By Kate Sarsfield in London
Strategic and regulatory studies reveal industry worth £1.4 billion and 11,000 jobs is growing strongly in many areas
The UK Civil Aviation Authority has published its first analysis of the state of the country's general aviation industry.
The strategic and regulatory reviews, described by the CAA as "a fundamental turning point in its relationship with GA", were launched last June after accusations from the GA community that it was being ignored by government and the CAA.
The two reports were produced by separate review teams made up of representatives from the aviation authority, government and industry, including leading trade bodies the British Business and General Aviation Association and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
The strategic review "looked at the over-arching context within which GA operates and considered the main economic, commercial and policy developments in the sector, while the regulatory review focused on the details of the CAA safety regulation," says the CAA.
CAA chairman Roy McNulty instigated the review and says the results "bring much greater clarity on the role and health of general aviation in the UK and should give a clearer appreciation of the significance of the sector by those involved in policy decisions in government, the CAA and in Europe."
The review demonstrates that GA is an important business and leisure activity as well as being an important source of skills and awareness for the aviation industry as a whole, he adds.
The CAA says the most surprising finding of the review is the high value of GA to the UK economy. It says: "At around £1.4 billion [$2.6 billion] the sector employs around 11,000 people and on this basis represents around 8% of the economic contribution of UK commercial aviation."
The review also found that many areas of the industry are growing strongly and there is no evidence of serious decline although access to key infrastructure, notably airspace and airports, has become more difficult.
According to the report, the UK government "should now consider making a statement on the value of maintaining a network of GA airfields to be considered by those involved in planning decisions in the future."
The review also recommends the government revise the CAA's statutory objectives under the Civil Aviation Act "at the next opportunity to remove any suggestion of bias toward commercial air transport over GA".
It also calls for a more effective dialogue between GA, the CAA and government "with all parties needing to work to improve this". The reviews have been widely welcomed by the GA community, but some still remain sceptical that there is enough political will to push through many of the recommendations.
Source: Flight International
