Another series of emails between the CAA CEO and myself -
Andrew,
A Yorkshireman and a Welshman sharing a good sense of humour and that is excellent news for us both. The cost of our exchanges is borne by you and your family, not the CAA as the times of your emails reveal. I salute your personal efforts Sir. We are both, to a certain extent, insomniacs.
Never having been a CEO of any organisation except my own consultancy I do realise the pressures that must inevitably rest on your shoulders but the Welsh rugby team have always been formidable opponents. Being from Yorkshire the form of rugby I prefer is League rather than Union but I enjoy watching both on TV.
No doubt you have noticed the URL for the website I recently established,
Introduction - www.generalaviation-aero.co.uk Tony Rapson will envy the name I managed to obtain.
That disagreement on fundamentals could be partially resolved if only the CAA would seriously engage with the Air Display industry in a constructive manner before implementation of any further regulation and, indeed, charges. As a politician once said wisely “Talk, talk is better than war, war….!!!!” I am certain you will agree.
Thanks for referring my point to the Finance Department. Some 20 odd years ago, while I was employed by the Authority, I got to know the, then, Head of Finance quite well during discussions on the airshow permission charges implementation. I think she might still be with you in an even more senior role. If that is the case do please give her my regards from a former colleague.
Kind regards,
Barry
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From: Haines Andrew
Sent: 13 March 2017 08:03
To: Barry Tempest
Cc: Wally Epton; John Turner; Tingle Chris; Rapson Tony
Subject: RE: Prune Airshow Post - THE HAINES CHALLENGE
Importance: High
Barry
I'm not going to comment on all you've said; in part because we disagree on some fundamentals and not least because we'd end up having to increase charges for the amount of time spent in correspondence with you ( joke!!). But I will get the finance team to comment on the implications of your charging proposition.
Andrew
From: Barry Tempest
Date: Monday, 13 Mar 2017, 12:08 am
To: Haines Andrew
Cc: Wally Epton John Turner
Subject: RE: Prune Airshow Post - THE HAINES CHALLENGE
Andrew,
Just back from checking out on our Skybolt after a three year break. I am still smiling.
Thanks for the email. The real shame was the lack of opportunity to discuss the result of the consultation on charges before publication of the scheme. My suggestion of a charge for a single item and another for the up to three item events was utterly practical and would have materially assisted the seed corn of our air display industry. Very many current display pilots started that way but the present regulatory and charges regime is an enormous disincentive.
That was the way I started in 1958, a single Tiger Moth aerobatic display at a village fete for, then, the princely fee of £25. It cost me £2.50 and the balance went into more flying to improve my skills and consequently to improve safety for all. Yes, I do know it was illegal then, and would be now, as I only had a PPL but I imagine the statute of limitations applies to a confession of an offence some 59 years ago. Way before the CAA was formed in 1972. No doubt the Legal Advisors Department can advise in this respect. So maybe see you in court.
I would indeed deem it a favour if the Finance Department could evaluate my proposal for the ‘single item’ charge and the’ up to three item charge’ to see for themselves the sense of my suggestion. I would love to see their unadorned answer though I do accept that no change will be possible now the scheme has been published.
There was never a post display charge in the past and though any ‘no shows’ will not be charged the total bill to an organiser is astronomic. I was speaking to display pilots from Sweden and Switzerland on Saturday at the DHMC forum and there are no airshow charges whatsoever in their countries. All funded from general taxation to the national CAA’s. Yes, I know well the UK CAA has to get its funds from the industry but it does not happen often abroad. Winston Churchill did us a real disservice in, I think, 1922 when he said in Parliament “Civil Aviation has come of age and it no longer requires subsidy from the exchequer.” I know not if he was a Liberal or a Conservative at that time but he never was a Socialist. I do wish it were different.
Your comment on the AAIB recommendations post-Shoreham and their implementation by the CAA would cut more ice if you had done any consultation with the air display industry prior to mandating them. This in contravention of HMG’s ‘Better Regulation’ principle and to Grant Shapps ‘gold plate challenge’ campaign of a couple of years ago announced when you were present at Duxford. You impressed me then, as did Patrick Ky and, in his ebullient mood, by Tony Rapson. On the other hand Mark Swan left a bitter taste at that event, for me at least. My favourable impression is a bit tarnished now.
Thanks for listening.
Kind regards,
Barry
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From: Haines Andrew
Sent: 12 March 2017 12:26
To: Barry Tempest
Cc: Wally Epton; John Turner
Subject: RE: Prune Airshow Post - THE HAINES CHALLENGE
Barry
Thank you.
The reason we split the fee to pre and post event fees is precisely to allow for the fact of risk of cancellations and reduce the burden.
And if we were to introduce the alleviation for charities that some understandably propose then individuals such as this will pay more as they would have to subsidise those charitable ventures as well.
I don't pretend this is easy but in the light of Shoreham and the AAIB recommendations, I make no apology for the enhanced requirements we have introduced.
Best wishes
Andrew
_____________________________________________
From: Barry Tempest
Date: Sunday, 12 Mar 2017, 12:03 pm
To: Haines Andrew
Cc: Wally Epton ; John Turner
Subject: FW: Prune Airshow Post - THE HAINES CHALLENGE
Andrew,
This is the first post I am sending you. It merits your attention though not completely satisfying your conditions for the challenge. Many will be similarly affected.
Kind regards,
Barry
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From: Anonymous but affected General Aviation pilot and owner
Sent: 12 March 2017 07:20
To:
Subject: Prune Airshow Post
Hi Barry,
As requested. Please de-identify as appropriate.
I operate at the weddings, funerals and bah mitzvahs level of the food chain (Fairford and Farnborough are unlikely to be troubled - would be nice if they asked!). I didn't apply for a DA last year as I saw no point.
I'm relatively new to the airshow scene (four displays now!!!!) and I have an interesting and relatively rare aircraft and would count myself as an experienced pilot (x thousand hours) but the few guys and girls who are already at this level understandably have that type of business sewn up.
To make it "pay" (and it has to), I need X for fuel, Y for maintenance and Z for fees. X and Y are fair enough and nothing has changed in that respect. Z however, I need to charge in advance for a "permission" and that has to be paid for no matter what. If I am then weathered off or go tech, it still has to be paid. It's a big deal to ask for someone to front up for a non-refundable £300 for a mighty (non-Spitfire) machine, who will then be charged another £X+Y IF I'm able to turn up. Remember, this isn't RIAT.
If you want a number cancelled, they never were as they never happened, but I reckon about three or four.
In short, given the restrictions now applied and the extra costs, why bother?
There's your challenge, Mr Haines.
Kind regards,
Name deleted at the writers request