NATS compensation, laser warnings and GA events
13 September 2026
The week’s headlines lean firmly toward the practical side of general aviation: what passengers can expect after the 8 September NATS disruption, what regulators are saying about laser attacks on air ambulances, and the latest AAIB bulletin for those keeping an eye on safety lessons. There’s still plenty of aircraft interest too, with Karria’s bi-directional flying car concept drawing attention at the LAA Rally and GippsAero’s turbine Airvan back in the air again. As the UK GA season rolls on, the diary is filling up nicely with fly-ins and club gatherings for the weekends ahead. And if you like a good restoration story, Shuttleworth’s appeal to rebuild its crashed Comet is well worth a look.
Before heading out this week, check NOTAMs, airfield status and event arrival procedures early, especially if you’re joining a fly-in. A quick call ahead can save a long diversion.
The Shuttleworth Collection is one of the best-known active flying collections in the UK, and it regularly mixes historic display flying with hands-on restoration work.
In the circuit
Karria shows bi-directional flying car concept at LAA Rally
British start-up Karria used the LAA Rally to show its bi-directional flying-car concept. The article says the vehicle is designed around two separate operating directions: in road mode the occupants face one way, while for flight the seats rotate and the vehicle flies in the opposite direction. Karria says the idea is to treat road and air operations as distinct modes, and it is developing a smaller practical version called the Freedom Electric 1, with an emphasis on STOL performance and use from small airstrips, remote locations and unimproved surfaces. For UK GA and VFR pilots, the immediate interest is that Karria is pitching this as a concept aimed at operating away from conventional airport infrastructure, which is the sort of territory many recreational flyers already know well. There is no clear operational impact for current pilots yet, so the main thing to watch is whether the project progresses into something that could matter for airfield access, strip flying, or light-aircraft regulation in future.
Shuttleworth launches fundraiser to rebuild crashed Comet
The Shuttleworth Trust has launched a £250,000 fundraising appeal to help return its historic de Havilland DH.88 Comet Racer G-ACSS to the air, with the aim of seeing it flying again for the centenary of its greatest achievement in 2034. Shuttleworth says an agreement in principle with its insurers will allow detailed assessment and repair to begin, while insurance covers the essential work needed to return the aircraft to flying condition; the Trust wants extra money for a broader restoration and preservation programme. The appeal is planned to run over the next 18 months. For UK GA and VFR pilots, this is mainly a heritage and flying-community story, but it matters because it affects the future of a much-loved airframe that appears at UK flying events and helps keep vintage aviation visible and relevant. The page does not give any airspace, aerodrome, licensing or operational impact, so the thing to watch is simply whether fundraising and repairs progress as hoped and whether the aircraft can return to display flying.
‘First’ flight for GippsAero GA10 turbine Airvan… again!
Australian aircraft manufacturer GippsAero says its 10-seat GA10 Airvan turboprop has flown again after a six-year hiatus, describing it as the return to flight of the aircraft once certificated by CASA and the FAA in 2017. The company says the Rolls-Royce 250-powered utility aircraft, developed from the GA8 Airvan concept, is being positioned for passenger, freight and utility work, with delivery talk centred on 2027. For UK GA and VFR pilots, the immediate interest is less about direct flying impact and more about what this revival may mean for the utility and charter end of the market, plus parts and support confidence around the GippsAero name. The article also notes GA8 production has restarted, so clubs, owners and operators watching Australian-built utility types may want to keep an eye on supply, support and any eventual export activity.
CAA statement on passenger compensation following NATS disruption on 8 September
The CAA said it is reminding airlines of their duties after the NATS system issue on Tuesday, 8 September, which caused delays and cancellations of hundreds of UK arriving and departing flights. The regulator says it has asked for an independent review of the disruption, while NATS will provide a technical report on the incident. It also says the delays and cancellations directly caused by the outage, and the knock-on disruption that followed, are likely to count as extraordinary circumstances, so compensation is unlikely for those directly affected, although passengers should still be looked after by airlines. For UK GA and VFR pilots, the main thing to watch is the wider knock-on effect on the commercial network and airspace system rather than any direct compensation issue. The page shows how quickly a national ATC/flight-planning problem can ripple through airport operations, with some airports and airlines more affected than others; if you are planning UK flying around busy controlled airspace or commercial traffic, it is a reminder to check for wider disruption and expect schedules, handling, and services to be under pressure when major system faults occur.
Dangerous laser attacks on air ambulance helicopters must stop say regulator and charity
The UK Civil Aviation Authority and Air Ambulances UK used Air Ambulance Week to warn that laser attacks on emergency medical helicopters must stop. The page says these incidents happen every month, with 94 cases recorded in 2025 and 35 in the first half of 2026, and that shining a high-intensity laser at a helicopter can distract or temporarily blind pilots and even cause long-term eye damage. It also notes that targeting an aircraft with a laser is a criminal offence, carrying up to five years in prison or an unlimited fine. For UK GA and VFR pilots, the practical point is the safety risk: laser illumination can affect any helicopter, not just air ambulances, and the CAA is highlighting how serious the consequences can be for single-pilot operations at night. The article does not set out new GA procedures, but it is a timely reminder to report laser sightings promptly and to treat any such incident as a genuine flight safety hazard.
Air accident monthly bulletin September 2026
The AAIB’s September 2026 monthly bulletin was published on 10 September 2026 and brings together the Branch’s reports for the month. On this page, the bulletin lists one general aviation field investigation: a Eurofox 2K (G-CMAX) that suffered a loss of control shortly after take-off at Talgarth Airfield, Powys, on 27 December 2025. It also lists one commercial air transport field investigation, one commercial correspondence investigation, and a record-only section for other reviewed occurrences. For UK GA and VFR pilots, the headline is the Talgarth take-off loss-of-control investigation, because that is the only fixed-wing GA item highlighted on the page and it may point to useful lessons on departure handling, airfield operations, and basic safety discipline once the report is released. Beyond that, the bulletin itself does not set out findings or operational changes, so pilots should watch for the full AAIB report rather than drawing conclusions from the listing alone.
On the calendar
19 September 2026
Pooleys Air Weekend, Compton Abbas
19–20 September 2026 at Compton Abbas Airfield near Salisbury, Pooleys’ invitation-only Air Days return after being rescheduled from May because of the weather forecast. The weekend is for Pooleys customers, with invitations emailed ahead of time, limited slots for 90 aircraft a day, PPR required, and perks including landing fees paid, a free pilot’s equipment bag, and flying competitions. For UK GA pilots, it’s a rare chance to visit a well-loved Dorset grass airfield, meet fellow owners and crews, and enjoy a neatly run fly-in with food on site and plenty of interesting aircraft to see.
19 September 2026
50th Anniversary Fly-in, Caernarfon Airport: New Date
On 19 September 2026, Caernarfon Airport is hosting a 50th Anniversary Fly-in at EGCK in Dinas Dinlle, Caernarfon. The airport says it’s a great day out for both pilots and families, with visiting pilots welcome but PPR required, making it a neat excuse to fly into Snowdonia and join a milestone celebration at a very active Welsh GA airfield.
20 September 2026
Vintage Aircraft Fly-in, Fullers Farm, Sandy, Beds
On 20 September 2026, Fullers Farm Airstrip near Little Gransden, Sandy, hosts a vintage aircraft fly-in with PPR required. FLYER says the event opens to the public at 09:30, with food, trade stalls, pilot camping, and a £10 fixed-wing landing fee. It should be a good day out for UK GA pilots and vintage-aircraft enthusiasts, especially with the chance to mix flying in with a social airfield visit.