We read this news and felt we had to pass it on to our members in the UK!
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has confirmed that, subject to contract, EU funds will be made available to the CAA to help GA pilots and private aircraft owners move to 8.33 kHz radios. All aircraft registered in the EU that use radios need to be equipped with 8.33 kHz equipment by December 2017. And now the transition from existing 25kHz radios has become a lot less painful thanks to €4.3m of grants from the EU.
The CAA applied to the EU for €4.3m funding to encourage the timely transition of the UK GA fleet from existing 25 kHz radios to 8.33kHz equipment. That application was for the maximum permitted grant of 20 per cent of the estimated total cost of 8.33kHz equipage.
“The CAA will now work closely with the BGA and other UK GA associations to distribute the funds to aircraft owners.”
Says a CAA spokesman. More details on how that will work in practice will be released shortly.
Tony Rapson, Head of the GA Unit said:
“We are delighted our application for radio funding was successful. This will go some way to easing the burden for aircraft owners converting to 8.33 kHz equipage in the UK and continues to demonstrate our commitment to get the best deal possible for the UK GA community.”