N Reg Issue Is Dead And Gone

[Pat Malone]

The smoke signals that have been coming out of the DfT indicate that Dimbleby may well be right. The Department did not expect the reaction it got; the man who drafted the consultation paper genuinely believed what he was putting into it and was not au fait with the real situation. He is now.
The N-reg nonsense had nothing to do with the Transport Select Committee's review of the CAA. As Ian points out, the CAA had very little to do with the N-reg business. The select committee has simply cab-ranked the agencies for the treatment. They've done the Maritime Agency, they've done the Highways Agency, now it's the CAA's turn.
I suspect the Select Committee's decision has, however, a great deal to do with the CAA's current Strategic Review of itself. Any criticisms that come out of the Select Committee report can be finessed by the CAA with the claim that they are reviewing themselves, in consultation with industry, with a view to better serving their public.
I've looked at the Transport Select Committee's report on the Highways Agency and they do seem to do a comprehensive job and listen to all comers. It is therefore imperative that everyone pitch in, so that they really understand the level of dissatisfaction with the CAA out here in the field.
The CAA has been frightened into rowing back on some of the charges it is about to inflict on general aviation, but nowhere near far enough. It's on the back foot, and we should keep the pressure on.
The IR matter is indeed firmly on the agenda. After being proposed for review by AOPA at the JAA Licensing Sectorial Committee, the IR theoretical knowledge requirements are being picked over by a sub-group of the LST, and they are doing good work. All the 'how many fire axes on a Concorde' questions are coming out. The flying part will remain at 50 hours, but two modules of 10 hours each may be done ahead of the rating - spreading the pressure and the cost. That is, of course, if these proposals carry the day. There are some voices against it. But we live in hope.