I was there, conference itself with regard to facilities, food, timing etc.... perfect.
Way too much emphasis on training - however being as it was the first one for the RAeS it was a good well organised first effort.
Excellent delegate list.
1. did we learn anything we didnt already know regarding the aircraft - not really.
2. did we learn whats on the regulators minds regarding ATM - mmm yes we did, however they added caveats - but if i was a betting man - then just about every potential VLJ operator or owner with an Eclipse OR AIRWAYS OPERATED a/c (PA 46 Malibu and bigger) better be prepared to be in for a hard time regarding ACAS from 2009/10..
The above is going to be emotive and create a lot of debate but not for the reasons that most think ie - cost..... some airframes do not have 20kg spare or enough space for the antennae in the fuselage....!!
3. ohh one last thing the Avidyne and Garmin kit looks like it will be out of date before it even gets learnt - some amazing new gizmo's coming out...
Interesting and ongoing - they are here to stay and SPIFR is here and needs to be embraced and managed correctly - after all these are nothing more than new updated Piper Chieftain's that fly a bit faster, and a bit higher but are perfectly manageable as long as the mental ability and proficiency is closely monitored and evolved and that the TRTO's develop a proper SPIFR S/CRM programme that we all buy into - then as long as the a/c have TAWS/ACAS they will just be another plank in the sky - nothing new - nothing dangerous.....!!! IMHO
