FAI Environmental Commission (EnvC)

Actions in one country, which could be copied by others:

• Form an Aviation Awareness Council in your country, if there is not already a suitable forum to do this sort of work for the benefit of air sports and GA combined. *
   
• A leaflet, 'Your Local Aerodrome' - benefits of a general aviation site. *
   
• Swiss leaflet about GA aerodromes having benefits. **
   
• Example of a welcoming/explanatory leaflet for an individual aerodrome. **
   
• Draft of a welcoming/explanatory leaflet, including environmental benefits, for individual aerodromes to copy. **
   
• German 'Blue Flag scheme' identifying airfields which meet good environmental criteria. **
   
• UK Popular Flying Association's 'Airfield Visitor Enthusiast' scheme (www.pfa.org.uk)
   
• Young Eagles scheme (www.pfa.org.uk/education_ya.asp)
   
• Coloured brochures 'Support General Aviation in the U.K.', including inserts such as 'General Aviation and the Environment'. *
   
• Survey results around 5 UK aerodromes [AOPA Economic, Employment and Social Survey of UK Airfields 1995.] www.aopa.co.uk 
   
• Submissions to Government Select Committee on need for government support. *
   
• Coordination of input to a Select Committee on the Environment. The Committee chose to study "The Environmental Impact of Leisure Activities". *
   
• Meetings with officials. *
   
• Government has requested research on airfields affected by new developments, contrary to governments planning policy guidelines.
   
• Planning guide for aviation applicants. *
   
• A guide for aviation applicants who have to appeal against authorities' decisions. *
   
• How to conduct a successful letter campaign in support of an application, etc.. *
   
• A process to identify aviation supporters in any area. (www.airfields.org.uk)
   
• Ongoing advice to aerodrome owners and operators. *
   
• Surveys of aerodrome planning permissions and conditions imposed. *
   
• A database of planning decisions. *
   
• Analysis of planning results, and success/failure rates. *
   
• A study of the reactions of local authorities and planning inspectors to noise from general aviation airfields. *
   
• 'Bizarre Results' papers, analysing planning decisions and showing how unpredictable it is, particularly in noise measurement and interpretation. *
   
• Planning guidance for Local Planning Authorities on general aviation, sent to over 1000 UK councils. *
   
• Detailed planning guidance for sale to Local Planning Authorities. *
   
• Conference for Planning officers etc., to advise them on aviation issues and the help we can give them to make better decisions. *
   
• Ongoing response to enquiries from planning officers and environmental health officers. *
   
• A survey of all County and Regional Structure Plans. *
   
• Revised entries are being sought for each Structure Plan when the opportunity occurs. *
   
• Monitoring local authorities plans. *
   
• Promoting 'hush kits' (silencers/multi-blade propellors) for light aircraft. **
   
• Requesting government to include positive provision for general aviation in proposed integrated transport policy. *
   
• General Aviation Small Airfield Research Project – evidence regarding local or national economic benefit deriving from small airfields. The study, by a mature PhD student at University College, London, was fully accepted by the UK Department for Transport. This is demonstrated by the fact that the Department is supporting the project financially. The principal objectives are to provide, with the aid of a socio-economic model, an estimate of the overall financial benefits of general aviation. See www.gaac.co.uk and click on “News” and “ December 2004 - GAAC Newsletter”.
   

* See GAAC at www.gaac.co.uk and follow various references to publications etc.

** Contact FAI Environmental Commission for more details of hard copy etc. that we are aware of.