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Aviation History
1962
1962 - 0304.PDF
306 FLIGHT International, 22 February 1962 B U SI N ESS Anti-aerotow Decision The Peak Park Planning Board, meeting at Bakewell on February 13, refused the Derbyshire and Lancashire Gliding Club's application for permission to use light powered aircraft for aerotowing gliders from a site near Camphill, Great Hucklow. The refusal had been recommended by the board's development control committee, mainly on the grounds that the aerotow operations would attract too many spectators. An appeal against the decision was being considered by the gliding club, whose plans for aerotowing were reported in our issue of January 11. ABAC Dinner The loss of Mr G. H. M. Miles, the late chairman of the Association of British Aero Clubs and Centres, was one "which is extremely hard to bear," commented Viscount Runciman of Doxford, president of the association, at its annual dinner in London on February 9, but the "happy state of the club movement today" was his best memorial. Present membership of the associa tion stood at 143 clubs, schools and groups, and there was a record attendance that night at the dinner. Mr Christopher Woodhouse, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Aviation, announced at the dinner that the "rather elaborate aircraft carnet system" involved in flights to the Continent was to be replaced by "a much simpler procedure." He also mentioned the reduction in petrol-duty rebate (reported in our February 8 issue). Mr Woodhouse stated:— "As you know, we have had to reduce the petrol-duty rebate this year to the equivalent of Is 3d per gallon, and I am sorry we were not able to give you longer notice of the reduction. However, it was not done as the result of a decision to cut back the scheme, but for the best of reasons, namely because of a great increase last year in the overall amount of club flying, much of it in more sophisticated types of aircraft. We would like to have kept to the Is 9d rate of course, but this would have taken the total well above the allotted level, and that was not acceptable in the context of the national economy. Such evidence of the growth of private flying must be encouraging to us all. . . "There has been another recent development which I am glad to report to you this evening. Those of you who fly over the Continent will be familiar with the rather elaborate aircraft carnet Seen recently on a visit to London Airport (Heathrow) was this German-owned by the Battenfield company, in the background is the airport's semi-complett All-metal air tourer: pictured at Bankstown Aerodrome, New South Wales last month is the first production model Victa Air Tourer. powered by a 100 h.p. Continental. The aircraft is now being test-flown by the company, and a C of A is anticipated soon system, and the complicated form which has to be completed in triplicate for entry into various countries on that side. This system fulfilled a useful purpose when it was encouraged many years ago by international agreement, but it is cumbersome now that trips to the Continent and back can be made on the spur of the moment. "Your association has therefore pressed for some time for its abolition, and I can now let you know that HM Customs have seen their way to dispense with it so far as this country is concerned. It will accordingly be replaced by a much simpler procedure within a few months. This does not, of course, mean that carnets will not still be required by some Continental countries, but it does mean that we shall be able to press these countries to abolish the require ment without ourselves being inhibited, as we have up to now, by the knowledge that it was still in force here at home. I have little doubt that we shall soon see the end of the aircraft carnet system throughout Europe .. . "We have been discussing with the Air Registration Board the maintenance standards for club aircraft, as you have pressed us to do, and 1 am glad to know that the Board has, with you, evolved suitable maintenance schedules which will help the clubs while at the same time asking for something more than is required for a private aircraft. "Finally, as always, flight safety is foremost in our thinking, and while it is inevitable that some accidents will occur during the learning stages I am sure that the association is in agreement with our determination to do everything we can to prevent them. Sound basic training both in the air and on the ground goes a long way to reduce the risk of accidents . . . "I know that we can rely on the co-operation of your association in working out ways and means by which we can raise training standards, and we intend in the near future to place before you some positive proposals. "In this we are of course concerned also with the standard of the instructor and of the examiner, and I have no doubt that the other organizations which are active in these fields will also be willing to assist." Following the dinner, the 1961 Lennox-Boyd Trophy for the most efficient club was presented by the Parliamentary Secretary to Luton Flying Club. Morone-Sou/n/er MS.760 Paris operated • No 3 Passenger Building .........................
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