AAIB safety review, CAA warning and GA growth
17 May 2026
This week’s briefing is led by the AAIB’s Annual Safety Review 2025, plus the appointment of Robert Balls as Chief Inspector of Air Accidents. The Branch has also updated its current field investigations and record-only review lists, giving pilots a useful snapshot of where its attention is focused. On the regulatory side, the CAA has extended its warning about autopilot and trim runaway in GA aircraft, a reminder worth reading before the season’s busier flying weekends. Elsewhere, the authority’s latest data suggests 2026 may bring another year of growth for UK aviation, which is encouraging background as the summer flying calendar fills up. And fill up it is: Shobdon Airfest, a 1940s Fly-in at Leicestershire Aero Club, D-Day 82 at Compton Abbas, and more events at Sleap and Shuttleworth are all on the near horizon.
CAA extends autopilot and trim runaway warning for GA aircraft. The CAA has updated its Safety Notice on autopilots and electric pitch trim in general aviation aircraft, extending it to give extra guidance for organisations that manage or maintain these aeroplanes. The notice says the aim is to remind pilots to check that autopilot and trim systems are working properly, to know the emergency drill for a trim runaway, and to be alive to the signs of malfunction such as unexpected pitch changes or heavy control forces. It also underlines that these systems are complex and need regular inspection, with recent accident reports and MORs prompting the reminder.
If your aircraft has an autopilot, refresh the runaway drill before the next trip: know the disconnect, trim, power and circuit-breaker actions by heart, and brief them before departure.
The AAIB’s weekly lists are a handy habit: even when an event seems minor, a record-only review can still help the whole GA community spot trends.
In the circuit
AAIB publishes Annual Safety Review 2025
The AAIB has published its Annual Safety Review 2025, giving a broad look at occurrences reported in 2025 and the safety action taken, or planned, after investigations closed that year. For club pilots, the headline numbers are worth a quiet read: 783 occurrence notifications, 25 investigations opened in formal and field categories, and 12 fatal accident investigations involving 18 deaths. The review also notes 198 final reports issued in 2025, nine safety recommendations, and 97 significant safety actions taken proactively by industry. Beyond the figures, it includes articles on the risks posed by high-voltage battery systems to investigation work and on the use of AI to support accident investigation, with the Chief Inspector’s comments in the foreword.
AAIB appoints Robert Balls as Chief Inspector of Air Accidents
The AAIB has appointed Robert Balls as Chief Inspector of Air Accidents, with immediate effect, after a fair and open competition. He replaces Crispin Orr, who stepped down after nine years in the role, and comes to the top job after joining the Branch in 2020 and becoming a Principal Inspector in 2024. For UK GA readers, the key point is continuity at the AAIB: Balls says he will keep the Branch focused on thorough, independent investigations as aviation evolves, with flight safety the overriding aim. His background in both the AAIB engineering side and the Royal Air Force suggests a steady hand rather than a dramatic change of course.
AAIB record-only reviews for January and February 2026 published
The AAIB has published its bimonthly list of record-only investigations reviewed during January and February 2026. The page explains that record-only cases are those where a full investigation is unlikely to uncover new safety lessons, and that the AAIB’s Duty Co-ordinator can close them at an early stage if enough information is available. The notice also reminds readers that, where more detail is needed, the AAIB may still send a form to the pilot before deciding whether a fuller investigation is warranted. For club pilots and enthusiasts, it is a useful signpost to how the Branch filters lower-value occurrences and keeps the formal investigation workload focused on the cases most likely to advance safety.
AAIB current field investigations
The AAIB’s current field investigations list was updated on 3 March 2026 and, as ever, it only covers accidents and serious incidents being worked on in the field. The page reminds readers that it is updated periodically, so it may not show every live investigation at any one time. For UK general aviation, the most recent entries are worth a close look: the list includes a fatal Cessna 150H accident at Hutts Woods, Yorkshire; a fatal Cirrus SR20 accident near Littleborough, Greater Manchester; and a fatal Aerotechnik EV-97A Eurostar accident near Rushden, Hertfordshire. There are also several older matters still under investigation or in consultation, including helicopter, light aircraft and airline-related occurrences.
