Welcome to the Bristol Strut

Dave learned to fly in 1985, when Biggin Hill was almost affordable!  After taking on a share in a Jodel, he wanted to fly to Europe but could not make head or tail of the published requirements to do it.  So he sat down with a cold towel around his head to work it out and having distilled all the official-speak he realised that it is FAR simpler than it looks – so has been on a mission to let everybody else in UK General Aviation know the good news.

He also worked for a while as a flight test observer developing, amongst other interesting tasks, operating clearances to allow helicopters to land on ships.  It was at that point, being a coward, that he began to take a personal interest in aircrew safety and survival.

Tonight’s talk attempts to combine both those interests by providing an overview of what GA pilots might wish to consider when flying over water and/or remote areas.  It is a collection of information gathered from the professional training he has received and hints and tips gathered from many sources.

Version 4 of the Skyway Code is now available here.

The key updates to this version are:

• Key retained EU law for aviation.
• Updates to aeronautical information, including UK Flight Information Service (FIS) frequencies and Frequency Monitoring Codes.
• Updated operational guidance, including fuel management and crossing controlled airspace.
  
  The CAA have published a new Safety Sense Leaflet 32 providing guidance on reporting safety occurrences in GA operations in GA and related activity.
  
  Read it to make sure you understand when occurrence reporting is mandatory; even when not, you are encouraged to do so. Accidents and serious incidents must be reported to the AAIB.

Our November meeting will be a presentation from Keith Vinning of PilotAware on advances in electronic conspicuity interoperability. All welcome – let your flying friends know: BAWA 19:30 Tuesday November 7.

Another of the excellent Gasco safety evenings has been arranged for the 3rd October 2023 at the Bawa Club in Filton. Further details to be advised but all are welcome.

We will be enjoying listening to Jeremy Liber talking about his flying experiences, leading from a PPL to becoming a fully paid-up Hurricane pilot! Without wanting to eat all of Jeremy’s sandwiches, I can tell you that he learnt to fly on Tiger Moths at Cambridge, runs an aerospace consultancy specialising in design and certification, and has well over 2000 hrs in a very wide range of aircraft types.

To find out more, come along to BAWA Room 4, 19:30, 4^th April.