you wish to provide AOPA with your views:
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ACP-2023-015: Northumbria NHS Air Grid Stakeholder Engagement Part 3 |
Apian are conducting a new period of stakeholder engagement from 28th March to 26th April, 2024. This update aims to inform you of revised timelines for the start of this project and provide further project details. The attached brief outlines these updates, and we encourage you to review the material and provide any feedback you may have on the operational and safety aspects of the trial.
All responses from previous engagement periods are still valid and will be submitted to the CAA as part of our application.
Apian have provided this update for consideration:
Download a copy if you want to use any links in the document. (Click on the 3 dots).
You can respond directly via this link by the 26th April 2024 and/or let AOPA know your views:
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2024-25 CAA Schemes of Charges Publication |
The CAA has published the revised 14 Schemes of Charges and the Consultation Response Document on 18 March 2024 under CAA UK Official Record Series 5, that will be legally implemented with effect from 1 April 2024.
The current 14 Schemes of Charges will be effective to and including 31 March 2024.
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UK Civil Aviation Authority proposes streamlined licensing system for GA Pilots |
The CAA is working to simplify the licensing process for the general aviation community as part of its General Aviation Pilot Licensing and Training Simplification project. AOPA have been fully engaged with this project.
These include consolidating the number of licences on offer, reducing the number of examinations for the gaining of licences and changes to the class rating structure including requirements for maintenance of competence.
Reform of the system was a high priority for the general aviation community when asked by the UK Civil Aviation Authority and this signals a major step closer to delivering on those wishes.
Michael Macdonald, Head of General Aviation at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said:
“To all pilots, the licence they hold is incredibly important. We’re looking to simplify the system to make it easier for new pilots to choose their path in aviation, and for existing pilots to maintain and upgrade their licences, all whilst maintaining the UK’s world-class level of safety.
“Experts from the community have been involved throughout the development process of these measures, which we feel will really benefit those looking to gain licences in the UK.”
Following the completion of CAP2335 – General Aviation (GA) Pilot Licensing & Training Simplification Phase 1CAP2335 – General Aviation (GA) Pilot Licensing & Training Simplification Phase 1 in Spring 2023, the CAA are now publishing a suite of five consultation papers setting out the detailed direction for licenses and ratings across the GA aircraft categories:
Aeroplanes including Microlights
The consultations will be open for 10 weeks and will close on the 22 May 2024.
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CAP 413 SI 2024/01: Special Use Airspace Activity Information and Crossing Services |
Supplementary Instruction CAP 413 Number: 2024/01 has been published by the UK CAA. The purpose of this Supplementary Instruction (SI) is to detail changes being made to the Radiotelephony Manual (CAP 413) with effect from 22 April 2024.
The SUA Policy Statement amends the terms danger area crossing service (DACS) and danger area activity information service (DAAIS) to SUA crossing service and SUA activity information service. This change necessitates amendment to CAP 413 to ensure that it correlates with the SUA Policy and to provide clarity on what the two services provide.
These changes are largely editorial with little effect on the RT phraseology.
AIP ENR 1.1 Section 5 is undergoing extensive amendment at the next available AIRAC to reflect the introduction of the SUA Policy. For further information, please review the airspace policy statement which can be downloaded from the CAA’s website.
Annex A of this document details the amendments to phraseology that will apply with effect from 22 April 2024.
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Guidance for temporary and trial airspace change proposals |
Following the publication of the revised CAP 1616 airspace change process, the UK Civil Aviation Authority has today published the revised requirements and guidance for temporary and trial airspace change proposals, CAP 1616g.
The requirements and guidance for temporary and trial airspace change proposals have not materially changed but are now all contained within one document with minimal reference required to other CAP 1616 documents. This has made the information more user-friendly, with improved access, clarity, and ability to navigate. As a result, it will now be simpler for change sponsors and stakeholders to better understand what they need to do in the process.
CAP 1616g can be found on the UK Civil Aviation Authority website and will come into force on 18 March 2024. All revised CAP 1616 documents and a statement on transition arrangements can be found on our website.
Any temporary or trial airspace change proposals commenced on or after that date will be assessed against the requirements of the process described in CAP 1616g. All temporary or trial airspace change proposals where an assessment meeting has taken place, and a timeline has been agreed with the CAA, before 18 March 2024 will be assessed against the requirements of the process as described in CAP 1616 version 4.
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The General Aviation (Flight Information, Persons on Board and Civil Penalties) Regulations 2024 (‘the 2024 regulations’) |
It is anticipated that on Saturday 6th April 2024, the 2024 regulations will enter into force. A draft version of the regulations is available online: The General Aviation (Persons on Board, Flight Information and Civil Penalties) Regulations 2024.The General Aviation (Persons on Board, Flight Information and Civil Penalties) Regulations 2024.
Which flights do the 2024 regulations apply to?
The 2024 regulations apply to all General Aviation aircraft making international flights who are expecting to arrive in and depart from the UK (including within the Common Travel Area).
What do the regulations mean for pilots, owners and operators?
International GA flights that are arriving in or departing from the UK will be required to be submit information online about the flight and persons on board (both passengers and crew), no earlier than 48 hours and no later than 2 hours prior to the expected time of departure.
General Aviation Reports emailed directly to Border Force will not be compliant and will not be accepted.
What are the acceptable online submission methods?
The information is to be provided online using one of the following methods:
1. The Government’s free-to-use submit a GAR ‘sGAR’ webservice;
2. *Via an approved existing third-party application; or
3. If you are a business operator, established direct connections to Home Office systems can also be used.
Civil Penalties
Border Force will be operating a civil penalty regime that will underpin the 2024 regulations. Failing to comply with the 2024 regulations may result in a civil penalty of up to £10,000 per breach. Complete guidance on the civil penalty regime will be available on gov.uk in due course.
* Typically, these are private member subscriptions to applications such as Airbox, Cloud Aviation, Online GAR, Sky Demon and Rocket Route. However, a full published list of acceptable third-party applications will be published on gov.uk.
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Publication of CAA Policy for the Establishment and Operation of Special Use Airspace |
The CAA has published a Policy for the Establishment and Operation of Special Use Airspace. Special Use Airspace includes Prohibited Areas, Restricted Areas, Danger Areas, Temporary Segregated Areas, Temporary Reserved Areas and Cross Border Areas.
The policy provides the requirements for the design, approval, notification, activation, management and operation of these airspace structures.
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Application Form Submission Service update |
Following the launch of the CAA online Application Form Submission Service (AFSS) on the CAA Customer Portal, the second (and final) wave of forms will be added to the service between Tuesday 6 and Tuesday 13 February.
To ensure you’re using the most up to date and correct form for your application please ensure you get the latest version of the form you require from the Publication Library. Forms that are to be submitted through AFSS will have guidance on how to do this at the bottom of the form.
As a reminder you can read more about AFSS on the AFSS blog.
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Flying Abroad - Designated Airports |
In our January Enewsletter we included this item:
"From 1 January 2024 unless an airport is listed in Annex E as a Designated airport or has a Certificate of Agreement it cannot be used for foreign flights to/from the UK. The current list can be found here."
An observant member has pointed out that elsewhere in the Border Force guidance it says:
"Not all CoA aerodromes are listed within Annex E, therefore operators and pilots must contact the relevant aerodrome to ensure it is authorised to receive or operate a flight from outside the United Kingdom."