AAIB bulletin, CAA charges consultation, UK UTM
14 June 2026
June opens with a useful mix of safety, regulation and summer planning for UK general aviation. The AAIB’s monthly bulletin is out, alongside a new report highlighting a roll-control jam on a Boeing 767 freighter, while the CAA has opened consultation on charges for 2026/27. Elsewhere, the regulator is asking for views on the UK UTM concept of operations and the North West Transit Corridor. It is also the point in the season when weekend flying starts to compete with fly-ins, so a quick look at the diary is worthwhile before the month slips away. On the event side, there are already a few club-friendly dates on the horizon, with more to come as the summer builds. If you are heading out, keep an eye on local airfield notices, PPR and any corridor or airspace updates that may affect your route.
CAA opens consultation on UK UTM concept of operations. The CAA has published a consultation on Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management, setting out its initial thinking on the architecture and regulatory requirements needed to put UTM in place. In plain terms, it is the first public look at how the regulator wants to support safe, efficient, scalable integration of drones and other UAS into UK airspace traffic management. The notice is aimed at anyone who could be affected, including operators, UTM service providers and other data-service providers. Readers are asked to review all three documents before commenting, which suggests the CAA wants feedback on the proposal as a package rather than on a single headline point.
Before a summer hop, check the latest NOTAMs, airfield opening hours and any consultation-linked airspace changes along your route. A five-minute review can save a very long diversion.
The UK’s AAIB has published a monthly bulletin every month for decades, making it one of the most regular sources of light-aircraft safety reading in the country.
In the circuit
AAIB June bulletin lists one field case, two correspondence reports and a correction
The AAIB’s June 2026 monthly bulletin, published on 11 June, is a 77-page compilation of reports and follows the Branch’s usual second-Thursday schedule. For the week covered, the bulletin includes one field investigation, one commercial air transport correspondence report, one sport aviation report and a bulletin correction, alongside the standing note that correspondence and record-only items are based on information that cannot be fully assured. For club pilots and enthusiasts, the page is a useful signpost to the month’s official AAIB paperwork: a Leonardo AW139 tail-rotor bearing failure at Norwich, an Airbus A320 take-off thrust error at London Luton, an MW6 balloon/GA-related sink-on-approach event at Otherton, and a correction concerning a Robinson R66 loss of control in flight. The page itself is the bulletin index rather than the reports in full, so readers needing the detail will want the linked AAIB bulletin PDF from the same page.
AAIB flags roll-control jam on Boeing 767 freighter
The AAIB has published its report on a Boeing 767-316F, G-DHLS, covering a roll-control jam in the Scottish Flight Information Region on 9 October 2025. According to the summary, ice likely formed somewhere in the aileron control system during a flight from Iceland to the UK, leaving the crew able to maintain longitudinal control while they descended to FL200. A significant joint input on the controls then freed the jam, normal roll control returned, and the flight was completed without further incident. For GA readers, the key takeaway is the familiar winter-ice lesson: this was another case of ice-induced control restriction on a Boeing 767, a type that has seen previous roll-control jams from ice formation. The page notes that the required modifications and inspections from earlier events had already been completed on G-DHLS before this occurrence.
CAA consults on 2026/27 charges
The UK Civil Aviation Authority has opened a consultation on its proposed charges for 2026/27, saying the plans are meant to support modern, relevant regulation while still giving value for money to the sector. The CAA says charges fund core work such as safety oversight, consumer protection and licensing, and that the proposed rise is lower than in previous years. It also points to continued investment in customer service, digital systems, legislative reform, consumer protection and safety oversight. For UK GA and the wider aviation community, the key point is that the regulator is trying to balance service delivery with pressure on the industry, while keeping its own costs tightly controlled. The consultation is open for feedback, and the CAA says stakeholder input will help shape its future services.
On the calendar
19 June 2026
St Michaels Wings & Wheels Fly IN
Held from 19 June 2026 at St Michaels Airfield, this Wings & Wheels Fly IN is a BMAA-listed gathering for pilots and visitors, with PPR required, no landing fee, overnight camping, and food and drink available throughout the weekend. Classic cars and motorcycles are welcome, so it has an easy crossover appeal for microlight flyers and enthusiasts who enjoy a mixed aviation-and-motor scene. For UK GA pilots, the practical draw is a straightforward fly-in with on-field hospitality and a social weekend atmosphere.
26 June 2026
Flex Wing Fly In
On 26 June 2026, the British Microlight Aircraft Association lists a Flex Wing Fly In at St Michaels Airfield. It is a straightforward rally-style event for flex-wing microlight pilots and enthusiasts, and it should be a handy chance to meet fellow flyers and see aircraft up close at one of the UK’s microlight-focused gatherings.
27 June 2026
Headcorn International Airshow, Headcorn Aerodrome
Set for 27–28 June 2026 at Headcorn Aerodrome near Ashford, the inaugural Headcorn International Airshow promises a weekend of flying displays and static exhibits, with both vintage and modern aircraft on show. The organisers say it aims to keep Headcorn’s familiar local, intimate feel while adding fresh energy to the classic wartime airfield, and they highlight an HIA Green element focused on sustainable aviation and green technology. For UK GA pilots and enthusiasts, it looks like a well-positioned summer outing with plenty to see on the ground as well as in the air.
4 July 2026
Open Weekend & Fly-in, Cotswold Airport
Held on 4–5 July 2026 at Cotswold Airport in Cirencester, this Open Weekend & Fly-in is listed by FLYER with PPR required and contact details provided for advance planning. The event is aimed at visiting pilots and aviation enthusiasts looking to make a fly-in of it, with the airport itself named as the host. For UK GA pilots, the appeal is the chance to plan a controlled visit to a familiar UK airfield over a summer weekend and turn up for a proper airfield day out.
4 July 2026
Stoke Medway & Invicta Aero Club Airshow, Stoke Medway Airfield
On 4 July 2026, Stoke Medway Airfield in Middle Stoke, Rochester hosts the Stoke Medway & Invicta Aero Club Airshow. FLYER lists the airshow with no PPR required and provides the airfield contact details, with the event website pointing back to Stoke Medway Airfield. For UK GA pilots and enthusiasts, it is a straightforward chance to visit a lively local airfield event and enjoy an airshow atmosphere on the Kent strip.