Lasham's application for a judicial review granted by High Court

[discobolus]

Lasham Gliding Society has issued the following press release

Lasham Gliding Society’s application to the High Court for leave to apply for a Judicial Review has been granted by a High Court judge. In October this year, following the CAA’s decision in July to implement a large and unreasonable amount of controlled airspace for Farnborough aerodrome in the busy south-east of England, Lasham filed a claim in the High Court for leave to apply for a Judicial Review of what it believes is a flawed and unlawful decision, which will badly affect it as well as many other General Aviation pilots and organisations. This important judgement means that the High Court has given permission for the case to go ahead because it considers that the claim meets the threshold of arguability.

This is good news for Lasham, which along with other aviation bodies has been opposing the imposition of what they consider to be an unreasonable and disproportionately large amount of controlled airspace that would have a significant and negative impact on safety, and on Lasham’s operations and financial health.To help fight this case, Lasham has set up a fighting fund and asks all those supporting it to contribute what they can. The target for the fund is £100,000 and so far, £42,000 has been raised. For details click on Lasham's web site

Lasham is probably the largest gliding operation in the world and since 1951 has built itself into one of the very best organisations for training pilots and as a world-class centre for recreational aviation. It also the base for several other aviation-related commercial operations. For further information contact [email protected]

John McCullagh
Honorary Treasurer
Lasham Gliding Society Ltd

[wrecker]

The judicial review hearing into the challenge against the CAA's decision to grant airspace to Farnborough Aerodrome concluded yesterday. This was an important milestone in the efforts by Lasham Gliding Society, with the support of the wider general aviation community, to have the CAA's decision overturned in light of what Lasham Gliding Society considers to be a number of substantial flaws and failings in the way in which the CAA considered Farnborough's application and took its decision. As is usual in a case of this nature, the Judge, The Hon. Mrs Justice Thornton, reserved her judgment. We expect that she will make her judgment at some point in the near future. In the meantime, we take comfort from the fact that our lawyers presented a very strong case for the CAA's decision to be overturned and await Mrs.Justice Thornton's decision. Regards

[DaveJ75]

One has to wonder if this would have happened if the gliding community hadn't so robustly rejected the idea of fitting transponders to their gliders....

[ASRAAMTOO]

Pretty sure it would have done. Most of the flying around Brize Norton involves aircraft with transponders and they are in the process of a large Airspace grab. Southend and Norwich were also sucessful in gaining additional airspace.

Historically the only group to achieve success against civil airspace grabs were the MOD. Now we dont have much of an air force they dont have much of a case.

I wish Lasham all the best with their efforts!

[Prop swinger]

One has to wonder if this would have happened if the gliding community hadn't so robustly rejected the idea of fitting transponders to their gliders....

Yes, it would. This has got nothing to do with electronic conspicuity, conflating the two suggests a fundamental ignorance of the issues. Farnborough's jets avoid Lasham, Lasham gliders very rarely fly east of Odiham. There is no conflict between the two.