This is a UK perspective but never the less is valuable reading to our EU community.
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Last Updated on Sunday, 20 March 2011 19:06
Written by Administrator
Tuesday, 08 February 2011 16:35
Presidents Newsletter
January 2011
Dear EFLEVA Colleagues and Friends
2010 has been an important year for us in continuing to grow our Federation as we actively pursue and progress a host of regulatory matters and develop a deeper involvement in our member groups, ensuring we focus on the things that are significant to them.
Importantly we have, I believe, also become a group of friends dedicated to ensuring our passion for aviation continues and grows for ourselves and future generations.
During the year, NVAV (Netherlands) joined us and we are delighted to welcome them to our Federation. As a result, and together with the Swiss Historical Aviation Group (AAA) who joined at the end of the previous year, we now have 16 member groups representing over 15,000 individual members.
It is essential to enjoying our passion for flight that we have the freedom to operate in the complex world of aviation regulation. We must continue to influence this, particularly now as EASA gains in authority with the associated changes in regulation. The basis of our work is simply that we do not expect to lose privileges we already have, and we expect the promise of proportionate, fair and reasonable regulation to be kept. That promise has already been made by the European Parliament ina resolution on An Agenda for a Sustainable Future in General and Business Aviation (2008/2134 (INI)). We hold EASA and our politicians accountable to meet those standards as they move forward. Our passion is one that can inspire others and is of significant value socially and in economic terms to the nations that encourage it – perhaps even more so in the poor economic environment we presently endure. We are encouraged that as recently as this month, at the European Commission Conference on EU safety, EASA stated it did not wish to over-regulate and envisaged a move towards risk based oversight. We look forward to that promised change of direction and have a right to expect Commission resolutions to be fulfilled. We would expect that to include no regulation where it is unnecessary, reduced regulation where appropriate and reversal of earlier damaging action.
Regarding advocacy, it has again been a busy year ensuring we robustly respond to consultations that may affect our members. Specifically worthy of note is the increasing number of Comment Response Documents (CRD’s) now emanating from consultations on proposals as they move into the implementation stage. Notable are Pilot Licensing and European Light Aircraft (ELA), encompassing the Light Sport Aircraft proposals. We continue to be involved in EASA working groups, specifically Operations and issues like bio-fuels and where we might go on the general fuel issue. We have also ensured our voice is heard on the European proposals from Eurocontrol on rules of the air.
These examples demonstrate that whilst, as I reported last year,EASA currently has“No intention to change Annex II as a whole, Microlight, amateur build etc” this is but part of regulation emanating from Europe that can effect us all, and there is much happening that will influence our operations – we simply have to be involved. And of course it is our overriding policy to ensure Annex II remains, though we also have within our membership owners, particularly in the Vintage area, whose aircraft are EASA regulated and whose interests we must support,
In much of our work we are assisted by Europe Air Sports (EAS) with whom, as a European Federation with colleagues like the European Gliding Union (EGU) and European Microlight Federation (EMF), we sit shoulder to shoulder to jointly ensure the cause of Sports and Recreational Aviation is protected. On that note I would particularly like to record the return of David Roberts as President of EAS at the end of last year after a short absence. I am pleased to count David as a personal friend and his return will, I believe, bring back to EAS the spark that sadly seemed to dim during his absence.
An example of EAS cooperation came towards the end of last year when we sat down with the senior representatives of the EMF and the European Power Flying Union under the EAS umbrella, to look at the progress of the Light Sport Category. This, as many know, started in the USA and now spreads as a sub-ICAO category operating to similar national rules in 19 countries. EASA made a commitment to introduce that into Europe but present, and likely future, delays mean that it is not currently available to us. It is quite simply a tragedy that many manufacturers in the EU are producing these aircraft for export to a common standard not recognised in their European homelands. It is equally tragic that is happening at a time when economic growth and generation is so vital to us. Out of that meeting a plan has been developed to address this at a political level – so watch this space.
