SUMMARY OF A PRESENTATION
TO HAA COUNCIL ON EFLEVA
BY NIGEL STEVENS
VP VINTAGE AIRCRAFT COMMISSION
8TH MAY 2012
Nigel Stevens is the VP Vintage Aircraft Commission for the European Federation of Light, Experimental and Vintage Aircraft Association. Nigel is an Englishman living in France and he kindly took time out during his recent visit to the UK to make a presentation to the HAA Council with news of the latest developments in the work of the Association. As a member of the Association the HAA very much appreciated Nigel’s briefing and up-date.
Nigel explained that leisure aviation in France comprised 45,000 active pilots flying 1800 aeroplanes and compared that with the activity in the UK which was similar but somewhat more expensive. A DR400 costs EUR120 per flight hour to hire. There were not as many historic aircraft flying in France as in the UK but nonetheless the Federation RSA had 1600 members flying amateur built and historic aeroplanes.
Nigel reminded the HAA Council of the structure of EFLEVA which was founded in 2007 to defend the interests of member organisations at European level. There are currently 16 member organisations from 14 countries with a total of 15,000 members. It is a democratic, consensual and consultative organisation that works through member’s federations with 4 principal commissions namely Light, Experimental, Vintage and Consultation. EFLEVA has been a member of Europe Air Sports since 2008 as a channel of communication with EASA but since 2009 has had meetings with EASA. In response to questions Nigel said he was hopeful that in the future EFLEVA would obtain direct access to EASA working groups and committees.
One of the problems EFLEVA faces is the selection of the right terminology, and in Europe words such as Historic, Vintage, Classic, Veteran, Old Timer, Collectors Piece, Heritage were applied to all vehicles including cars, motorcycles, ships, boats, railway trains as well as aircraft. There were also terms such as War Birds, Cold War Jets, and Cold Warrior aircraft. EFLEVA has decided to select “VINTAGE” to cover all these descriptions. The Association was going through a similar debate over “Experimental” aircraft.
EFLEVA’s objectives were to:
• Promote, support and represent interests of members at European level in regulatory matters
• This encompassed builders, restorers and operators of Vintage aircraft
• Act independently but with good relations and in a co-operative spirit with National and International organisations such as the UK HAA.
Within EFLEVA membership of 15 nations, only France, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK operated VINTAGE aircraft.
The EFLEVA management system is based on:
• A Federation of Associations,
• With the legal entity established under French Law with defined statutes
• Each Member Association Appoints 2 Board Members
• Voting and Fees Based on National Membership
• The Board Elects the Executive Committee
• 3 Years, with 1/3 Renewal Each Year
• Executive Committee Establishes Commissions
• Expertise in Commissions
• Member Associations Can Appoint One Person to Each Commission
• Executive Committee Drives External Relationships
The current EFLEVA Executive Committee is :
• President Roger Hopkinson LAA UK
• Vice-President Catherine Dartois RSA F
• Treasurer Alfons Hubmann EAA CH
• Secretary Elaine Fecher OUV D
• VP Expt Kjell Franzen EAA S
• VP Light Carlos Trigo EAA P
• VP Vintage Nigel Stevens RSA F
• VP Consultation Barry Plumb LAA UK
In reviewing the EFEVA environment of the past and today Nigel Stevens suggested that in 2007 there had been a general fear about the rapid dissappearance of Annex II and the wholesale application of modern industrial standards and limitations. By 2012 there was continued uncertainty over the medium term stability of Annex II. However there was a genuine and helpful attitude of many NAA’s but there was continuing confusion over licensing and what the ongoing impact of EASA regulations was likely to be. For the future EFLEVA saw Annex II was going to apply for some years yet.
For the EFLEVA Vintage Commission they saw their Terms of Reference as representing the interests of Vintage Aircraft as any inhabited aerial vehicle (within the EFLEVA definition) through communication with the members to identify issues and develop policy. The Vintage Commission would also communicate with Third Parties and develop sound relationships with Authorities. HAA Member for Regulatory Affairs Barry Tempest was a member of the EFLEVA Vintage Commission.
For Vintage aircraft in Europe the rules that apply today are are predicated upon certification requirements and operational constraints. The use of constraints has led to cross border limitations which in turn has led to difficulties for international flight within Europe and the sale and/or certification of aircraft between countries. By way of example Nigel compared France and the UK as two extremes.
In France there are CdN (CofA), CNRA (homebuilt), CDNR (French orphan), CDNS (orphan ICAO), CNRAC (historic) with aircraft by aircraft certification applied. Use of limitations is applied on CNRA, CDNR and CNRAC aircraft.
In the UK we have CofA, LAA Permit (homebuilt, factory built orphan), CAA Permit (factory built heavy metal) aircraft. The CAA use limitations on Permit Aircraft and apply Type-byType certification.
For Vintage Aircraft in Europe EASA hs no intention to modify Annex 2 in the medium term. Most, but not all, Vintage A/C are in Annex 2 e.g. Zlin 526. Therefore National rules apply but…… EASA Insurance rules apply, and EASA Public transport rules apply and there is the EASA NPA 2008-17 pilot licencing issue. At present it is an administrative void! By excluding Annex II pilots hours and log books may be invalid when flying these aircraft. Also in some countries there is a tendency to over-interpret the EASA texts and for example require Radio/Transponders and ELBs to CAT standards.
The challenges for Vintage aircraft in Europe are to retain Annex II ; harmonise the rules across Europe with common definitions, obtain common certification, and common operational regulations covering cross border flights, cross border sales, transport of passengers and determination of reasonable limitations. The EFLEVA response has to be to obtain Bilateral Agreements with mutual recognition across the borders within Europe. There has to be a harmonised regulatory framework for Experimental Aircraft and Vintage Aircraft as defined at the EFLEVA Board Meeting of April 2010. EFLEVA will be working towards the achievement of these aims.
End