Aero Club members could well be forgiven for wondering what impact the arrival of new Jersey Airport Director Julian Green might have on general aviation.  After all, the short time that has passed since he moved from the largest island in the world to one of the smallest has seen significant changes at Jersey Airport including route expansion, new landside/airside arrangements, increased security procedures and a move towards greater retail activity.

Clearly the new broom has been making his presence felt – so what changes might private pilots expect once Mr Green steers his bristles towards general aviation?  Well, the short answer, you’ll be pleased to hear, is not a lot.  ‘I think there needs to be a closer relationship between the Airport and the Aero Club, and we are working towards that on a number of fronts,’ said Mr Green, ‘but there are no big changes planned.’  

In fact the Aero Club might well have the opportunity in the future to enjoy slightly greater control of its own destiny – something that will not comes as a surprise to the civil servants working at the Airport who will tell you that under the new regime they are being given greater freedom to get on with their jobs.  

New leasing arrangements currently being discussed with the committee might, for example, result in the club taking on responsibility for looking after the parking areas and taxiways used by its members and visiting private pilots.  ‘I admit that we have not been doing a particularly good job of looking after these areas so it might well make sense if the club was to take on the maintenance itself, if the new leasing agreement will allow,’ said Mr Green, pointing out that it is not easy to give high priority to funding such work when the Airport is faced with a multimillion long-term capital programme involving the resurfacing of the aprons and, indeed, the runway itself.

The difficulty in making funds available in no way reflects the possible perception that general aviation is not seen in the most positive of lights by airport administrators.  In fact, as far as Mr Green – a former PPL holder in his native Australia – is concerned, the opposite is the case.  ‘I’m passionate about flying and while other airports might view general aviation as an “operational embuggerance” that is not the case in Jersey,’ he said.  ‘It may not be a high revenue earner but I have been here long enough to appreciate that it is an important part of the Island’s fabric.  The ability to get on and off the Island is very important and the opportunity to do this through owning or chartering a private aircraft is clearly something that is greatly valued by a number of residents.  ‘The perception might be that we view the Aero Club as a bit of a nuisance but the reality is that we consider it to be a valuable facility and we are always happy to support the rallies and other flying events that it organises.’

Mr Green, who recently became a member of the Aero Club, outlined two aspects of Jersey Airport’s operational activities that will impact on its members.  The first concerns security.  From July an Airfield Operations Unit, comprising existing Airport staff, will be carrying out perimeter patrols and providing assistance.  Club members will see a security vehicle patrolling on a regular basis and they will be able to call upon the driver for assistance or to report anything untoward.  ‘We need to be increasingly vigilant in every area of the Airport and the patrols will help us to meet that aim,’ said Mr Green.  ‘On the security side, the Department of Transport is starting to enforce greater security measures across the whole aviation industry which will eventually affect general aviation, although any new arrangements will undoubtedly start in the corporate sector.  ‘Sadly I suspect it will only be a matter of time before any additional measures trickle down to general aviation.’

The other operational change that will affect the Aero Club is the appointment of a local Director of Civil Aviation.  This will be a new position, to be filled by someone not directly employed by the Airport who will ensure that it is meeting the terms of its operating licence.  ‘The need to separate regulation from operation has been identified for some time,’ explained Mr Green, ‘and this person will become an important contact for the Aero Club.’

Finally, Mr Green touched on recent calls for a relaxation of controls that would allow the UK National Private Pilot’s Licence (NPPL) to be extended to Jersey airspace.  ‘There are difficulties with this because of the operating environment, but I am confident EU legislation will be introduced in the next 12 to 24 months bringing in a European equivalent of the NPPL that will extend to pilots operating in our airspace.’

This article is an extract from  Jersey Flyer Summer 2007 (1.77 MB)