Flyer

Before you take to the skies, you’ll need the right medical certification. Whether you are a student pilot, a weekend hobbyist, or an aspiring commercial captain, your medical must match your licence and your flying goals. Without the correct medical certification your flying days will never take-off… Not sure which one you need? Here is a breakdown of the three most common certifications for private flying in the UK. Best For: UK CAA PPL Holders. Standard: International (ICAO).

I was sitting in my office near Stansted Airport watching the aeroplanes take off. At the time I was in the process of stepping down and handing over my company to a new CEO, so decided I needed a project. Flying had been a long-term dream so with time on my hands and resources not being an issue, I made the decision to have a go at getting my private pilot’s licence.

The UK’s general aviation community is set to lose one of its longest-standing safety bodies, with the General Aviation Safety Council (GASCo) announcing it will wind up operations after more than six decades. In a statement released this afternoon, the Council said its Board had taken the decision to close the organisation in an orderly manner following a review of its financial position and long-term prospects.

The FAA has begun issuing new Certificates of Aircraft Registration for aircraft previously registered through Southern Aircraft Consultancy Inc. (SACI), following the company’s acquisition by Valiair. The move follows the FAA’s decision earlier this month to invalidate existing SACI-held registrations, grounding affected aircraft unless new paperwork was submitted.

N-registered aircraft held in trust with Southern Aircraft Consultancy Inc (SACI) have been grounded with immediate effect after the US Federal Aviation Administration ruled that their Certificates of Aircraft Registration are invalid. The issue came to light after the Federal Aviation Administration formally notified SACI that it was not compliant with US citizenship requirements when submitting aircraft registration applications using Non-Citizen Trust (NCT) arrangements.

What makes a great flying club? Whatever it is, Limerick Flying Club has it in spades and last week won the top award as Aviation Company of the Year in Ireland’s Aviation Industry Awards 2025. The club, based at Coonagh Aerodrome two miles west of the city, also won the General & Sport Aviation Award. According to the Awards organisers, Limerick Flying Club was recognised for its safety-centred strategy, structured talent-development initiatives and measurable community impact.

Trig Avionics has unveiled the TT23, the latest addition to its compact Mode S transponder line, offering a smaller and lighter form factor along with optional integrated GPS for ADS-B Out. The TT23 is a certified Class 1 Mode S unit with ADS-B Out capability and includes a built-in altitude encoder plus a brighter, easier-to-read LCD screen. Trig says the new module is up to 15% lighter than earlier designs, making it suitable for aircraft where panel and installation space are tight.

Here at FLYER we are looking for two new people to join our team. Take a look at the details below – and drop us a line with your current CV. Who knows? You could soon be part of the dynamic FLYER team! Media & Event Sales Manager (full-time, remote) We’re after a results-driven salesperson to help grow commercial partnerships across FLYER and our Pilot Careers Live events.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has launched its annual consultation on statutory charges, proposing increases across all regulatory areas for the 2026–27 financial year — including a 4.7% rise in most General Aviation (GA) fees. The increase, which the CAA says reflects inflation (4.1%) plus a 0.6% contribution to its legislative reform programme, would apply from 1 April 2026.

The CAA has launched a formal review of dozens of long-standing Letters of Agreement (LoAs) that allow general aviation aircraft to operate in and around controlled airspace in ways that don’t fully comply with the Rules of the Air. The review, published as CAP 3096, aims to “regularise” these local agreements — some of which have existed for decades — by bringing them into line with current regulations and ensuring they’re properly published in the UK Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP).