Working groups

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The Airfields Working Group is principally made up of aerodrome operators, along with leading planning experts. It has several working groups:

• The group is chaired by Ann Bartaby a Planning Expert, Head of Planning of the GAAC
• Pylons - The Group has issued advice nots and briefing to the Parliamentary Members of the APPG on the approach taken by National Grid, and lack of understanding of their impact on General Aviation Aerodromes
• Brownfield Status - an advice note has similiarly been issued to the Parliamentary Members, detailing how a small glossary change in the NPPF, itself the result of a mistake by a previous Goverment, will clarify that aerdromes are not 'Brownfield'
• Safeguarding  - the group has highglighted to all aerodrome operators the importance of issuing safeguarding plans - pointing out the resources and guidance already available to do so at no cost which can be found on the CAA website: https://www.caa.co.uk/combined-aerodrome-safeguarding-team-cast/cast-introduction/
• Hospital Helipad planning protections are under discussion - several cases exist whereby a helipad has been rendered unusable due to surrounding developments. 
• Policy Procedures, DCO Procedures and Permitted Devlopment are a few of the other topics under consideration
• Solar Farms and the means by which airfields can co-exist with them, along with the dangers ill considered applications can cause. 

• The group is led by the SAN's princpals, Ann Bartaby and Louise Southern
• The SAN is currently engaged in gathering data from aerdromes across the UK and creating systems of analysis. 
• The aim is to provide a proposal to Government identifying a network of stragecially important aerodromes, along with policies which can ensure they are protected from planning and other developments. 
• This work is the most comprehensive analysis of the UK's aerodromes for a generation and is industry led. 

• This group looks at the part aerdromes will play in the deployment of future fuels and the transition to advances such as SAF. 
• Alternative sources of fuel such as electricty and hydrogen are also considered, prinicipally looking at the existing infrastructure at aerodromes, and solutions such as solar with which to improve it. 
• The Fuel group will co-ordinate to a considerable extent with the Sustainability Working Group of the APPG. 

• The group is chaired by Matt Wilkins, CAA Accountable Aerodrome Manager of Old Buckenham. 
• The group has recently authored a letter from the APPG Chair, Tim Roca MP, to the Minister for Aviation on the subject of the Radio Operators Certificate of Competence, issued by the CAA. The CAA has provided a detailed and collaborative response which is of great reassurance to aerdrome operators.
• NOTAM Promulgation and issues with NATS NOTAM Office is an ongoing point of concentration. 
• CAA Licensing Criteria, airfield survey requirements and Consultative Committees are all discussed. 
• The issue of Business Rates and their impact on aerodrome viability is currently under discussion
• Recruitment and Training, particularly looking at the shortages of RFFS and AFISO candidates is a matter on which the group  shares members and liaises with the larger work being conducted by the Next Generation of Aviation Employees Working Group. 

• Matt Wilkins, Chair, CAA Accountable Aerodrome Manager, Old Buckenham and Chair of the GAAC
• Ann Bartaby, Head of Planning GAAC, co founder of SAN
• Louise Southern, Vice Chair, Editor UK VFR Flight Guide, Airspace & Airfield Data Manager SkyDemon
• John Steele KC
• Marc Bailey, BBGA
• Rob Hughes, BMAA
• Chris Gazzard, Blackbushe Aerodrome
• Oliver Steel, Kittyhawk Aerodrome
• Simon Tilling, LAA
• Mark Gibb, Head of Aviation, Goodwood
• Roy Steptoe, Caernarforn Aerodrome
• Chris Hobbs, Fairoaks Aerodrome
• Tom Turner, IWM Duxford
• Oliver Wheeldon, Scampton Holdings and Fenland Aerodrome
• Catharine Smith, White Waltham Aerodrome
• David Page, Penzance Heliport
• Tim Fauchon, BHA
• Graham Brown, ARPAS
• James Head, CAA AAT
• Bob Oliver, Swansea Airport
• Dave Latimer, BGA
• Alan Forbes, Popham Matters