UK GA news: airspace, RT guidance and EC updates
23 August 2026
A useful week for keeping your paperwork and airspace awareness in step with the flying. The CAA has issued fresh UK Standardised Rules of the Air notes for Hawarden and Land’s End, alongside a temporary restricted area at Daresbury and a TACAN calibration notice for Boscombe Down. For the cockpit and club room, there is a new radiotelephony leaflet, an update to SRG2153, and the recording from the GA webinar on the electronic conspicuity mandate consultation. With the UK GA season still in full swing, a few autumn events are also beginning to fill the diary. If you have not looked at the latest Skywise messages this week, it is worth a quick check before the next flight. A small amount of admin now can save a headache later, especially where RMZ procedures and temporary airspace are concerned.
UK Standardised Rules of the Air – Alternative Provisions in Lieu of an Initial Call Prior to Entering Hawarden Radio Mandatory Zone. The CAA has issued ORS4 No. 1663, a current exemption covering aircraft intending to enter the Hawarden Radio Mandatory Zone. In plain terms, it waives the normal SERA requirement to make an initial radio call before entering the RMZ, but only where pilots follow the published procedures, relevant Letters of Agreement, or ATS instructions. The document says this sits alongside the existing Hawarden operating model, including frequency monitoring code procedures, agreed non-radio arrangements, and other local controls, and it runs from 19 August 2026 until 1 July 2029 unless revoked earlier. For UK GA and VFR pilots, the key point is that Hawarden remains a place where local radio and transponder procedures matter, and this exemption is not a blanket permission to enter unannounced. If you fly in the area, or use routes that rely on Hawarden-specific agreements, you should check the current local procedures and any LOAs before departure, especially for monitoring code use, SSR code carriage, and any routing or altitude limits.
Before your next leg, check Skywise for any temporary airspace and read the updated radiotelephony leaflet. If you fly near Hawarden or Land’s End, review the new alternative provisions so your initial call and entry procedure are fresh in mind.
The CAA’s Skywise system is now a familiar part of UK GA life — many pilots use it as a quick pre-flight companion, much like a NOTAM check and weather briefing.
In the circuit
Restricted Airspace (Temporary) – Daresbury, Cheshire – 27-31 August 2026 – DRONE ONLY
The CAA’s Skywise alert SW2026/343 announces temporary restricted airspace in Daresbury, Cheshire from 27 to 31 August 2026. The restriction is for drone and remotely piloted aircraft systems only, with the details published by NOTAM and in Briefing Sheet BFS 105/2026 on the NATS website. For UK GA and VFR pilots, the immediate takeaway is that this alert is aimed at drone operations rather than manned flying, so the source does not show a direct restriction on club, training or recreational GA. It is still worth noting as a local airspace watch item if you are planning to fly nearby, but the page itself gives no further operational impact beyond the drone-only restriction.
Recording now available – Webinar for GA Community on Electronic Conspicuity Mandate Consultation
The CAA says it held a webinar for the GA community on 11 August 2026 about its proposed electronic conspicuity mandate in the UK, and has now made a recording available for anyone who could not attend or wants to review it. The alert says the session covered the consultation, the CAA’s proposed approach, and the scope of the consultation. For UK GA and VFR pilots, this matters because electronic conspicuity policy could affect day-to-day flying, equipment fitment and future operating expectations, so it is worth watching the consultation closely. The alert does not give the outcome yet, but it does point pilots to the recording and a contact for consultation questions, which suggests the discussion is still live and relevant to clubs, owners and training organisations.
Updated Safety Sense Leaflet No.22 on Radiotelephony
The CAA says it has published edition 24 of CAP 413 and, as a result, updated Safety Sense Leaflet No. 22 on Radiotelephony. The Skywise alert says the change relates to how surface wind is transmitted and where that information sits within a radio call. For UK GA and VFR pilots, the key point is to check the revised radiotelephony guidance so your calls match the latest phraseology and sequencing, especially when passing surface wind information. If you instruct, train, or fly regularly at busy airfields, this is worth a look for standardisation and safety; the alert does not describe wider operational changes, so watch for any knock-on effect in local radio practice.