Members attending the 2011 Technical and Business Conference in Paris
In my letter last year I commented on a matter dear to nearly all of our members - the ability to fly unrestricted across Europe. Many of you will be aware of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) Recommendation INT.S11-1 (Dated 1980), which states: “………that Member States accept home-built aircraft with a certificate of airworthiness or a “permit to fly” issued by another Member State, to fly in their country without any restrictions other than those stated in the certificate of airworthiness or “permit to fly”.”Some states have implemented thiswith automatic free movement, others have not and the national position is not always clear. As a result of our discussions, ECAC has, as agreed, surveyed the implementation of the 1980 recommendation and we look forward to this helping progress this vital freedom. We are though, aware that this ECAC recommendation does not apply to factory built national permit aircraft, which is a matter EFLEVA is beginning to address. Unfortunately, without an overriding EU recommendation, this needs to be on a nation by nation basis. Discussions initiated by EFLEVA with National Aviation Authorities, between specific states, have started, though it will be a long path. Hopefully we will soon have an implemented model between two major states that can be used elsewhere on a principle of harmonisation.
2010 saw what I hope will be a regular EFLEVA event – a national conference of our member groups to ensure we know each other, understand what our issues are and work together to protect our future. Most of our member organisations were able to attend the meeting in Paris last October and it was, as we all agreed, a vital part in our development. One important aspect was to recognise that EFLEVA has three distinct areas of interest; the words are in our name - Light Aircraft, Experimental Aircraft (more usually known as Amateur Build Aircraft), and Vintage Aircraft. We agreed to ensure that each of these segments, which are organised as Commissions, have distinct identities within EFLEVA so areas specific to their interests can be addressed, whilst at the same time ensuring the common areas are also looked after. The conference was a valuable event at a business and personal level; increasingly EFLEVA is becoming a group of friends with a common passion.
We will have our next conference as a combined event with the General Meeting, on 22 October 2011, again in Paris, though this time at an “Aviation Venue,” more news of that later. I look forward to meeting you during the year and at that event.
My very best wishes for 2011
Roger Hopkinson
President: European Federation of Light Experimental and Vintage Aircraft
January 2011
Member organisations
IGO Austria
EAA Czech Republic
EAA Denmark
RSA France
OUV Germany
NVNAV Holland
SAAC/CAAC Ireland
FCAP Italy
NLSF Norway
AAE Portugal
AAE Spain
EAA Sweden
EAS Switzerland
AAA Switzerland
LAA United Kingdom
HAA United Kingdom
Executive committee members
President Roger Hopkinson United Kingdom:
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Vice-President Catherine Dartois France:
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Treasurer Alfons Hubmann Switzerland:
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General Secretary Elain Fecher Germany:
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Vice-President Experimental Kjell Franzen Sweden kjell:
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Vice-President Light Carlos Trigo Portugal:
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Vice-President Vintage Nigel Stevens France nigel:
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Vice-President Consultation Barry Plumb UK:
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Last Updated on Monday, 11 April 2011 14:08
Written by Administrator
Monday, 11 October 2010 01:28
UK CAA bulletins on EASA activity
You will find very useful background reading which
EFLEVA is a Federation of Associations from a number of European countries.
To be consulting partner of EASA in their process of legal findings
To accept and concentrate proposals of intervention of their country partners etc.
OUVDE FCAP IT AAE PT HAA UK
EASCH EAA NO EAA CZ RSA FR
LAAUK EAA DK IE AT AAE ES
AAA CH EAA SE IRL ILAS
EFLEVA operates in each country through those national associations. EFLEVA does not deal
directly with national authorities, nor with individuals in each country. That is the role of the
national associations, who are EFLEVA members.
Each national association appoints a voting board member to EFLEVA. The board elects an
executive committee of six persons, of which one third is renewed at the annual general meeting
and elected for a three year term.
Membership of EFLEVA is open to all national associations with a close interest into aviation
for their individual members.
The work of EFLEVA is directed by the executive committee and approved annually by the board.
The results are fed back to member organisations and remain confidential to the members of EFLEVA.
