Are you bothered with bureaucrats from Brussels blowing your flying budget with their demands for ever more costly compliances?

Are you angry about airspace access issues?

Or livid about councils constantly attacking strips and airfields around the country?

The LAA has been at the forefront of campaigning on issues like Mode S, enlarged controlled airspace, threatened local airfields, and the ever-increasing costs of recreational flying. It is clear that the threats to our hobby are coming ever thicker and faster, and that a coordinated network of campaigners who can be called upon to help fight these issues is required.

Take, for example, the recent consultation by Eurocontrol on charging for VFR flight in uncontrolled airspace. Not only were the vast majority of private pilots left off the circulation of the proposal, but the deadline for responses was extremely short. We need to be able to react very quickly to these threats, we need to be able to do so in large numbers, we need to make clear, concise, pointed arguments, and we need to target the right people: MPs and MEPs, local authorities, Eurocontrol, EASA, …

Modern technology has given us the perfect tool for calling on a network of campaigners quickly and easily; email, so we are forming the LAA Campaigning Aviators Network, or LAA CAN, and are looking for volunteers (don’t stop reading now you’ve seen the ‘v’ word – this affects you!).

Whenever a new campaign is required, we will email you asking for your help. We’ll give you details of the issue, who to write to or send an email to, and a list of points you might want to select from when writing your response. All you have to do is write. This will not take a lot of your time, but it will save you a great deal of hassle in the future.

To join the LAA CAN, please just email can@laa.uk.com with your name and preferred email address and we’ll add you to our list. Needless to say, your details will be treated in the strictest confidence and will only be used for the campaigns. Volunteering will not expose you to spam, viruses, worms or Trojan horses. On the other hand, not volunteering…