Aims To Also Represent Vintage Planes And Warbirds
Aero-News has learned the European Federation of Light,
Experimental and Vintage Aircraft was recently formed to promote,
support and to represent the interests of its member associations
at the European level, in respect of all relevant regulatory
matters.
Representatives with EFELVA state the group was formed at Vichy
in July, with the first meeting held in Prague on October 20-21,
2007. The first meeting witnessed the election of officers,
and several statutes were approved.
Associations from 11 EU countries have joined the Federation
with the interests of UK-based aircraft and their operators being
looked after by the PFA (soon to be renamed and re-branded the
Light Aircraft Association) and the Historic Aircraft
Association.
The reason for a pan-European approach, according to group
representatives, is that access to EASA, Eurocontrol, ECAC, the
European Commission and the EU Parliament is only possible with the
aid of Europe Air Sports -- and they will not deal with national
organizations, only those with a pan-European membership.
The aim of EFLEVA is to be able to communicate the needs and
fears of the owners, operators, restorers and flyers of home-built,
experimental and vintage aircraft in an effective and direct
manner.
A meeting was held in Oxford on Sunday, October 28, where
representatives of various vintage aircraft type groups gathered to
discuss the ways of ensuring that all vintage aircraft can have a
voice in Europe.
Those already operating on PFA/LAA permits will be represented
by the PFA/LAA -- but they do not cover aircraft on CAA permits or
heavier metal, such as warbirds and vintage jets. Some operators of
these are members of the Historic Aircraft Association but others
are not, at present, represented and the meeting discussed various
ways this could be addressed.
Roger Hopkinson of the PFA, Barry Tempest of the Historic
Aircraft Association and John Broad of the Vintage Aircraft Club
and the PFA gave presentations on the role and future of EFLEVA.
They believe the group is the only viable way of representing
UK-based vintage aircraft in Europe, and suggested that all
operators should be joining one of the organizations that has
currently has a seat on the council.
Other recent presentations on the existence of EFLEVA and its
implications for all in the UK involved with vintage, historic and
heritage aviation along with those involved in airshows have been
made. These by the HAA to groups at Cambridge, Cranfield and
Cosford at events organized by the DeHMC, the ADA(E) and the
HAA.
Efforts are currently being made to arrange in the near future a
gathering of the heavy metal and “warbird” fraternity
along with those involved with air display participation to enable
them to be aware of the situation and to take steps they deem
appropriate.
There has already been much speculation and discussion over
matters such as the use of Mode S transponders, airspace and
licensing along with operational matters and EFLEVA will be taking
the fight to Brussels and Cologne.