Four distinct work groups or Commissions exist within EFLEVA, each directed by a vice president,
who is also a member of the executive committee:
> Light Aircraft
> Experimental Aircraft
> Vintage Aircraft
> Consultations
EAS Membership
Each member organisation may appoint an expert to each of the commissions.It is this depth
of Europes wide technical expertise is all aspects of leisure aviation, which is the strength of it.
The commissions remain in close contact with each other, and with the executive committee but
their work areas are largely separated. When the work of a commission is completed it is first
reviewed by the executive committee and then by the board. It is then communicated to the member
organisations by the board representatives.
EFLEVA's operating method, in both internal and external work, is cooperative and based on
information exchange, with the expressed desire to avoid confrontational methods as these are
not considered to be productive.
EFLEVA is a member of Europe Air Sports, this is important since EAS is the only leisure aviation
organisation recognised by EASA.
Thanks to its membership of EAS, EFLEVA was invited by EASA rule making directorate in
December 2009 for an initial meeting, which allowed EFLEVA to explain its membership,
objectives and interest areas.
EFLEVA Website Purpose
The EFELVA website is designed to be a communications tool for member organisations.
It is not an external communications vehicle. It is not the only internal communications tool
and is not the back bone of EFLEVA operations.
The EFLEVA website was the victim of a hacking attack which has had no effect at all on
EFLEVA operations.
As described in the membership criteria, individuals are not members of EFLEVA and EFLEVA
does not seek to enrol individuals.
As a result EFLEVA does not seek to directly and actively communicate in each of the countries.
SUMMARY
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT EFLEVA GO TO YOUR NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, IF THEY ARE
AN EFLEVA MEMBER THEY ARE FULLY INFORMED. IF THEY ARE NOT AN EFLEVA MEMBER
ENCOURAGE THEM TO JOIN.
These organisations together represent 10,000 constructors, restorers, owners and operators
of amateur built and historic aircraft across Europe.
EFLEVA recommends that individuals, who are not already members of a national association, which
is an EFLEVA member, should join one of the EFLEVA member organisations.
EFLEVA & Individuals
EFLEVA provides experts to EAS for EASA.
These national associations, who are members of EFLEVA, represent the interests of their members,
both - homebuilders and owners, operators and restorers of historic aircraft in each of the countries.
EFELVA was set up in 2007 by 12 associations from 11 countries and now has 16 member associations
from 14 countries.
The current member organisations and countries are:
The main objectives of EFLEVA are:
Last Updated on Thursday, 16 December 2010 17:09
Presidents Newsletter - January 2010
Written by Roger Hopkinson
Tuesday, 12 January 2010 09:03
Dear EFLEVA Colleagues and Friends,
2009 has been an important year in the progress of EFLEVA and the changing regulatory environment. The Federation now represents the interests of 14 national organisations with a combined membership of over 15,000. We have strong affinity and contact with other international bodies in our area of Aviation interest. These include the EAA in USA with 170,000 members including 3,000 in Europe. ...
EFLEVA is a federation of national European aviation associations in the areas of Light Aircraft, Experimental/Amateur build Aircraft and Classic/Vintage/Historic Aircraft. Within the EFLEVA family each of these three very special areas of aviation interest has its own specific identity headed by a Vice President.
The Federation represents the interests of 14 national organisations with a combined membership of over 15,000. We have strong affinity and contact with other international bodies in our area of Aviation interest. These include the EAA in USA with 170,000 members including 3,000 in Europe
The prime objective is to promote, support and represent the interests of our member groups particularly in the regulatory environment in which they operate, currently and in the future. EFLEVA is an independent body providing capable coordinated focus, working co-operatively with relevant national and international organisations to promote and develop its member’s interests.
Through the broad interests of Europe Air Sports of which EFLEVA is a member, EFLEVA has positioned itself to provide information and advice on the ongoing airworthiness of these specialised aircraft. We actively participate in the consultation processes surrounding the development of any new regulations, where they may affect our member organisations and ensure we have and maintain the appropriate political and regulatory contacts.
We fundamentally support the principle of working with people to ensure “What is permitted and conducted safely today in individual countries should continue to be permitted under any new regime” and that “For the regulator the level of success is determined by the level of acceptance by the user”
