Words: By the FLYER team Image: ChatGPT
31 December 2024
4 January 2024: Our first news story of 2024 was the astounding cost of maintaining the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s (BBMF) Chipmunk. We wrote:
Make an educated guess on the cost of maintaining one of the two de Havilland Chipmunks operated by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF). £8k per year, maybe £10k if pushed? Perhaps if there’s a high price item such as a full engine overhaul required, then add a chunk more?
Think again. According to the latest Ministry of Defence procurement budget, the RAF is setting aside £190,000 for each aircraft per year for the next five years – a total of £1.9m.
According to one report, the two BBMF Chipmunks flew a total of 485 hours over the past five years. If that figure is applied to the new budget, that’s just over £3,900 per hour on maintenance for each aircraft.
Read on here (opens in new window)
9 January 2024: The project to rebuild a WWII Hawker Typhoon into flying condition is back on track, says the team behind it.
“Following a number of months of behind the scenes work recently by the team, and two years of fundraising, we are delighted to announce that the rebuild of RB396 is back on track,” said an update.
“The rear fuselage section, which forms the basis and identity of the project, has recommenced at Airframe Assemblies (AA) on the Isle of Wight.”
22 January 2024: The UK’s first flight of an electric Vertical Take Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft from airfield to airfield could take place later this year.
British company Skyfly, which is developing a two-seat eVTOL called Axe, will work with electric aircraft charging company Aerovolt to make the flight using AeroVolt’s operational public charging network.
Skyfly says the Axe eVTOL has a range of 100 miles in fully electric configuration or 300 miles in a hybrid configuration.
A Strategic Aerodrome Network has been launched by the Airfield Operators Group and the UK VR Flight Guide. The Network was suggested by Lord Byron Davies in his 2018 report that accompanied a Green Paper, Aviation 2050: The Future of UK Aviation.
The purpose of the Network is to:
Although the timing of the announcement has come with the shock news that Popham Airfield is under threat, that’s a coincidence, said Ann Bartaby of the Airfield Operators Group.
12 January 2024:Cirrus Aircraft today launched the latest upgrade to its best selling SR series aircraft, bringing new avionics and upgraded safety features to the high performance sales leader.
While the new aircraft would be hard to differentiate from the outside (there are some minor changes and some new colour schemes), inside it’s all change. Instead of the Garmin Perspective screens, the cockpit is now dominated by a pair of 12 or 14 inch Cirrus Perspective Touch+ screens from Garmin, along with two Garmin Touch controllers.
25 January 2024: One of three Grade II listed hangars built at Old Sarum Airfield during WWI collapsed during this week’s Storm Isha.
Hangar 3, built by prisoners of war during WW1, is now a pile of rubble following the collapse. The airfield dates back to 1917 and one of just three surviving WWI grass airfields.
Sarah Champion from the ‘Save Old Sarum’ campaign, said, “It is absolutely devastating. The hangar was on Historic England’s ‘at risk’ register in November 2020 so they have been aware of this and we have been trying to highlight it constantly. It is incredibly disappointing that the hangar has fallen down through neglect.”
1 February 2024: Bicester Motion, the company behind the classic car centre at Bicester Aerodrome, has asked all pilots with aircraft based in the 98-year-old listed hangar to move out by 30 June 2024.
FLYER understands that the building is to be restored then reconfigured for a future tenant, possibly an indoor karting track.
7 February 2024: Piper Aircraft has announced its fastest-ever single-engine aircraft, the M700 Fury. The aircraft has a maximum cruise speed of 301 ktas.
As the title suggests, the M700 has a 700 shaft horsepower (shp) uprated Pratt & Whitney PT6A-52 turboprop engine.
Piper says the aircraft “represents the first step towards a new generation of the M-Class family, outperforming past PA46 models and several competitive aircraft in performance, operational cost efficiencies, and overall value”.
19 February 2024: Van’s Aircraft has issued a positive update following the financial crisis which hit the kitplane company in the second half of 2023.
In a video shared by Van’s founder Dick VanGrunsven and vice-president Greg Hughes, they said the process of customers reordering kits and parts at higher prices was working successfully.
