European Federation Historic Aviation

In a few days the secretary and I pay a visit to the EU parliament. We meet a politician who has indicated she wants to be a friend of historic aviation and that is commendable. Imagine we get such a friend in every EU country.
Historic aviation deserves a great network and friends who can assist us when rules and regulations are changed and so on.

We will publish a newsletter as soon as we return from this great adventure.

Be well you all,
Harry Haas

Well, how was it?

I know they did go and I just received a Newsletter about it. Maybe the chairman will post something!?

There we are: Yeah, we did go and it went very well. We introduced the wonderful world of historic aviation to this EU Member of Parliament and asked if the MP would want to be our "friend of historic aviation in Europe" and help us build a political network in the EU parliament! The answer was YES! Now we are actively looking for MP's to get this network going....

Very exciting all this.

With greetings,

Harry Haas

I have today written to all five of my regional MEP's enlisting their support. The email is set out below. When any response is received I will let you all know

I write as a resident in the East Midlands region to seek your support for vintage and historic aircraft in the UK and the EU as a whole.

Such aircraft are a vital part of Europe’s aviation heritage and encourage the general public to have a positive approach to aviation. This especially through the medium of airshows which are probably second only to football in terms of the popularity of outdoor events. I do hope you agree that this is an important subject.

I am a council member of the UK Historic Aircraft Association which is affiliated to both the European Federation for Historic Aviation and the European Federation of Light, Experimental and Vintage Aviation. With the advent of the European Aviation Safety Authority the regulation of civil aviation is progressively being transferred from national bodies such as the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK to EASA in Cologne. This agency is responsible for its actions to the EU and the European Parliament. Frankly the old channels of communication for organisations such as our own are no longer completely effective and we really do need support from our respective MEP’s across Europe.

I do not know of your specific interests but would much appreciate hearing from you on, what is to me and so many other enthusiasts, an important matter. Your support would be fantastic though I do not expect that you would be consulted on a regular basis.

Kind regards,

Cheers,

Reaper 69

Here is the first response to my email to my regional MEP's plus my reply.
Cheers,
Reaper 69

____________________

Bill,

Many thanks for your encouraging email. I am most grateful for your offer to help if needed on matters affecting vintage and historic aviation in the EU.

Though my aviation library runs to over 700 books I have yet to read your own. I will look out for it though I confess to admiring Park over Leigh-Mallory in terms of tactics in the Battle of Britain. Between them plus that wonderful man Dowding I think they saved the EU from having German as the prime language of Europe.

Kind regards,
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From: NEWTON DUNN Bill [mailto:bill.newtondunn@europarl.europa.eu]
Sent: 09 March 2010 10:42
To:
Subject: RE: European historic aircraft and the fostering of aviation within the community through air displays

Thankyou for the message.

As Europeans do more things together - a product of globalisation I suspect - so individual Europeans and their organisations need to learn new ways of influencing events and increased decision-making at the European level.

Understanding European decision-making, and influencing it, is one of my roles as your MEP.

So, yes, I will be glad to try to help.

All good wishes

Bill Newton Dunn

http://www.newton-dunn.com

PS I have some small knowledge of historic aircraft, having written a biography called Big Wing.

Response number two to my email. Another potential supporter.
Cheers,
Reaper 69

_____________________________________
Roger,

Many thanks for your positive response and I look forward to being able to approach you on matters affecting vintage and historic aircraft in the EU.

Kind regards,

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From: HELMER Roger [mailto:roger.helmer@europarl.europa.eu]
Sent: 09 March 2010 06:51
To:
Cc: BRADBOURN Philip
Subject: RE: European historic aircraft and the fostering of aviation within the community through air displays

Dear Barry,

In my Brussels office I have a very fine pewter model of a Spitfire. I live a couple of miles from Bruntingthorpe and have visited the Vulcan project there -- I believe that if you go back far enough in the photos section of my web-site there are even some pictures of me there.

So yes, in principle I am supportive of historic aircraft (having read Biggles as a boy). I also support my good colleague Philip Bradbourn MEP (West Midlands) who is arguing that EASA should be wound up and its responsibilities passed back to member states. Not only you, but many others, have problems with EASA, not least the pilots of gliders and light aircraft, and of hot air balloons.

Best regards.

ROGER HELMER MEP

http://www.rogerhelmer.com

Follow me on Twitter: RogerHelmerMEP

Well folks,
Skybolt's got it right, this is exactly what we mean by getting political support....a truely remarkable job! We will now ask Skybolt if we can connect the MEP's with each other. We make them official "friends of historic aviation".

After we connected them we should show them something interesting and invite them to an airshow as very special guests! I tell you, if we get the political cooperation we get our POWER back. Together with the politicians we can create our own destiny i.s.o. getting it dictated for us by heartless burocrats!

We salut you Skybolt!

Harry Haas