As 2022 comes to a close, we take a look at the success of #FLY2022 plus, we’ll have another Challenge for 2023
14 December 2022
So 2022 is coming to an end and, as I write, there are just 17 days left for the #FLY2022 Challenge. If you recall, this is a target we set back in January for FLYER Club members and readers. We felt it was a reasonable target that will be easily exceeded by some, but will be an ambition for others. We’re all in different stages of our flying lives.
Well, here we are, nearly a full 12 months on and it’s been a successful venture, with plenty of stories coming in, both directly by email and on the FLYER Forum. We’ve pulled together a compilation of some of the stories which can be read here.
But because there are still a couple of weeks to go, we won’t be announcing the winners of the various prizes until January 2023.
Don’t forget – prizes include a Bose A20 headset and £2,022-worth of flying with Cirrus distributor Echelon Air.
Also in January, we’ll announce a follow-up #FLY2023. It won’t be exactly the same as the 2022 Challenge – we’ve come up with a twist that we feel will benefit General Aviation across the UK.
The way the UK economy is heading at the moment suggests that GA could do with a push next year, and #FLY2023 could help. We hope so.
As always we welcome suggestions and ideas, so if you have something you’d like to add to #FLY2023, let us know. My direct email is [email protected]
Compton Abbas Airfield. It’s one of Britain’s favourites for so many reasons, but its location in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is a big one.
So, after the news that it was changing hands in early 2023, it’s been a relief to hear that the new owner, movie director Guy Ritchie, not only wants to keep it going but also plans to invest in its facilities.
The new airfield manager has been in touch with us already, and we’ll be heading along to Compton Abbas in the New Year for a chat about the airfield’s future.
There’s less good airfield news around elsewhere. Easter Airfield in Scotland has a strange issue: a biodigester plant proposed just 40 metres from its runway.
The question is why, when there’s acres of space available further away?
Eshott Airfield is having a spat with its local authority over refuelling emergency services and military helicopters. And, of course, there’s a huge, wonderful runway now sitting doing nothing at Doncaster Sheffield Airport.
Let’s hope 2023 brings better news for our airfields and airports.
Meanwhile, have a great Christmas and New Year from all the team at FLYER.
