The Science and Technology Committee will hold its second evidence session on its Commercial and recreational drone use in the UK inquiry on Wednesday 26th June. Watch it online at Parliament TV. Witnesses: At 9.30 am Captain Tim Pottage, Chairman of RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems)     Working Group, British Airline Pilots Association Andy Sage, Head of Unmanned Traffic Management, National Air Traffic Services Special Sergeant Kevin Taylor, Chief Pilot, Lincolnshire Police Dro...

The Science and Technology Committee holds its first evidence session on its Commercial and recreational drone use in the UK inquiry.   Watch it online at Parliament TV.   Witnesses: At 9.45 am Tim Johnson, Policy Director, Civil Aviation Authority Richard Parker, Chief Executive Officer, Altitude Angel Anne-Lise Scaillierez, Director, Association of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems UK   At 10.45 am ·         Professor James P. Scanlan, University of Southampton Brendan Schulm...

A white Ford Transit, HJ61 NLU has been stolen from the Teesside area. The following models and equipment were inside. Warwick 15` wing span Looks like a wellington two tone 2x26 cc Zen engines 1/4 scale Flair Tigermoth covered with ww1 roundels Roto 25cc 1/4 scale Flair D.R1 Green with German Writing on side.26cc Zen 1/4 Scale Cub sratch built by Harry Harland wot 4 foam el Ripmax Rainbow Titan with 38cc Zen Elation Buddy with Jen57 Sea Fury elite ABS sports Glider Spriniter Bouncer ...

Representatives from the UK Model Flying Associations met with the Aviation Minister, Baroness Vere of Norbiton at the Department for Transport yesterday (Tuesday 5th June 2019). Whilst the meeting provided a good opportunity for both sides to clarify their position and understand each other’s priorities, there is little in the way of good news to report to our members. It was clear that the government sees the public order and security risk posed by unmanned aircraft as very serious, which i...

Representatives of the UK Model Flying Associations met with the CAA yesterday afternoon (29th May 2019). The meeting was constructive, but without any real breakthrough to report at this stage.  The CAA were only able to discuss potential options within the restrictive policy framework dictated by the DfT.  One such option is the possibility of the Associations registering as Operators, which would save members paying the £16.50 registration fee, but all members flying any model over 250g wou...

Once again we would like to thank members for their efforts responding to the CAA consultation and writing to the Aviation Minister, CAA CEO and your local MP. We know a number of members have arranged meetings with their local MP which is a fantastic way of ensuring their engagement with the issue.   If you have a meeting arranged with your MP please email andy@bmfa.org and we can provide you with information and guidance which will be useful to you during your meetings. If you haven't yet ...

** IMPORTANT UPDATE ** CAA PROPOSALS PLEASE READ & SHARE ** We would like to thank all members who have responded to the CAA consultation at https://consultations.caa.co.uk/finance/drone-registration/ and who have written to the Aviation Minister, CAA CEO and your local MPs’ Yesterday (3/5/2019), the BMFA's CEO has been contacted and asked to attend a meeting with the Aviation Minister, Baroness Vere of Norbiton. This has come about directly because of YOUR reaction to the CAA's proposal...

Further to the recent publication of CAP1775 which launched a consultation on the CAA's proposed arrangements for registration fees for operators of unmanned aircraft, the UK model flying association (BMFA/LMA/SAA & FPVUK) held a meeting last night with advisers. The text in CAP1775 is far more serious than the issue of registration fees alone.  The consultation reveals that key policy decisions (such as age limits, not allowing us to register members on their behalf and repetitive competen...

Following the recent sudden announcement of Flight Restriction Zones around protected aerodromes capturing the operation of all unmanned aircraft of any weight and at any height (and the unreasonable three week notice period given for our clubs and members to comply), the CAA have dropped yet another bombshell on us with no prior warning. They have today published a consultation (CAP1775) on their proposed charges for the registration of all operators of unmanned aircraft – which includes all ...

The Free Flight Forum Report is now in its thirty-fourth year. This year’s is just out and it’s the biggest yet, with no less than 17 papers, covering a vast range of the topics that make free-flight so fascinating.   Only Joules and Forces- Peter Watson; Classic 1/2A Models - Simon Dixon; Trimming the Sopwith Snipe - Mike Smith; Russell Strips - Russell Peers; Testing June 2016 Tan Super Sport in April 2017 - Tim Chant; Developments in Carbon Wing Construction - Stuart Darmon; ...