Are the pilots' associations in existence doing enough? Do we who fly for fun have or need a collective voice or organisation who can truly look after our interests and hold Aviation Minister Gillian Merron MP to her words?
You'll have a job, she's no longer Aviation Minister, she's now Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for International Development. They seem to change faster than I change my socks. Current one is Jim Fitzpatrick.
The words she said came about as a result of the CAA's Strategic Review of GA. DfT have yet to say whether they endorse its recommendations so at the moment we have a load of waffle and no commitment.
On AOPA UK's behalf I'm currently heavily involved in trying to prevent GA getting kicked out of the former RNAS Daedalus at Lee on Solent, an airfield that is effectively owned by DfT. The work that has been done so far has had the aforesaid Jim Fitzpatrick on his feet in the House on a number of occaisons. His response to the closure was that it's leased to Hampshire Constabulary and it's therefore their problem not his.