Anyone out there a member of the Airport Operators Association, or have a contact who has access to their GA Committee? If so can it be established what prior knowledge the AOA had of the intent to charge?
The whole issue leaves a very bad taste in my mouth, bearing in mind that GA aerodrome operators in Southern England were encouraged by NATS to sign up for AFPEx due to the impending closure of the Heathrow FBU, which provided AFTN access via FAX for the filing of FPL and related messages.
Presumably the Heathrow FBU closure was a NATS cost saving measure - which they now intend turning into a revenue generating measure by charging for AFPEx access.
Come off it NATS, you want £1995 + VAT every year for an internet connection to the AFTN, which by nature is a flight safety focussed system. Who in NATS gets a salary bonus for dreaming this one up!