Now that is one of the best ideas I've heard of late.

No date
 

It looks like flight instruction has not being given a date for restart...

According to the BBC, driving lessons will resume in England from July 4th (bbc [dot] co.uk/news/uk-53181394). You'd think that this would mean that flight instruction can start up again, too—but I'm not holding my breath for common sense to prevail.

Driving Lessons are allowed 4th July
 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc...mp/uk-53181394

This must allow GA Instructing to restart?

Today's talk is that, since three ATOs are now operating in England, Tayside and ACS at Perth are now going to start training on Monday.

Neither ACS or Tayside have phones that get answered, so have been unable to confirm.

Well, this is a rumour network.....!

Previously, AOPA have taken the lead on nudging the DfT and CAA for guidance, so I'm expecting a sensible announcement from Martin Robinson to all the AOPA Corporate members well before the 4th, so we can get prepared.

TOO

Well if they can restart then so should flying. Keeping a window open might be a problem.

Lobbying
 

I reckon the driving instructor association and the industry has made a good job of lobbying Govt.

Thats a great help for the Driving Instructors

Flying training to resume in England from 04 July:

From Flight Training News:

It has been confirmed today that flying training can resume in England from 04 July.

In a letter to General Aviation associations, David Harding, DfT Deputy Director, General Aviation, Skills, Safety and CAA Division, wrote: “Following the Prime Minister’s announcement earlier this week about changes to lockdown measures, I can confirm that the reopening of GA businesses and the safe restart of General Aviation dual and instructional flights will be permitted from 04 July 2020 in England.

“We will be publishing updated guidance around recreational GA flying on the GOV.UK website as soon as possible. In the meantime, it may be helpful to view the COVID-19 Secure guidelines that the Government has already published which set out guidance to help employers, employees and the self-employed understand how to work safely during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Many thanks for all your engagement on this and other matters over the last few weeks and months – we know there is a lot going on and more to do – and it has been appreciated.”

UK devolved nations have yet to confirm when they will be following suit.

Although this guidance is directed towards England my assumption is it applies to Scotland as well, as AOPA had previously communicated with Transport Scotland about GA in Scotland. A Mr Michael Bratcher, who is in Aviation Policy for Transport Scotland wrote that,

"The Scottish Government will not be publishing specific guidance in relation to General Aviation"

He then provides direction to the UK guidelines, stating,

"The Department for Transport has, however, published guidance that you may wish to be aware of."

As that guidance is now, thankfully, changing, this indicates that DfT guidance is applicable to Scottish flight instruction.
​​​
https://www.aopa.co.uk/covid-19-info...-scotland.html

Any knowledge on the legitimacy of last Friday's announcement as there's some doubt now it's not genuine and both the DfT and CAA websites have still not been updated since June 4th. The CAA were not aware of the policy change when I rang them today.

HW

I don't have any new info, but Stapleford (flysfc.com) seems to think the latest announcement is legit. The DfT site says an update to the general aviation guidance is imminent; we might have to wait for that to be 100% sure.

Deputy Director CAA
 

So are we still in the holding pattern or can we start the descent?

Because we are going to run out of fuel soon.

Declare an emergency.

TOO

Personally, I find the CAA's various web pages at best out-of-date, like much of the rest of the internet, to be taken with a pinch of salt.

Finally!!!!!
 

Here we go! DfT guidance has now finally been amended online to show the 4th of July restart of GA Training.

Marvellous
 

That’s useful many thanks...

https://www.gov.uk/government/public...neral-aviation

Beacon outbound.

I wonder how many schools will stay closed taking furlough money. Opening too much of a risk.
Not many employ instructors.
Personally had a taste of retirement on what was basically state pension. I survived.