VanGrunsven said, “I wanted to start off on behalf of myself and the entire staff here at Vans aircraft to thank everyone for their continuing support, particularly those that have decided to continue building and reorder their kits, engines and other components.”
26 February 2024: Surely we’ve all dreamed about owning our own house, hangar and runway? Well, as long as you’re willing to spend in the region of £4.75m, there’s now the opportunity to turn that dream into reality by buying this luxury 75-acre estate in the Cotswolds.
The house (which sits at the end of a 300m driveway) has five bedrooms, five bathrooms an extensive open-plan kitchen and a wellness hangar, but of course it’s the aviation facilities that sets this apart.
13 March 2024: The drive to simplify pilot licensing in the UK is coming to a head with the start of a huge consultation on proposals published today (Wednesday, 13 March 2024) by the CAA.
The changes include consolidating the number of licences on offer, reducing the number of examinations and changes to the class rating structure including requirements for maintenance of competence.
The proposals cover licensing for aeroplanes, sailplanes, helicopters, gyroplanes and balloons and airships.
25 March 2024: Which is the busiest General Aviation airfield in the UK? We’re talking aircraft movements for non-commercial aviation (ie not the airlines).
Top of the list according to figures released by the CAA for 2023 airport movements is Gloucestershire Airport with a total of 66,106.
Second is London Oxford Airport with a total of 53,370 with the majority of that traffic being pilot training. Third is Brighton City Airport (Shoreham) with 40,035.
5 April 2024: ICON Aircraft, manufacturer of the ICON A5 two-seat amphibious light sport aircraft, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection while it seeks a new owner and investment.
Chapter 11 allows the Californian company to continue to produce and sell aircraft and support customers.
Jerry Meyer, CEO of ICON Aircraft, said, “We plan to continue to produce and sell aircraft and provide first-rate service, training, and support to our customers.”
11 April 2024: New regulations have come into force to make pilots, owners and operators of private aircraft liable for fines of up to £10,000 if they do not provide Border Force with advance passenger information online before they depart to or from the UK.
The change came into force on 6 April. The Home Office says it will mean Border Force and the police can better identify potential security threats, prevent and detect crime, and monitor immigration status. Previously, advance passenger information could be submitted by email, fax or other manual methods.
The number of airfields that can be used for international flights is also being reduced.
18 April 2024: Special Photo Feature: Whizz around the halls of Messe Friedrichshafen, home of the annual AERO General Aviation show, with the FLYER team.
25 April 2024: Eshott Airfield has new operators who intend to make the former WWII RAF Spitfire base a centre for General Aviation for the north-east.
North East Aviation Services Ltd runs North East Aviation Training, North East Aero Engineering and North East Airfield Management. The airfield is also still home to Tiger Flights, the vintage aviation flight experience and training specialist.
The day-to-day operations at Eshott Airfield will be managed by flight operations and engineering director Darren Davis who has more than 30 years of experience as a professional pilot, and commercial director Dave Burns.
7 May 2024: Aviation pioneer Dick Rutan and brother of Burt, the aircraft designer, died on 3 May. Burt once described his brother as someone who “played an airplane like someone plays a grand piano.”
Rutan’s family issued this statement: “Lt. Col. (Ret.) Richard Glenn Rutan flew west on Friday, May 3, 2024 at 7:08 PM PDT.
“The last time Dick Rutan flew towards the western horizon was on December 14, 1986 when he and copilot Jeana Yeager set the last great aviation record by flying around the world, nonstop and unrefueled, in nine days, three minutes and 44 seconds in an aircraft called ‘Voyager,’ designed by his younger brother, legendary aircraft designer Burt Rutan.”
14 May 2024: Thruxton Aerodrome has a new owner. City financier Alex Thistlethwayte has bought the 440-acre Thruxton site including the motor racing circuit and aerodrome – the first time it has changed hands in 60 years.
But with airfields all round the country under threat from developers, Thruxton appears to be in safe hands.
Mr Thistlethwayte’s interest is mostly motor racing – he races classic cars including a 1965 Ford Mustang V8. Thruxton Circuit comprises not only the circuit around the perimeter track, one of the fastest in the UK, but also an outdoor karting track, skid pan and 4×4 centre.
