Reduce Regulatory Burden - Reduce Cost
As a UK pilot I have become aware of some proposed changes to the regulation of private aircraft based in the UK that will restrict choice and impose a Euro-centric regulatory burden on pilots.
Some owners of aircraft choose to opt out the UK regulatory system by placing aircraft on foreign registers mainly the North American register.
The reason for the presence of these opted out aircraft in the UK is a manifestation of the failure of Europe regulatory bodies (CAA, JAA and EASA) bodies to provide an environment that aircraft owners prefer.
This is a matter of choice. Restriction of an individuals ability to choose should not be based upon the needs of the regulators, but on the needs of UK taxpayers and pilots. The forced re-flagging of these aircraft that currently operate legally in accordance with international law is typical of a Europe that seeks to localise its own rule set for no good reason other that for vested interest.
One possible reason for these pilots choosing to use an American registered aeroplane is that the pilots use American ratings like the FAA Instrument Rating. The equivalent UK Instrument rating would need to be completed by these pilots to continue to exercise these privileges. Unfortunately the equivalent JAA Instrument rating has been a failure in the UK indicated by its appalling take-up rate. This rating has only been granted to about 20 pilots per annum out of 60,000 UK private pilots since introduction. Many Europe pilots prefer the FAA system that works quite safely under instrument flight rules and is more popular with private pilots.
The proposals to force these aircraft onto the UK register by the CAA is an act of desperation in the light of evidence that many pilots are voting with their feet against a regulatory environment that is not working for them but for itself. Many pilots joke that the CAA acronym really stands for the ‘Campaign to Abolish Aviation’. If these proposals take effect that will cease to be a joke it will be a reality.
They should organise and implement international civil aviation law rather than those just restricted to Europe?