Return to GA Flying from 29th March
On Monday 22nd February 2021 the Prime Minister announced a roadmap for the easing of restrictions over the coming months. The DfT guidance to General Aviation was updated on Tuesday 2nd March 2021 and is as follows:
ROADMAP OUT OF LOCKDOWN
STEP 1 - FROM 29 MARCH
People will no longer be required to stay at home.
This will allow the safe restart of GA flying for non-professional purposes for solo pilots, or individuals flying with a member of their household or bubble.
Training for professional pilots, or those in training to be professional pilots, will be able to continue.
Training for leisure or recreational purposes should not take place.
GA activities should take place in line with the wider restrictions. Travel should be minimised as far as possible.
Travel abroad will continue to be prohibited, other than for a small number of permitted reasons.
STEP 2 – NO EARLIER THAN 12 APRIL
Flight training for all pilots, and flights with an instructor, can resume.
GA businesses will be able to open following COVID-secure guidance, for example commercial balloon operators. The rules on social contact will apply in these settings. Outdoor gatherings must still be limited to 6 people or 2 households, and no indoor mixing will be allowed.
GA activities should take place in line with the wider restrictions. Travel should be minimised as far as possible.
Hospitality venues will be allowed to serve people outdoors.
STEP 3 – NO EARLIER THAN 17 MAY
Indoor hospitality will reopen, customers will, however, have to order, eat and drink while seated.
We share some of the frustrations of other aviation groups regarding the safety implications associated with a return to flying from 29th March without the ability for instructor check flights, and advise all our users to exercise caution, and wait until after 12th April if at all possible.
Revised Operational Information for Blackbushe
AIRPORT OPENING HOURS
From 29th March 2021 Blackbushe will be open from 09:00 to 18:00, 7 days a week with RFF2 (3 on remission) provision. Refuelling will be available from 10:00 each day. The airport will be available between 07:00 and 09:00 by prior arrangement.
From 12th April 2021 Blackbushe will return to normal published opening hours, 07:00-18:00, 7 days a week, with refuelling from 08:00.
We will continue to ask our pilots to PPR in advance. The tower will have fewer staff on at a time, and taking bookings by telephone is incredibly distracting.
PPR PROCESS
PPR must be submitted the day before your flight.
The PPR must be made using the online PPR form or Residents Bookout form, or by SMS to the tower mobile.
Thank you for your assistance in submitting your PPR in advance, as this enables our FISOs to focus on the air traffic.
OUT OF HOURS FLYING
OOH Flying will return from Monday 29th March 2021. Eligible pilots (those with an ID Card and OOH Privileges) must ensure they use the OOH form, and must comply with the OOH Policy at all times. In particular, care must be taken to activate and deactivate the LFA during OOH flying.
APRIL LANDING CARDS
Payments for monthly landing cards will resume on 1st April for all residents who usually subscribe to them. If you do not wish your direct debit to resume, please contact us by 25th March. For those with annual landing cards, you will be contacted in the next few weeks to arrange billing for the remainder of 2021.
Returning to Flying Safely
CAA SAFETY GUIDANCE
All pilots are encouraged to review the CAA safety guidance published in CAP 1919 and CAP 1925 and ensure both they and their aircraft are safe to fly.
CONTROLLED AIRSPACE
Remember that part of the Blackbushe ATZ lies within the EGLF CTR-1. We also have parts of the LTMA to the east of us and above us. Following the easing of restrictions in May-July 2021, we saw over 2/3 of our 2020 infringements in the periods immediately following the easing of restrictions. On investigation, “rusty” pilot skills and a lack of preparation were regular themes.
Take the time during lockdown to study the information available on the Farnborough airspace, and to familiarise yourself with the airspace infringement narratives published by the CAA
On your first flight, pick a simple route, remaining outside controlled airspace where you can re-familiarise yourself with aircraft handling, and test all your equipment. Do not plan routes that go through CAS or come close to it.
When planning your first flight through CAS, do so thoroughly, familiarise yourself with the frequencies you will need, the VRPs commonly used, and the levels and lateral constraints of the CAS.
Read the interesting Flyer article on the Manchester Barton pilot who infringed airspace on his first flight after a long break and take onboard the lessons from it.
NOISE ABATEMENT
Please stay away from our noise abatement areas. Remember lots of local residents are continuing to work from home, and as the weather improves, they will be outside in their gardens. Any overflights of the areas will be very obvious, and will result in complaints to the airport.
AT THE AIRPORT
HANDS - FACE - SPACE
Hands: wash your hands regularly and for 20 seconds
Face: wear a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult, and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet
Space: stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place (such as wearing face coverings)
Remember ‘The Rule of 6’ returns from 29th March 2021.
Thank you all for your continued cooperation. Please act responsibly, and stay safe.
Stay Safe. Protect the NHS. Save Lives.