CAA event safety guidance, AAIB updates and GA news
31 May 2026
A busy week for British general aviation, with the CAA putting fresh emphasis on event safety just as the fly-in season gathers pace. There is also a reminder that much of the policy attention remains elsewhere, even as GA pilots continue to deal with the practicalities of access, exemptions and safe operations. On the accident side, the AAIB has added several new pieces to the picture: its May bulletin, a report on G-MOOD’s engine failure near Wycombe Air Park, a record-only review for January and February 2026, and a new investigation into the loss of control involving Bristell NG5 Speed Wing G-STEL near Gordon. For those looking ahead, the diary is starting to fill with summer gatherings, from Shobdon and Draycot to St Michaels Wings & Wheels. There is plenty to discuss, plenty to read, and a good deal to take into next weekend’s flying.
Feedback requested on the North West Transit Corridor. The CAA says it is carrying out a post-implementation review of the North West Transit Corridor, which replaced the Manchester Low Level Route in February 2025. The review will look at whether the change has met its aims, including improved safety, a simpler airspace structure, and continued access for General Aviation. Pilots and other airspace users who operate in the area are being invited to complete a short online survey. The survey closes on 8 June 2026, so anyone with experience of the corridor will want to have their say promptly.
If you are going to a fly-in or airfield event, brief yourself early: check the published procedure, read the local NOTAMs and transit advice, confirm parking and joining details, and keep your radio calls short and standard. A little preparation makes the day calmer for everyone.
The UK’s first official airfield, Hendon, began as a flying school in 1910 and later became one of the country’s most important early aviation sites.
In the circuit
CAA issues new safety guidance for events including fly-ins
The CAA has published CAP1988, a new safety guidance note for air rallies, fly-ins, air races, contests and charity flying events. According to FLYER, it brings together advice that was previously spread across several publications and is aimed mainly at event organisers, contest directors and other people running GA events under the normal Rules of the Air. The guidance puts the onus on the event organiser to manage safety, with recommendations covering pilot briefings, arrival and circuit procedures, taxi and parking plans, public segregation, emergency planning and liaison with ATS providers. It also flags extra considerations for larger public events, including mixed fixed-wing/helicopter operations, crowd control, drones, balloons and specific timelines for permissions, NOTAMs and temporary airspace arrangements.
Govt ignores GA, emphasises drones and eVTOLs
The Department for Transport’s latest letter to the CAA sets out six priorities for the next two years, but FLYER says General Aviation is not mentioned at all. Instead, the emphasis falls on airspace modernisation, economic regulation, decarbonisation and ‘growth and innovation’, with a strong tilt towards BVLOS drone operations, advanced air mobility and AI-enabled regulation. The article says the annex goes further, setting targets for routine drone services and eVTOL passenger flights by 2028, while leaving out GA concerns such as pilot training, engineer shortages and the UK’s long-standing EGNOS issue. For club pilots and airfield regulars, the sting is clear: the government appears to be looking hard at the future of urban flight, but not at the everyday needs of general aviation.
AAIB’s May bulletin lists new GA field cases and several fresh correspondence reports
The May 2026 AAIB bulletin was published on 14 May and pulls together the Branch’s reports for the month. In the General Aviation field-investigation section, it lists two fixed-wing cases: a Cessna FRA150L near Thorganby, North Yorkshire, involving a spin from which the aircraft did not recover, and a Taylor Monoplane that inverted during landing at Nayland Airfield, Suffolk. It also records a sport aviation case involving a Hoffmann H36 Dimona loss of control after takeoff, plus an unmanned aircraft case in Powys where a wing separated in flight. For correspondence investigations, the bulletin adds three GA reports: a Bellanca Decathlon with a landing gear leg failure attributed to corrosion-induced fatigue cracking at Tatenhill; an Ikarus C42 that collided with trees during a forced landing after engine failure near Wycombe Air Park; and a Z-1RA Stummelflitzer that made a forced landing after loss of engine power at White Waltham. The page also notes a further record-only correspondence section covering investigations reviewed in February and March 2026.
