ceo 2026 CEO Diary 13 February 2026

GASCo Board Decision to Wind Up the Company

On 10 February 2026 the Board of the General Aviation Safety Council (GASCo) notified the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of its intention to wind up the company.

This decision follows a sustained reduction in financial support, most notably:

  • A reduction of approximately 98% in CAA contributions,
  • Withdrawal of funding support from NATS,
  • The transfer of the Flight Safety Promotion contract to Astral Aviation Consulting, and
  • The subsequent withdrawal of support from the British Microlight Aircraft Association (BMAA).

Taken together, these changes removed the financial stability required to sustain GASCo’s long-term operation.

GASCo has for many years played a central role in promoting safety awareness across UK general aviation through safety evenings, publications, and collaborative engagement with industry stakeholders. The loss of this structure represents not only an organisational change but also a reduction in an established channel for safety communication across the GA community.

Government Engagement and Political Context (GA4Biz)

The present political environment provides limited direct engagement routes for general aviation.

Key developments include:

  • The Department for Transport (DfT) has dissolved its dedicated GA team, with personnel reassigned to other priorities.
  • Attempts to raise issues at ministerial level have largely stalled at junior civil servant level.
  • Parliamentary engagement has diminished, with previously active All-Party Parliamentary Groups losing momentum.
  • Currently there is no Minister or senior political figure with a clear connection to or advocacy role for general aviation.

This has materially reduced the effectiveness of traditional aviation-focused lobbying routes.

Broadening Government Engagement

In response, industry representatives have begun exploring engagement beyond the DfT.

Potential areas include:

  • Department for Business and Trade — positioning GA as an enabler of inward investment, regional growth, and economic activity.
  • Department for Education — aligning GA with skills development, engineering pathways, and workforce shortages in aviation and aerospace.
  • Framing GA in government language around “setting conditions for growth”, rather than as a recreational or niche activity.

This reflects a pragmatic shift towards demonstrating economic and societal value rather than seeking aviation-specific concessions.

Political Alliances and Think Tanks

Approaches have been made by emerging policy groups and think tanks interested in general and business aviation. These may provide alternative routes for policy influence where traditional departmental engagement has weakened. I have been approached by some individuals who want to talk about setting up a Think Tank! A couple of members from the HoL.

EGNOS and SBAS Withdrawal – Operational and Safety Impact

The withdrawal of EGNOS SBAS services continues to generate concern across multiple sectors: Loganair has written to the Secretary of State highlighting operational impacts on regional connectivity and remote communities.

Air Ambulance operators have raised concerns regarding resilience and operational safety.

AOPA has long engaged on this issue, noting that since the withdrawal of CAP1122 there has been no equivalent step change in GA operational safety capability.

The issue now extends beyond GA and increasingly affects public service aviation and regional transport resilience.

Member Engagement and Community Feedback

Recent members correspondence continues to reflect:

  • Strong appreciation for advocacy work undertaken on behalf of GA,
  • Ongoing concern among older pilots regarding medical certification and continued participation,
  • Increasing interest in cross-border operations (e.g. 600 kg microlight operations into France),
  • Recognition of the importance of clear communication and rapid response from representative bodies.