12 February 2026
The UK’s general aviation community is set to lose one of its longest-standing safety bodies, with the General Aviation Safety Council (GASCo) announcing it will wind up operations after more than six decades.
In a statement released this afternoon, the Council said its Board had taken the decision to close the organisation in an orderly manner following a review of its financial position and long-term prospects.
While GASCo said it has stabilised its short-term finances and continued to deliver safety activity with the backing of member organisations, the Board concluded that it no longer has a sufficiently secure and sustainable funding base to continue operating at a level consistent with its charitable purpose. Like many small charities focused on safety and education, it has faced increasing financial pressures in recent years, with reductions in external funding proving difficult to replace.
Founded in 1964 as the General Aviation Safety Committee and later reconstituted as the General Aviation Safety Council, GASCo has acted as an independent forum bringing together representative bodies from across UK general aviation. Its work has centred on improving safety through education, sharing information, analysing accidents and incidents, and promoting good airmanship across all sectors of GA.
Over the years, that has included organising hundreds of safety evenings and seminars, delivering Military-Civil Air Safety Days, publishing safety material and analysis, and hosting a long-running Safety Information Exchange through regular Council meetings. More recently, the organisation has been involved in human factors and electronic conspicuity work, and has supported the CAA’s just culture approach through delivery of the Airspace Infringement Awareness Course.
GASCo Chairman Captain Nils Jamieson described the move as a difficult decision after more than 60 years of service to the GA community. He said the Council had played a unique role in bringing together different parts of UK general aviation to share safety knowledge and experience, and reiterated its long-standing belief in “safety through knowledge”.
Importantly, the Board stressed that the organisation remains solvent and that the decision has been taken to allow an orderly wind-down and preserve continuity where possible. Work is already under way with the Civil Aviation Authority and partner organisations to ensure that key activities — including the Airspace Infringement Awareness Course — can continue without interruption through appropriate successor arrangements.