However, it appears he appreciates aviation too.
24 May 2024: The famous Reno Air Races have a new home: Roswell, New Mexico. Best known as the place for UFOs and aliens, Roswell will host its first National Championship Air Races in September 2025.
The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) has been searching for a new base after the Reno-Stead Airport decided to ‘sunset’ the event, citing significant growth in the area.
In February 2024, RARA short-listed three possible venues: Casper in Wyoming, Pueblo in Colorado and Roswell.
“We’re thrilled to bring our honored tradition of racing to Roswell and are confident that they have both the enthusiasm and resources to expand the future of our races for many generations to come,” said Fred Telling, CEO and chairman of the board for the Reno Air Racing Association.
13 June 2024: General Aviation is finally getting its act together to create a rational approach to raising the importance of GA aerodromes, according to the Airfield Operators Group.
The AOG, working with the VFR Flight Guide, launched the Strategic Airfield Network (SAN) last year. In January this year, SAN sent out a survey to gather not just aeronautical details but also details of the activities going on, the community linkages, history and thoughts on the future.
“The information will be invaluable in helping to safeguard our General Aviation infrastructure, ensure the network is viable, remains available for current users and for transport, recreation, connectivity, training, environmental value, emergency services and as green spaces able to accommodate future innovation,” said Ann Bartaby and Louise Southern who are heading up SAN.
17 June 2024: Pilot Mike Wood has released a video showing his January 2024 crash after the engine failed on his Spacek SD-1 Minisport.
The story of the final flight of Mike’s single-seat deregulated (SSDR) Minisport starts with weeks of wet weather allowing no flying from his home base, Easterton Airfield, about 3 miles south of Elgin, Scotland. Then, on one sunny icy day in January, he was able to prepare and takeoff from the airfield, though he did note that the engine seemed reluctant to give the last 100rpm for max power.
18 June 2024: Buy an aircraft manufacturer with a certified product and also selling in the Light Sport Aircraft class for, what? £100 million? Try again and aim low: just over £12m.
Yes, that’s the winning bid for the assets of ICON Aircraft, the developer and manufacturer of the ICON A5 amphibious aircraft.
£134m ($170m) worth of debt was written off during the bankruptcy case for ICON Aircraft when it came before Judge Craig Goldblatt in Delaware last week.
25 June 2024: A major new centre for next-gen sustainable air transport is planned for Duxford Airfield: Duxford AvTech.
The plan comes from Imperial War Museums (IWM) and Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge. They say Duxford AvTech will be the UK’s new home for the research and development, prototype testing, certification and manufacture of new low and zero carbon aircraft technology.
Duxford AvTech is a 45,000 sqm development on land adjacent to the existing IWM site. It will be an aviation ‘innovation cluster’ focusing on low and zero carbon advanced air mobility (AAM) technologies.
16 July 2024: Chris (or Chrissy) Gurney died peacefully on 26 June. He was a larger than life Norfolk character who despite being in a wheelchairm had founded and ran Northrepps Aerodrome, Cromer for over 40 years.
Always passionate about flying he knew pilots from all over the world, many of whom flew in to see him.
In 1981 Chris had been badly injured when a Tiger Moth biplane, flown by Norfolk Euro MP Paul Howell, crashed in Norfolk.
23 July 2024: Melanie Astles is the first British Open Aerobatics Unlimited Champion following the inaugural event at Sywell Aerodrome on Sunday 14 July.
Melanie, who lives in France but was born in Rugby, England, headed a ‘truly memorable contest amongst some of the best pilots from across Europe’. They included the best of British pilots and Hungarian, French, Italian and Polish pilots at both Advanced and Unlimited levels, as well as Freestyle.
Melanie, competing under the British flag, was flying her Extra 330SC. She also picked up the coveted Neil Williams Trophy to become the British National Champion for the second time. She came fifth in the World Advanced Aerobatic Championships in Las Vegas in October last year.
23 July 2024: Ten thousand SR-series piston aircraft and still counting! That’s Cirrus Aircraft which revealed a special 10,000th Limited Edition SR at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh fly-in on Monday.
“The SR Series has reached a monumental achievement with 10,000 deliveries and owners that live the Cirrus Life,” said Zean Nielsen, Chief Executive Officer.