AAIB record-only investigations
The exact GOV.UK page could not be opened directly, but the nearest verified AAIB record-only investigations material on GOV.UK confirms the Branch’s record-only process and how these items are published. AAIB says record-only cases are those where a full investigation is unlikely to yield new safety lessons, and that the details are reviewed and published in tabular form in its bimonthly bulletins. For club-room readers, the practical takeaway is that this stream is the AAIB’s lighter-touch end of the reportable-occurrence pipeline: it captures lower-yield events, keeps the record straight, and helps spot recurring themes without the formality of a full investigation. The verified GOV.UK collection page also shows the 2026 record-only publications currently indexed there, which is useful for anyone keeping track of AAIB’s regular rhythm.
New CAA data suggests 2026 will be another year of growth for the aviation sector
The CAA says fresh consumer survey data points to another year of growth for flying in 2026, with nearly a third of respondents planning to take more flights than last year. Overall satisfaction with flying has reached 88%, the highest level recorded since the survey began in 2016, while satisfaction with complaints handling has also improved. The headline is encouraging, but the regulator is clear that the gains are not shared equally. Satisfaction is lower among vulnerable groups, including disabled passengers, people facing digital barriers and those under financial pressure, and cost remains the most common reason non-flyers stayed on the ground. The survey also suggests younger adults are driving much of the expected uplift in demand.
On the calendar
6 June 2026
Shobdon Airfest '26
Shobdon Airfest ’26 is set for 6–7 June 2026 at Shobdon Airfield EGBS near Leominster in Herefordshire, with PPR required and Shobdon Airfield listed as the host. It’s a classic UK GA fly-in style event that should appeal to pilots planning a visit as well as enthusiasts looking for a lively weekend on the field. For UK GA, it’s especially worth noting because it gives a clear opportunity to fly into a well-known airfield and join the summer event calendar.
6 June 2026
1940s Fly-in, Leicestershire Aero Club
On 2026-06-06, Leicestershire Aero Club at Leicester Airport is hosting a 1940s-themed fly-in with free admission and landing fees. The day is set to include a period 1940s band, WWII re-enactors and vehicles, plus a selection of visiting warbirds, with free camping on site and food and drink available all day, including BBQs at lunch and dinner. It’s a particularly appealing outing for UK GA pilots and enthusiasts who enjoy vintage aircraft, wartime history, and a relaxed airfield gathering.
6 June 2026
D-Day 82 - WWII, Compton Abbas
On 2026-06-06, Compton Abbas Airfield near Salisbury is hosting D-Day 82 - WWII, a FLYER-listed event for visitors and aviation enthusiasts. The listing gives the venue, notes that PPR is not required, and provides contact details for the airfield. For UK GA pilots, it’s a simple, easy-to-plan-in visit to a well-known airfield with a WWII-themed gathering that should make for a lively day on the grass.
12 June 2026
BAeA Get Into Aeros Contest, Sleap Airfield
On 12-13 June 2026, Shropshire Aero Club at Sleap Airfield near Shrewsbury hosts a British Aerobatics contest run under the Get Into Aeros banner. The event is for Club, Sports and Intermediate pilots, with judging on known and unknown sequences flown in the aerobatic box. For UK GA pilots and enthusiasts, it’s a rare chance to see competition aerobatics up close at a busy grass airfield and to watch how precision flying is scored in real time.
13 June 2026
Gyro Record Breaker 2026, Shuttleworth
On 13 June 2026, the British Rotorcraft Association will bring the Gyro Record Breaker back to Old Warden Airfield at Shuttleworth, Biggleswade. FLYER lists PPR as required and provides contact details, indicating this is a coordinated fly-in focused on gyrocopters and rotorcraft activity. For UK GA pilots and enthusiasts, it’s a rare chance to see — and support — an organised gyro gathering at one of the country’s best-known historic airfields, with the potential for a record attempt atmosphere.