An extract from a BHA communication received today.
Responding to industry concerns, the BHA sought to simplify the current AOC Charging Regime banding structure as applied to onshore helicopter operators by the CAA. The first step was to comment on the structure in a response to the recent CAA Consultation on its Fees and Charges Proposals for the financial year 2011 -12. Following this response, the Chairman and CEO met with Mr Andrew Haines at CAA House for a further discussion on the matter. Whilst we had secured a minor change to the banding structure in 2006, it had become clear that the existing charges step change for an operator in Bands E or F moving from four aircraft to five presented an unwarranted additional charge that acted as a disincentive to expansion and flexibility.
I am delighted to advise you now that the CAA has reviewed the situation and has secured Board approval for a change as detailed in the extract from Finance Advisory Committee papers reproduced below.
Following representations made by the British Helicopter Association, the CAA have further reviewed the AOC annual charging structure bands for both multi-engine onshore helicopter (E Band) and single-engine helicopter (F Band) operators.
The revised banding structure extends the current E1 band to 10 aircraft with the current F1 band being extended to 20 aircraft
Good News for some of us
