CAA Consultation at Lasham

See below and go

From: lasham@yahoogroups.com [mailto:lasham@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Lasham Office
Sent: 28 March 2008 16:40
To: One List
Subject: [lasham] SPEAK UP - OR ELSE

A reminder.

Next Friday (4th April) at 1900 to 21.30 we have a meeting with the CAA on the latest Mode S consultation. Details are below

http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=1698&pagetype=90&pageid=9307

http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/airspace/modes2008.htm

We need as many members as possible to turn up. If any of you know of any other people interested in this issue then they are also welcome. I know it is big document to read but so far only 2 members have emailed me with any questions to put to the CAA. I cannot believe that more of you do not care about this issue.

Some Key points to note about fitting mode S transponders and transponder mandatory zones into gliders, motorgliders and tugs:

* Cost of compliance will between £2500 and £7000 per aircraft. Maintenance is a big cost as well.
* The cost of compliance is more than the value of a lot of gliders.
* There has never been a collision between a glider and airliner in the UK that anyone is aware of.
* The case for big airline movement expansion goes against most environmental policies on fuel usage and carbon footprints.
* The case for big airline movement expansion relies on historical data and hearsay. It is not a certainty.
* All powered aircraft including Motorgliders/SLMG are already banned from flying above FL100 if they do not have a working a transponder
* It will cost Lasham Gliding Society over £100,000 to refit our gliders, tugs and motorgliders which will have to be passed onto you.
* Mode S is arguably already out of date and already has/is being replaced with ADS-B technology in a number of countries.
* A number of smaller clubs (deemed to be small businesses in the consultation document) and private owners will cease to operate due to the cost of compliance. This is still the preferred option of the CAA.
* Aircraft that cannot comply for technical reasons (not enough weight capacity, panel space etc) will become very restricted regarding where they can fly.
* Hang gliders and paragliders will also become a lot more restricted.
* Making Transponder Mandatory Zones easier to implement could lead to a lot of airspace restrictions.
* Airspace concessions on non transponder airspace would be very restrictive.
* It will not guarantee access to all airspace.
* It is still not certain all military aircraft will have to comply.
* This only benefits the airlines so they can share airspace with us.
* We are subsidising the main beneficiaries (the airlines) with no means of recovering our costs.
* It is not a fair and proportional regulation to impose on not just gliders but the entire UK general aviation community.

ONLY YOU CAN HELP STOP THIS HAPPENING

This is virtually your last chance to change this policy.

Please come to the meeting, listen to the CAA justify their stance and then listen as we put forward our questions and queries on these issues.

If you want to ask a question please email me it to me first. A lot of the obvious questions are answered in the consultation document (not liking the answer will change the answer!)

See you Friday in the Brown elephant.

Gerald and the bar will be open before and after the meeting for food and refreshment.

Gordon MacDonald

Lasham Gliding Society