Consultation

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EUROCONTROL PROPOSALS - STANDARDISED EUROPEAN RULES OF THE AIR (Temporary Heading)

Eurocontrol, ‘the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation’, is currently consulting on its proposed Standardised European Rules of the Air (SERA). Once established, these rules will affect all pilots from 2012.

The BGA believes that the proposed SERA requirements will result in the removal of decades of appropriate and sensible national modifications and differences to the ICAO Rules of the Air. These national differences – as seen for example in the UK ANO and in the series of exemptions put in place by UK CAA - are appropriate and safe. The safety, operational and economic impact associated with inappropriate Standardised European Rules of the Air is likely to be significantly damaging to gliding.

Clubs and members are urged to respond to the consultation.

How to Respond

Look through the Eurocontrol consultation information here

Referring to the BGA supplied ‘SERA - Detailed Comments’ document below, please respond using the Eurocontrol ‘Consultation Response Sheet – Enclosure 3’ here

You must respond in your own words – cut and paste responses are ignored. Please send your completed comments to Eurocontrol before the closing date of 12th April 2010.

BGA documents will appear here:

Consultation

A key role for the BGA is defending members rights to operate with maximum freedom and minimum cost and bureaucracy.

Within the UK the BGA works particularly closely with the General Aviation (GA) Alliance, the General Aviation Awareness Council, the Royal Aero Club, the Central Council for Physical Recreation, Govt agencies and Members of Parliament. Beyond the UK, the BGA is a very active member of the European Gliding Union (EGU) which in turn is a member of Europe Airsports (EAS). Where required the BGA also talks directly to EASA.

This co-operation ensures that the voices of BGA members, reinforced by some 700, 000 air sport users, are heard throughout the European political and regulatory environment.

Hot Topics The latest BGA 'hot topic' consultation issues are identified on the BGA general news page here

Working With Others The BGA is a partner in the General Aviation (GA) Alliance. Together with our partner members we consult with each other with the aim of ensuring the enormous amount of regulatory development currently underway does not overlook our interests. Clearly the BGA focusses on gliding related issues in particular, just as others focus on their own unique interests.

The joint consultation action list collated by the GA Alliance facilitator is here

How can you help? The BGA will of course let you know if the subject matter is so critical we need full involvement by members. This is rare - the BGA will respond to consultations on behalf of the BGA as a whole. However, if you have time and feel strongly about an issue, it is always worth of course fully understanding the issues - the BGA can provide a summary, advice and even its own response before deadline time - and then submitting your own response.

Where can I find consultation detail? There are of course numerous sources. The BGA will identify and advise members regarding important consultations.

The GA Alliance action list shows almost all the consultations that the BGA and others are, and have been, involved with. Our colleagues at the LAA are also members of the GA Alliance. Their consultation page often includes helpful summaries.

EASA consultations are listed here

CAA consultations are here

DfT consultations are here

Ofcom consultations are here