The CAA invents more charges !
The CAA has just invented some more ways of squeezing more money out of GA and as usual it will be of no benifit to the user or flight safety.
The first new stunt is to take away from licenced engineers the right to certify annual checks, the work on the check will still be the responsability of the licenced engineer but a Part M company will have to raise the work pack and ensure that the paperwork is in order for this the CAA recomended price for a light single is £500 annualy.
The C of A will soon last for the life of the aircraft and the CAA will not have to renew it but I understand that the fee that is normaly paid at C of A renewal will stand.
The second extra cost is for the licenced engineers, by the end of the year all engineers will have to convert there licences to JAR66 licences at no small cost but for non-EASA aircraft ( DHC-1, Tiger Moth Beagle Pup etc)the engineers will still have to have a BCAR section L licence and pay for that as well. So one engineer two licence fees!
Can no one in CAA at Gatwick understand that if they price British GA out of the market they will just export there jobs!
Perhaps this is why the Isle of Man is setting up an aircraft register, can the IoM goverment can see a revinue stream for a reasonable airwothiness authority?