23 July 2024: Ronnie Faux, adventurer, newspaper journalist and former FLYER microlight correspondent, has died at the age of 88.
As well as flying microlights of all types, particularly flex-wing, Ronnie loved all adventures and in 1981 persuaded the Editor of The Times newspaper, Harold Evans, to create a special post for him: Extreme Leisure Correspondent.
Ronnie went on to cover not only his favourite sport of mountaineering but 14 subject areas including sailing, pot-holing, deep sea diving and, of course, flying.
1 August 2024: Swansea Council has appointed a new operator of Swansea Airport, the Swansea Airport Stakeholders’ Alliance (SASA).
The change comes after years of issues at the airport. Swansea Council is the landlord of Swansea Airport and has for many years leased the operating rights to an outside contractor.
“The leaseholder has agreed to relinquish its lease,” said a statement from the council. “A new leaseholder has agreed to take on the Fairwood Common facility on a temporary basis.”
2 August 2024: A video has emerged of the dramatic rescue of two pilots who had to ditch their Piper PA46 aircraft in freezing Arctic seas off the coast of Greenland.
The video was taken by the Air Transport Wing of Denmark’s Armed Forces, which sent out a Challenger special mission aircraft in response to a Mayday radio call. Follow the link below to see the video.
6 August 2024: British pilots Rob and William Grimwood are World Microlight Champions.
They won the Two-Seat Weightshift class at the 2024 World Microlight Championships held at Deenethorpe Airfield in late July/early August.
Great Britain took the Overall Team award, followed by Czechia and Poland.
28 August 2024: Active carbon monoxide detectors will be mandatory in most piston engine aircraft from 1 January 2025, the CAA has decreed in a Safety Directive issued today.
The CAA said this is because of a number of accidents linked to the gas. A 2020 Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) review of UK accidents and incidents since 2000 identified two fatal accidents, each with two fatalities, and fifteen other events where carbon monoxide may have been a factor.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is a heightened risk to pilots and passengers of piston engine aircraft, as the colourless, odourless gas can seep into the cockpit and cause incapacitation with little or no warning.
3 September 2024: The 2024 Light Aircraft Association (LAA) Rally at Leicester Airport last weekend was a huge success according to those who attended – and also those who made it happen.
The FLYER team was there and produced a video from the first day (see above), and the social media feedback across many accounts has been positive.
The LAA said more than 700 aircraft of over 100 different types and thousands of visitors from all over the UK and abroad attended the event, held at Leicester Airport for the first time in more than 40 years.
24 September 2024: Some pilots renewing their Class 2 medicals have to take an Exercise ECG if they are over 60 and taking blood pressure medication.
This is happening even though they are taking approved medication and have had stable blood pressure readings for some time.
The change has come in guidance from the CAA Medical Dept to AeroMedical Examiners (AMEs) issued in October 2023.
25 September 2024: Drone flying beyond visual line of sight of its remote pilot will become routine by 2027, according to the CAA’s just released ‘Roadmap’ on integrating drone operations into UK airspace.
The CAA plan hinges on two critical milestones:
Sophie O’Sullivan, Programme Director for Future of Flight at the CAA, said, “Drones have the potential to transform our lives but to make that future possible we need to lay strong foundations for the future.”
30 September 2024: Mike Patey’s incredible hyperstol aircraft Draco is to go into production as a brand new manufacturer.
Draco Aircraft is acquiring the rights to the PZL Wilga from current owner, Airbus Poland, and has also agreed a deal with Mike Patey, creator and pilot of the original Draco, for the use of his concepts.
Patey’s Draco was heavily modified from the 260hp piston-engined PZL-104 Wilga, with a 680hp Pratt & Whitney PT6A-28 turboprop engine, bigger wing and fuel tanks in the undercarriage legs. Draco could take off in less than 80 feet and climb at 4,200ft/min.
4 October 2024: The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have carried out a series of ramp checks across the UK in a combined operation.
Between 31 August and 2 September, teams from the UK and US regulators carried out a series of ‘ramp checks’ across a variety of the small airfields and large airports from where N-registered aircraft regularly operate.
