ceo 2026 CEO Diary 23 January 2026

 

This week’s work has focused on strengthening the strategic positioning of General and Regional Aviation within both UK and European policy frameworks. The overarching aim has been to counter the persistent dominance of airline centric narratives and ensure that smaller aerodromes, training organisations and non airline operators are recognised as essential national and European infrastructure.

1. European Engagement and Policy Positioning

Discussions with IAOPA Europe and HQ have centred on the need to reframe General Aviation (GA) within EU political structures. While many European GA airfields—particularly in Germany and Italy—benefit from long standing recognition as protected transport infrastructure, they remain vulnerable to redevelopment. Political resistance to private and recreational aviation within the European Parliament continues to be a barrier, but this reinforces rather than diminishes the need for engagement.

Our message has been clear: GA airfields must be positioned not as leisure assets but as part of Europe’s wider transport, skills, emergency response, innovation and regional connectivity ecosystem. Aligning GA with established EU priorities—sustainability, security, training pipelines and regional cohesion—creates a defensible narrative that resonates with policymakers. This approach has been communicated to Michael Erb and Jim Coon, noting that UK policy often tracks EU developments.

2. UK Engagement: DfT, Aviation Minister and Industry Partners

Engagement with the Department for Transport, the aviation minister, BBGA, Regional Airports and Regional Airlines has focused on improving the visibility of non airline aviation within UK policy. AOPA’s position emphasises the value of collaboration among like minded associations, particularly where smaller aerodromes struggle to secure attention in frameworks dominated by major commercial interests.

A key theme has been the need to sharpen the definition of “regional aviation”. The term is frequently misinterpreted as short haul airline feeder services. Our proposed framing defines regional and general aviation as a decentralised network of smaller aerodromes, operators, training organisations and specialist services operating largely outside the hub and spoke airline model. This distinction is essential to ensure Ministers and officials view engagement with our sector as complementary rather than duplicative of Airlines UK and Airports UK.

3. Airspace Consultations

Scottish Airspace Review:

We submitted AOPA’s response to the Scottish consultation, which proposes a net reduction in controlled airspace (CAS) below 7,000 ft around Edinburgh and Glasgow. While this appears beneficial for GA, the introduction of new CAS elsewhere may negatively affect established routes and training areas. Concerns were raised regarding potential safety impacts around the Firth of Forth and the risk of undermining CAP 1711 safeguards. We stressed that decisions must remain safety led, risk based and proportionate, with environmental considerations treated alongside—not ahead of—safety and access.

DfT Airspace Modernisation Strategy:

The consultation covered air navigation directions (to CAA) and air navigation guidance with a focus on noise below 4000ft and emissions above 7000 ft as well as local NPRs (which are set by local authorities). On the suggestion of extending TRA for drone trials from 6 month to up to 3 years I raised an object. I spoke about the requirement to balance the needs of all airspace users based on a risk mitigation approach not on carbon optimisation outcomes.

Our response highlighted the risk that in elevating carbon reduction to a design driver could lead to long term erosion of Class G access without a mechanism to assess GA impacts.

4. Other Developments

  • Gibraltar has launched its first aircraft registry (VP G ), with a DfT audit expected in early 2026.
    • A DfT announcement on EGNOS is anticipated by the end of February 2026.