Subj:  PFA, North Weald etc.
Date:  Mon, May 5, 1997 8:08 AM EDT
From:  Tim_Sheridan@compuserve.com
X-From:	Tim_Sheridan@compuserve.com (Tim Sheridan)
To:	GMacLaren@aol.com (Grant MacLaren)

As a footnote to Tony's letter I thought I would include the following.

The Popular Flying Association (PFA) started in 1946 (albeit with a
slightly different name). This makes it the oldest flying organization of
its type in the world !

The equivalent of an EAA Chapter is called a "Strut". The idea being that
just as a strut is a supporting part of an aircraft, likewise the members
support and promote the organization at a local level, hence the name
strut. There are many who dislike it, but for the moment its the best we've
got.

I am a member of the "Lea Valley Strut" which covers an area to the north
and north east of London  in two counties -  the western part of ESSEX and
the southern part of HERTFORDSHIRE  (pronounced "heart-ford-sheer").

Our monthly meeting venue is North Weald Airfield, Essex - one of the
oldest (originally military) airfields in the UK - established in 1916 to
defend England against Zepplin attacks during the first world war. It was
one of only 3 military airfields in the south of England that existed at
the outbreak of the second world war (which really started in September
1939). Many more airfields were constructed in Essex after that time, and
another dozen or so in 1942 by the 8th US Army Air Force (The Mighty Eighth
!)

North Weald features in the Battle of Britain, (both the actual 1940 battle
and the 1968 movie !). It was the frontline RAF fighter station and
included Squadrons of Spitfires and Hurricanes.

Anyhow enough of the past, I think the main point to ephasize from Tony's
letter is that there are two ways in which an aircraft can be certified for
flight in the UK.

Either by the PFA or by the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority - the UK
government national authority for aviation.)

We are very privileged that our own amateur organization is empowered by
the CAA to issue "Permits to Fly" for its member's home constructed
aircraft, along the lines Tony described.  A system which we think is
unique in the aviation world. (I.e. when our aircraft are issued with
Permits to fly, our government  authority gets to be told about it -  after
the event !)

The CAA on the other hand issue "Certificates of Airworthiness" for factory
built aircraft or their own "Permits to Fly" for rare, out of production
aircraft or amateur constructed aircraft which fall outside the PFA
limitations. But this is expensive !

When we get mad with the authority we tend to think that CAA can also stand
for "Campaign Against Aviation" or "Cancel All Aviation". It happens from
time to time - all organizations have their own crazy idosyncrasies. But on
the whole they are usually a helpful lot !

There are about 1,000 Permit aircraft in the UK and another 1-2,000
ultralights - (we call them microlights) and approximately 1,000 others
under construction - many of which are US imported kits.

When you realize the UK civil fleet is only about 12,000 aircraft
(including ballons, Pietenpols, museum static displays, Cessnas, Boeings
and Concordes !) then the homebuilt area represents a large chunck of the
aviation scene over here.

I will send to you with the next bank draft (thanks for those details by
the way) some more information about the PFA, and UK homebuilding if you
like, (with all the emphasis on Pietenpols of course.)

Thanks for all your help and advise - will try to do things in html from
now on !

Best regards
Tim


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From Tim_Sheridan@compuserve.com  Mon May  5 08:08:15 1997