I have been informed today that ALL Austers will either be put on a C of A (some lucky ones are currently on a PFA Permit) or will be put on a PFA Permit. As stated before, the decision is to be made by 1st April 2006.
Apparently there is some resistance within the Auster community to the move to the PFA Permit as they use the aircraft for pleasure flights, training or, rarely, for IMC / night flying. However, the people who have managed to get their Austers onto a PFA Permit in the past are going to have a terrible job getting them onto a C of A due to having non-approved parts fitted etc etc. Hopefully the majority will be like me who only use the bird for pleasure flights and we will get the opportunity to go onto the Permit.