The future of private flying is under threat from Brussels.  The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is to replace the private pilots licence issued by the Civil Aviation Authority with a new European Licence in April 2012.  In the process, it will phase out a crucial safety rating that is unique to Britain and will effectively ground private aircraft for large parts of the year.

The Eastern Counties MEP, Stuart Agnew (UKIP) has been visiting the Little Snoring aerodrome near Fakenham in Norfolk to be briefed on the situation by private pilot, Roger Haverson who first brought the problem to his attention.  Mr Haverson told Mr Agnew that the CAA Instrument Meteorological Conditions Rating (IMCR) enables holders to fly on instruments in cloud and in visibility not permitted by a standard private pilot’s licence and is absolutely necessary in Britain’s changeable maritime weather conditions.  The only alternative will be very expensive training courses intended for airline pilots.

Mr Haverson said:  “The IMCR has been in existence for 40 years and has saved hundreds of lives in the UK, where flying is always at the mercy of our capricious weather.  It involves a fifteen hour training course and a practical examination.  I have held one for 23 years and have lost count of the number of times that using its skills has been the safest option. 

“Despite the fact that it has no objections on safety grounds, EASA is reluctant to create an administrative mechanism whereby a national rating can be attached to their new licence”.

Stuart Agnew said: “It would be a tragedy if this vital rating was to be lost to and as a result lives were to be put at risk because it is administratively inconvenient to give UK pilots the means to fly more safely.  It could also drastically reduce the amount of time private pilots can be in the air, since they would only be able to fly in cloudless skies.  How often does that happen with our weather?  The whole future of private flying could be under threat. 

“This is a classic case of Brussels bureaucrats poking their noses in where they are not needed.  Alas, ‘if it’s not broken, don’t fix it’ is not a maxim that carries any weight in Brussels.  I will be raising the matter with my UKIP colleague who is on the European Parliament’s Transport Committee to see what can be done.  I will also do anything I can to raise the profile of this issue to put pressure on the bureaucrats who came up with this madness”.

Stuart Agnew MEP meets Roger Haverson in front of an aircraft that might well face a future mostly on the ground, thanks to Brussels interference