AAIB publishes bulletin on G-MOOD engine failure near Wycombe Air Park
The AAIB has issued a bulletin on the Ikarus C42 FB100 Bravo, G-MOOD, which suffered a total loss of power shortly after take-off on 3 July 2025 and struck trees during an attempted forced landing in a field beside Wycombe Air Park, Buckinghamshire. Both occupants were seriously injured, and the aircraft was written off. Investigators could not positively determine the cause of the power loss, though they note the aircraft may have been supplied with incorrectly graded or contaminated fuel. The operator has since bought a bowser to supply its aircraft with UL91 fuel, a practical reminder for club pilots to keep a close eye on fuel quality and handling on the ground.
AAIB record-only investigations reviewed for January–February 2026
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch 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 judged unlikely to uncover new safety lessons, and that the AAIB’s duty co-ordinator can close them at that stage if there is sufficient information to analyse the occurrence. It also notes that, where more detail is needed up front, the AAIB may send a form to the pilot before deciding whether a fuller investigation is warranted. For club and private pilots, the useful takeaway is the AAIB’s own reminder that these reviews sit within its wider accident-reporting process and are published regularly in bimonthly form, alongside the main record-only collection.
AAIB opens investigation into Bristell NG5 Speed Wing loss of control near Gordon
The AAIB has published a Bulletin - Field investigation into the Bristell NG5 Speed Wing, G-STEL, following a fatal loss of control shortly after takeoff near Gordon, Berwickshire, on 20 May 2025. According to the page, the aircraft had departed Nether Huntlywood Airfield for Kingsmuir Airfield when the pilot turned back towards the departure field, entered cloud while positioning for landing, and the aircraft then spiralled down before striking the ground. The pilot was fatally injured. The report is listed as published on 19 March 2026. For UK GA pilots, the key takeaway is the familiar combination of a low-level turnback, deteriorating visibility and loss of control — a sobering reminder of how quickly a routine departure can become unrecoverable. The page is a concise AAIB bulletin rather than the full report, but it clearly flags the sequence and the circumstances that led to the accident.
On the calendar
20 June 2026
Midsummer Fly-In, Shobdon Airfield
Scheduled for 2026-06-20 at Shobdon Airfield, this FLYER-listed midsummer fly-in is aimed at general aviation pilots and enthusiasts looking for a social day out around flying. FLYER’s events page groups it with fly-ins and other GA gatherings, making it a straightforward excuse to get airborne, meet fellow aviators, and make the most of a summer sortie. It’s the kind of local airfield event that UK GA pilots care about because it rewards a good flying day with community, aircraft watching, and an easy excuse to visit Shobdon.
19 June 2026
Draycot Aerodrome Fly-in, Wiltshire
19–21 June 2026 at Draycot Farm Aerodrome GB-0006 in Draycot Foliat, Swindon, this fly-in is listed by FLYER with no PPR required and a contact number for enquiries. It is a straightforward chance for UK GA pilots and enthusiasts to visit a Wiltshire grass strip, park up, and join the fly-in atmosphere over a full three-day weekend. The event is especially handy for pilots looking for an easy summer destination with no prior permission needed.
19 June 2026
St Michaels Wings & Wheels Fly IN
Taking place on 2026-06-19 at St Michaels Airfield, this BMAA-listed fly-in brings together wings and wheels action for pilots and visitors alike. The event is aimed at GA and microlight enthusiasts looking for a social day out at the strip, with St Michaels also hosting the related Flex Wing Fly In that weekend. It looks like a neat chance for UK pilots to drop in, meet fellow flyers, and enjoy an airfield gathering with an aviation-community feel.
27 June 2026
Headcorn International Airshow, Headcorn Aerodrome
Taking place on 27-28 June 2026 at Headcorn Aerodrome in Kent, the inaugural Headcorn International Airshow promises a weekend of flying displays and static exhibits under the new show banner. The organisers say it will mix vintage and modern aircraft, keep the aerodrome’s local, intimate feel, and add a ground show with food, traders, and HIA Green acts focused on sustainable aviation. For UK GA pilots and enthusiasts, it’s a fresh reason to head to one of the country’s classic WW2 airfields for a broad, family-friendly aviation weekend.