Annual meeting with CAA
Each year there is a meeting between representatives of the modelling community and the CAA to discuss topics of interest and review recent activities. Contained below are notes from recent meetings as penned by Tony Hooper MBE.
Following a preliminary meeting with the BMFA at their HQ in Leicester on Wednesday 21st November, Dave and I attended the annual CAA meeting at Kingsway, London on Tuesday 4th December 2007.
Present at the meeting were:-
George Duncan CAA. (Chair)
Graham Lynn, Chris Bromley BMFA.
Ken McCormick Scottish AA.
Dave Johnson LMA, Tony Hooper LMA.
We discussed the following:-
1 - Accident and Incident reporting
The CAA are pleased to note that all the model organisations have this in place and the system is working well. It was agreed that CAP 658 gave emphasis to public occurrences and in order to clarify this aspect it was agreed to amend this to incorporate the words "third party" in view of the incident at Wings & Wheels where an injury occurred to someone on the flight line and not the public side.
2 - CAP 658
There were no amendments to this at the moment but there may be some changes due next year (see Item 7)
3 - Review of Over 20kg Scheme and LMA Audit.
Dave and I explained that the new , simplified rules, now contained on an Exemption to Test Fly had been a big benefit in the testing of new models and there were a number of builders who were now taking advantage of a more experienced designated pilot to carry out initial test flights. It was emphasised to all concerned that all the normal flight test rules still applied to any pilot wishing to fly an Over 20kg aircraft in public i.e. a minimum of 6 flights totalling an hour witnessed by an approved LMA person..
5 - Airworthiness assurance for ARTF’s /RTF's
All present agreed that the standard and quality of these models had improved enormously since the item came on the agenda 2 years ago and , whilst the quality would still be monitored by the represented organisations there was no need to include it on future agendas. It was agreed that there was a general increase in the number of larger models, some of which were starting to come close to the Over 20kg weight Exemption limit and all organisations would remain vigilante on this aspect.
6 - 2.4 GHz Update
Dave and I re-iterated the LMA stance on not to recommend 2.4Ghz for Over 20kg Exempted aircraft at the moment. We explained that we had reservations at the moment about the different industry operating standards that were being applied between various manufacturers but more importantly the specific aspects of the installation of two Rx's and their associated aerials which was totally different to the long held practices applied to 35Mhz installations. All present agreed that this was the right stance to take until further testing had taken place.
7 - UAV's/ANO Article 98
Concerns have been expressed about the regulations contained within the ANO which give emphasis to models from 7Kg to 150kg but do not address all the issues of those below that weight limit. There are now UAV manufacturers who are taking advantage of this lack of legislation by flying UAV's under the 7KG limit in open air space. The CAA are anxious to "close this loophole" by changing the ANO to incorporate restrictions on the Under 7kg category but , at the same time , exempting models flown as a "recreational" rather than a "commercial" activity. There will be a full consultation exercise about this but as far as the LMA are concerned we are merely in a supportive role to the BMFA and SAA on this issue.
8 - Model Display Inspections
George said that he had visited 3 events this year - Castle Kennedy (SAA), Much Marcle (LMA), and Southport, (BMFA). All 3 events had been very well run with only one minor issue arising. This concerned the use of public footpaths at flying sites. There was a meaningful discussion on the ways this issue could be addressed and the represented organisations agreed to review their procedures for next year.
Well done to all
Tony Hooper
LMA CESO
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