With various supporting organisations around the UK General Aviation universe, it was interesting yesterday to attend the AOPA AGM at its relatively ‘new’ HQ at Kemsing, Kent. A very versatile building with a Board room at the top and a large lecture theatre below suitable for talks, meetings and seminars – such as the Flight Instructor Refresher Seminars (next one is 19-20 Nov). The AGM followed the Board meeting but I didn’t attend that, not being on the Board – GAAC’s AOPA rep is John Walker, famous for ‘Aerodromes Update’. He joined on Zoom to give the AOPA Board to provide the latest developments with the GAAC’s work and Aerodrome issues around the UK. Look out for the latest update soon on this site!
Nick Wilcock was on hand for updates on licensing, and AOPA CEO Martin Robinson discussed the AOPA Annual Fly-In at Old Warden, on Saturday 7th September.
Before that I went to see a PA28 that is with Cristalair Aircraft Maintenance at Spilstead Farm Airfield, which we could be bringing to Fairoaks, and after the AOPA meeting I dropped in at Sutton-at-Hone Airfield, a new strip belonging to Chris Varley, an aviation insurance broker with Lloyd’s broker Dublon/Approach Aviation Insurance. I drove up and down the airstrip and was delighted that the farmer that is using some of the land for his crops has done an excellent job, and a light aircraft could easily land on what is a very large strip. And it’s close to the M25 and only 20 minutes’ drive from AOPA – so viable in a taxi!