While reaffirming its commitment to airshows, the CAA has nevertheless confirmed the swingeing increases to airshow fees proposed during the brief consultation period in February.
The much-disputed, 100 per cent increase in fees (by airshow operators and display pilots) is claimed to be required to cover the costs of increased safety measures and oversight.
Despite representations from many organisations and individuals, the 100 per cent fee increase will go ahead and there will also be a post event fee levied on airshows. The only concession is that the new fees will be introduced over a three-year period. That means that fees for 2016/17 will increase by 50%, recovering £100,000 of the CAA’s £200,000 new costs.
In 2017/18 the CAA will charge 75% of the new fees, with the full 100 per cent increase coming into force in the 2018/19 season.
