PPRuNe Forums - CAA AOC/ATO Fees etc.

Dear Friends and Colleagues.

Firstly please may I ask you to pass this to the appropriate person in your organisation.

I am writing with a request for support and action in making representation to the CAA and the Secretary of State for Transport (The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP) for a reduction in the CAA proposed Scheme of Charges for 2021/2022. If you are in agreement with me and would like to add your voice then I am advised that correspondence should be emailed to [email protected] in the first instance and then in addition, the same request should be sent by email or post to both Mr Chris Tingle (Chief Operating Officer), and Mr Alex Hutchinson (Group Financial Accountant and Treasury Manager) at the CAA. Finally you can also write to The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, Secretary of State for Transport. House of Commons, London. SW1A 0AA and email [email protected]. I have been told that now is the right time to make this approach, ahead of the CAA’s new financial year and in light of the current ongoing situation with the pandemic and resulting stress on the industry.

I suggest something along the lines of the following:

Dear Sir

As you will be aware the Aviation sector has been dealt a severe blow due to the ongoing COVID 19 Pandemic. Operators are faced with an estimated 75% reduction in flying, very little if any income and yet no sensible or reasonable assistance on CAA charges. We need meaningful dialogue in respect of a reduction in the proposed charges as it cannot be deemed as sufficient support to the aviation industry for the Authority to simply offer to defer increases in charges for the period 20/21 and 21/22. We need a reduction in the Scheme of Charges to all AOC operators for the new financial period 21/22. The current planned charges are neither reasonable nor fair in light of the current and ongoing situation and we feel that a request for a 75% reduction in the applicable fees for at least the period 2021/2022 is not unreasonable.

We do appreciate the scale of the problem, however if the bottom of the tree is left to die off, the top of the tree cannot sustain life itself. The roots have to be supported to nourish growth through the branches to the top of the tree.

Yours etc.

However please do write your correspondence in your own words, as we do not want this to look like a template letter, and run the risk of it counting as just one view (a valuable lesson we learned a few years ago).

In addition to the above I would ask any members of the BHA to approach Tim and to ask him to ‘Take Up The Cause’ if he is not already doing so and lobby the CAA on behalf of the helicopter industry.

Finally, please can I ask you to circulate the above to those in your contacts list. If we all act together NOW the timing may just be right and we may just get some dialogue going and then fingers crossed further action. I thank you in anticipation of your support.

Onwards & Upwards

Best Regards

Glenn Curtis
Elite Helicopters