The ramp checks focused on the 890 N-registered General Aviation light aircraft and business jets based in the UK. These aircraft are certificated by the FAA and their pilots, owners and operators must follow all relevant rules and regulations regardless of where they fly.
17 October 2024: The long-running saga of Piper aircraft wing spars is back with two new Airworthiness Directives proposed by the US regulator, the FAA. Up to 21,000 aircraft could be affected.
The new directives are: AD 2024-00008-A, published on 19 September, followed by AD 2024-00033-A, published on 23 September. The FAA is accepting comments on the proposed ADs until 7 November 2024.
The new ADs are the result of eddy current inspections of thousands of Piper wing spars made mandatory in a previous directive.
23 October 2024: One of the UK’s finest and busiest General Aviation airfields, Gloucestershire Airport, is for sale. The guide price for the 376-acre site is £25m and it’s for sale through estate agent Savills.
The entire freehold of the airport is for sale which includes 100% of the shares in the operating company, Gloucestershire Airport Limited.
The airport, also known as Staverton, is owned by two local councils, Gloucester City Council and Cheltenham Borough Council. Both councils insist the airport will remain operational.
28 October 2024: Pilot Careers Live, Europe’s leading event for prospective commercial pilots, is excited to announce the launch of the Pilot Careers Live Professional Flight Training Awards, which will recognise excellence within this hugely competitive sector.
The awards will celebrate attainment and dedication across ten categories covering flight training organisations, students and instructors. The awards ceremony will take place just before Pilot Careers Live London in March 2025.
The achievements of individual students will be recognised via separate categories reflecting the unique challenges of the different licence routes, namely Modular, Integrated and MPL.
18 November 2024: Major changes to the Pilot Medical Declaration (PMD) are on the way, according to the latest review by the CAA.
Some of the changes, which affect 14,400 existing PMD holders, are a direct contradiction to what commentators requested in an earlier consultation.
21 November 2024: Pilots, enthusiasts and anyone with an interest in keeping Nottingham City (Tollerton) Airport operating are urged to reject a council’s plan to build 2,700 houses on the site.
The Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan (GNSP) covers three local boroughs including Rushcliffe which is where the airport is located. The airport is included in the plan which identifies potential housing developments.
That local plan is currently out for public consultation and this is our opportunity to say “hands off the airport”.
10 December 2024: Specialist aviation company 2Excel has made the first flight back into the former Doncaster Sheffield Airport, two years after the airport was forced to close.
City of Doncaster Council gave special permission to 2Excel to bring back one of its aircraft as part of a winter maintenance programme.
2Excel has occupied a hangar on the airport site for more than ten years and continued its technical operations there since the airport closed two years ago. However, it had to relocate its aircraft fleet to other airports and airfields around the country.
10 December 2024: The entire Luscombe Aircraft factory with all its jigs, tools, new parts, completed airframe elements, type certificates and STCs is for sale.
The sale, by online auction, is the liquidation of Luscombe Aircraft Corporation which attempted to revive production of the all-metal, pioneering Luscombe 8 two-seater.
The complete factory is being sold as one package by auctioneers Starman Brothers Auctions. It is located at Jamestown Airport in New York state.
17 December 2024: The CAA has been told to disband its Airfield Advisory Team, set up in 2021 by then Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps. The decision came from the Department for Transport, FLYER has learnt.
The move came to light when Suffolk County Council issued a statement calling for the government to “prevent [the] scrapping of [an] influential department”.
Suffolk County Council has written to Mike Kane MP, Minister of State for Aviation, asking him to review the proposal.
“Without such expertise, considerable projects such as pylon runs or solar farms could end up being put in ill-informed locations, risking the viability of existing airfields, and the safety of those that use them and who live and work nearby,” said the council statement.
18 December 2024: Twas the week before Christmas* and both the UK CAA and EASA have been busy approving type certifications of aircraft. No, not Dasher, Dancer or Blitzen but Piper, Cirrus and Aura Aero.
First is the UK CAA type certification of the Piper M700 Fury, the top of the range single-engine turboprop six-seater.
Make sure you keep up with FLYER news by signing up to our newsletters here. They’re free and you can unsubscribe anytime.
