> To all UK resident readers of this forum
>
> I don't normally get too worked up about the threat to General Aviation. I
> pay a donation each year to the GAAC and am a member of AOPA. However I
> have just read in the latest GAAC Newsletter that Central Government is
> considering changing or even cancelling the "28 Day Rule". For those of
you
> not familiar with this, many farm strips and small airfields can only
exist
> because of this rule which allows 28 days of activity per year. It doesn't
> just apply to aviation but also markets, motor racing and clay pigeon
> shooting. The Europa is a grass strip capable aircraft and even if your
> Europa is not planned to be based on one of these strips it will affect
you
> for at least two very good reasons. Firstly it will severely limit your
> choice of destination airfields and secondly, if those of us who intend
> using these strips are denied use, there will be an even greater shortage
> of hangar space on airfields not affected.
>
> Six options are set out in the Government's recent consultation paper on
> the subject:
> 1. retain the current situation
> 2.Remove the temporary use of rights to all users
> 3. Remove the 28 day "permitted development" rights for temporary markets,
> all all motor sports and clay pigeon shooting
> 4. Reduce the number of days on which temporary markets, all motor sports
> and clay pigeon shooting can operate without planning permission, to seven
> days in any one year
> 5. Introduce a size threshold above which "permitted development" rights
> would beremoved from temporary markets, all motor sports and clay pigeon
> shooting. This appears to be primarily aimed at markets
> 6. Introduce a notification procedure for events - again aimed at markets,
> fetes and similar events.
>
> Although flying activities are not mentioned specifically, in many cases,
> GA can fall under the "motor sports " category
>
> In the paper
>
> Question 17 asks "Which option for temporary use provision do you most
> favour. Would you prefer an alternative option not set out in the paper"
>
> Question 18 asks " Why do you prefer your chosen option
>
> The GAAC says "Readers are therefore urged to respond to this consultation
> paper and request that option 1 - for no change - be chosen. There are no
> forms to complete. You simply need to answer Questions 17 & 18 and send
the
> letter to:
>
> Development Control Policy Division
> Department of Transport
> Local Government and the Regions
> Zone 4/J3, Eland House
> Bressenden Place
> London SW1E 5DU
>
> For the attention of Mr Iain Clark"
>
>
> To help fight any change to this rule please can you help by sending a
> simple letter. This is a very important issue to the future of GA in the
> UK.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Nigel Charles
Maybe in the letter we should point out that the 28 day rule is already too
harsh and we should be fighting for something more like 2 days a week. Why
should a small aircraft fitted with an exhaust silencer be more restricted
than a private car.
Cheers,
Mark.
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