General Aviation in the EU - discussion paper

[GroundBound]

Discussion paper on GA by EU,

click here for EU site (http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air_portal/internal_market/general_en.htm)

It requests responses by interested parties and stakeholders by 1st April to
[email protected]

Mod - think this might be worth a sticky?
GB

[IO540]

On a quick read, seems sensible for the most part. Who is this written for?

There is a bit of a dodgy comment on page 33

The proposed new Regulation would require most pilots operating in the Community to hold a license issued on the basis of common requirements regarding their theoretical and practical knowledge and physical aptitude.

This bland statement, which sounds so warm and comforting, could mean a multitude of things of course. Not sure how they are going to reconcile this with ICAO. I suppose this is a reference to EASA's stated aim to kick out N-reg aircraft, but IMHO they will have to do this with a carrot rather than with a stick (like the one recently-abandoned by the DfT).

[GroundBound]

Well, as it says in the paper:
The aim of this paper is to identify certain issues for the sole purpose of discussion with the interested stakeholders. It does not prejudge on any decision that the European Commission may take in the future.

Therefore this Discussion Paper aims at analysing the possible need and means of improving the EU policy-making regarding General Aviation
by:

a) Gathering opinions and comments on the current state of General Aviation in the European Community and any specific issues that may need to be addressed in future;

(b) Improving the understanding of General Aviation across the European
Community and gathering more comprehensive data regarding this sector in
order to better asses its social and economic value.

So I would assume that means any interested party in GA who wants to have his/her voice heard on any of the issues - hence the posting. ;)

GB