Update to CAA form SRG2153 and associated guidance
The CAA has updated form SRG2153 and the associated guidance for booking Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) and Instrument Rating (IR) skill tests. The change lets Approved Training Organisations submit a provisional skill test booking request before a candidate has completed the relevant training course, and they may also suggest a preferred examiner where one might be available; examiner designation remains the CAA’s responsibility. The CAA says the aim is to support earlier planning and reduce delays between finishing training and taking the test. For most UK VFR and recreational pilots, this is mainly a training and licensing process update rather than an airspace or access change. It matters most if you are in an ATO pathway towards a CPL or IR, because it may help clubs and schools line up test dates sooner and avoid a gap at the end of training; if you are not in that pipeline, there is no broader operational impact signalled on the page.
Open Series - Damyns Hall Registration (Round 5)
The BMAA’s Open Series registration page for Round 5 at Damyns Hall is live for 22 and 23 August 2026. It is a sign-up form asking for pilot and aircraft details, arrival and departure plans, whether you will eat with the team, whether it is your first Open Series event, and any extra information, alongside a declaration that pilot and aircraft will be legal, maintained and fit to fly before taking part. For UK microlight and recreational pilots, the main takeaway is simply that this round is being organised and entry requires the usual paperwork-style details plus a fitness-to-fly declaration. If you were planning to join, the page shows that timing and participation details matter, but it does not give operational brief or airfield handling information, so that is what to watch for separately.
On the calendar
4 September 2026
LAA Rally 2026 | Light Aircraft Assoc
4–6 September 2026: the Light Aircraft Association’s Rally returns to Leicester Airfield with Leicestershire Aero Club, marking the LAA’s 80th anniversary. The event will feature a static display of aircraft spanning the association’s history, plus a Homebuilders Tent and full fly-in information for arriving pilots. It should be a standout weekend for UK GA pilots and enthusiasts keen to see, share, and talk aircraft and projects up close.
12 September 2026
Eurofox, Eurostar, Europa Fly-in, Popham Airfield : : FLYER
On Saturday 12 September 2026, Popham Airfield hosts the Eurofox, Eurostar & Europa Fly-In, a type-focused get-together for owners and fans of these light aircraft. The event is listed by The Europa Club and Popham Airfield, with contact details for the airfield and Terry Coombes for more information. It should be a great chance for UK GA pilots to compare notes, admire similar machines, and enjoy a focused fly-in at one of Hampshire’s best-known grass airfields.
19 September 2026
Pooleys Air Weekend, Compton Abbas : : FLYER
On 19-20 September 2026, Pooleys Air Days returns to Compton Abbas Airfield, Dorset, as an invitation-only fly-in for Pooleys customers. Pooleys says landing fees are covered, each arriving pilot gets a free bag of pilot’s equipment, and the weekend includes competitions such as Concours d’Elegance and furthest distance flown. With limited aircraft slots and Compton Abbas’ always-popular restaurant, it’s a neat UK GA gathering for pilots who enjoy a well-run fly-in and a chance to see some impressive aircraft.
19 September 2026
Vintage Aircraft Fly-in, Fullers Farm, Sandy, Beds : : FLYER
19–20 September 2026: the North Weald Marshalling Team’s Vintage Aircraft Fly-in lands at Fullers Farm Airstrip, Little Gransden, Bedfordshire, with PPR required and a clear invitation to pilots of vintage aircraft. The listing flags £10 fixed-wing landing fees, public access from 09:30, food and trade stalls on site, plus overnight camping for pilots — a neat grass-strip weekend that should appeal to UK GA enthusiasts looking for classic machines, convivial flying, and a proper fly-in atmosphere.