Dear BHPA Club Chief Coach, Club Secretary* or School CFI
Airspace Consultation - Temporary Danger Area - Northumbria - Airspace Change Proposal (ACP)
Airspace change proposal public view
https://airspacechange.caa.co.uk/Public ... ea?pID=546
I am emailing you as contact for a BHPA club or school. I attach information recently received concerning an airspace change proposal. The BHPA sites database records the club or school as being located where its operations may possibly be affected by this proposed airspace change.
The scope of the proposal has not been evaluated to see if it will affect BHPA school / club flying activities. I have been instructed to forward this proposal to clubs and schools that may be affected, so they can review and engage directly with the ACP sponsor.
Please refer to the information on the link below for information on the ACP. If no further details are provided, you may wish to register your interest by using the “contact” link on the CAA’s Airspace Change Proposal portal.
If your club wishes to comment directly on the airspace change proposal, please copy the BHPA’s Airspace Liaison Officer Andy Mcdonald into the communication. His email address is andy-mcdonald@bhpa.co.uk
The General Aviation Alliance (GAA) of which the BHPA is a part, may well respond to the airspace change proposal on behalf of general aviation (GA) activities, although this has not been confirmed at this stage. If you wish to liaise with the GAA Programme Manager for assistance in dealing with the airspace change proposal sponsor you will need to provide me with the name of your Club Airspace Officer. If the airspace change proposal potentially affects several clubs, it is helpful if the clubs appoint between them a member as a “regional airspace lead” person who acts as an inter-club liaison with the Programme Manager. If you let me know who is nominated I can forward this person’s contact details on to the GAA Programme Manager.
* This email has been sent only to the club contact listed on the BHPA clubs and school pages on the BHPA website, and to no other officers or coaches in your club. Please forward it to the relevant club committee member to ensure it is circulated appropriately within your club.
Kind regards
Mark
Mark Shaw
BHPA Senior Technical Officer
Our Proposed Response
Associated Links and DocsThe Northumbria Hang and Paragliding Club (NHPC) object in the strongest terms to the airspace changes proposed in ACP 2023-015.
The Tyne Valley and airspace to the north west of Newcastle TMA is heavily used by General Aviation providing free airspace routing north/south east/west of our region. The proposed danger areas will severely curtail foot launched gliding activity in the North East of England. Our members have for the last 35 years exercised the freedom to fly across the region in Class G airspace. As gliders, unlike many general aviation users, we cannot guarantee overflight of low-level exclusion zones. These proposed danger areas are effectively impassable barriers for our members precluding the freedom to overfly and land if necessary.
The proposed drone service utilises technology incapable of autonomous avoidance of other air users. As such this model is not a viable proposal for widespread future deployment and falls short of CAA proposals outlined in the UKs Airspace Modernisation Strategy (CAP2298). Our members are not against progress, approximately half have already taken advantage of the CAAs Electronic Conspicuity rebate scheme. However, the proposed airspace ‘grab’ displaces all other users whilst demonstrating no prospect of innovation to meet future needs.
It is the opinion of Northumbria Hang and Paragliding Club that this trial should be ceased until such a time as safe avoidance of other air users can be guaranteed.
Northumbria NHS Article
Apian Northumbria Article
Flyer Article - Severe and Negative Impact
