CAA website update, pilot health guidance and GA notices
21 June 2026
A tidy week for pilots, but one with a few items worth a proper read before the next sortie. The CAA has refreshed its website, issued new health guidance for pilots and controllers, and pushed out Skywise notices that may affect training and exemptions. On the operational side, there is a temporary drone-only restriction near Grimsby, the removal of LARS at Leuchars, and a timely reminder about the North West Transit Corridor as the summer flying season settles in. There is also an aerobatics competition at Sleap, which should make for a lively weekend overhead.
New CAP 1530 OJT guidance. The CAA has issued an updated CAP 1530 guidance note for UK Part-145 organisations and licensed aircraft engineers, focused on on-the-job training for the first type rating in a Part-66 licence category or subcategory. The alert says it sets out expectations around OJT requirements, task selection, supervision, assessment and approval, to help support compliant delivery and endorsement applications. For GA readers with engineering links, the useful point is that the guidance is aimed at making the OJT process clearer and more consistent, particularly where a first type rating is being supported. It is a short, practical update rather than a policy overhaul, but one that should be worth a look for anyone involved in maintenance training and licence endorsement work.
Before you fly this week, check NOTAMs, Skywise and local aerodrome notices together, not just one source. Small changes such as a LARS withdrawal or a temporary restriction can alter your routing, frequencies and arrival plan.
The North West Transit Corridor is one of those bits of UK airspace know-how that regular flyers value enormously: a simple reminder that good VFR planning often depends as much on local procedures as on charts.
In the circuit
Flying the North West Transit Corridor
The CAA’s latest Skywise alert reminds pilots using the North West Transit Corridor to keep a healthy margin from controlled airspace and to follow “Take 2” guidance. The aim is simple: reduce the risk of wake turbulence and avoid provoking TCAS alerts from commercial traffic, particularly aircraft operating into Liverpool. The notice says the corridor’s safety margins are especially important because larger airliners overhead are maintaining 2,000 ft AMSL, while pilots in the NWTC are advised not to exceed 1,300 ft AMSL — keeping 200 ft below the corridor’s 1,500 ft upper limit. In club-room terms: stay low, stay clear, and keep Wake Turbulence and TCAS front of mind.
The new Civil Aviation Authority website
On 9 June, the CAA launched a new website, marking the first step in a wider programme to improve how it supports users. The Skywise alert appears to be a brief heads-up rather than a detailed technical note, so the key takeaway for club pilots is simply that the CAA’s online home has had a refresh and further changes are expected. The exact alert page could not be directly verified, so this summary is limited to what the indexed result for that page supports.
Cardiovascular risk assessment for pilots and air traffic controllers
The CAA says updated guidance for assessing cardiovascular risk in pilots and air traffic controllers has now been published, following its earlier notice in April. The update includes a new flow chart in the cardiovascular system guidance material, giving medical assessors a clearer route through the decision-making process. The aim, the CAA says, is to manage risk consistently and proportionately across different medical conditions and medical certificate classes, while supporting safe, informed certification decisions based on individual risk. Aeromedical examiners are expected to be familiar with the changes and able to help as the revised guidance is put into practice.
Restricted Airspace (Temporary) – Grimsby, Lincolnshire 11 June 2026 DRONE ONLY
The CAA’s Skywise alert SW2026/209 says there will be temporary restricted airspace over Grimsby, Lincolnshire on 11 June 2026, and that the restriction applies to drones and remotely piloted aircraft systems only. The alert was posted on Wednesday 10 June 2026 and points readers to the NOTAM and Briefing Sheet BFS 056/2026 for the operational detail. For general aviation pilots, the key point is that this is a drone-specific restriction rather than a broader manned-aircraft closure, but it is still worth noting the location and date carefully. Anyone operating remotely piloted aircraft in the area should check the formal briefing material before flying.
LEUCHARS AERODROME (EGQL) REMOVAL OF LARS
The CAA’s Skywise alert says that from 1 July 2026 Leuchars Aerodrome will no longer operate Primary or Secondary radar, and the Lower Airspace Radar Service will cease on that date. In practical terms, GA pilots using the area should note that the LARS cover at EGQL is being withdrawn from the start of next month. The notice itself is brief and purely operational, so the key takeaway for club-room planning is simply the service change date and the fact that radar support will no longer be provided from 1 July.
Aerobatics Competition at Sleap Aerodrome, 12-14 June 2026
The CAA says an aerobatics competition is due to take place in the vicinity of Sleap Aerodrome, Shropshire, over three days from 12 to 14 June 2026. The listed operating window is 0800-1800 UTC each day, so local pilots will want to note the timing carefully. The alert points readers to the NOTAM on the NATS website for full details. In club-room terms: if you were planning to fly in that corner of Shropshire that weekend, this is one to check before you go.
On the calendar
2 July 2026
An Evening with Ian Seager, London Flying Club
On 2 July 2026, London Flying Club is hosting an evening with Ian Seager at The Albany, 240 Great Portland Street, London, from 18:00 to 22:00, with Ian’s talk beginning at 19:00. The club says the event is free but asks attendees to register, and it is aimed at pilots and aviation enthusiasts who want a lively social night with insight into GA, aircraft and aviation media. For UK GA readers, it’s a good chance to hear from one of the sector’s best-known voices and swap flying stories with fellow enthusiasts.
4 July 2026
Suffolk Coastal Strut Fly-in, Monewden Airfield
On 4 July 2026, the Suffolk Coastal Strut Fly-in lands at Monewden Airfield near Woodbridge, with PPR required and the event organised through the Suffolk Coastal Strut. It looks like a classic GA gathering with a landing fee of £10 that includes drinks and biscuits, plus an extra charge if you want the BBQ. For UK pilots and enthusiasts, it’s a neat chance to visit a Suffolk strip, meet fellow flyers, and make a relaxed summer day of it.
4 July 2026
Open Weekend & Fly-in, Cotswold Airport
4–5 July 2026: Cotswold Airport’s Open Weekend and Fly-In returns as a public aviation showcase for enthusiasts, families and visitors from across the South-West. The airport says to expect close-up access to major airliners including the resident Boeing 747 Negus and Boeing 727 M-STAR, plus visiting classic and vintage aircraft, high-speed Buccaneer taxi demonstrations, live music, rides, displays and family attractions. It’s a standout chance for UK GA pilots and enthusiasts to combine a fly-in with a rare look inside iconic aircraft and a busy, mixed-aircraft airfield atmosphere.
4 July 2026
Stoke Medway & Invicta Aero Club Airshow, Stoke Medway Airfield
On 4 July 2026, Stoke Medway & Invicta Aero Club Airshow takes place at Stoke Medway Airfield, Burrows Lane, Middle Stoke, Rochester. FLYER lists it as an airshow with no PPR required, making it an easy day out for UK GA pilots and enthusiasts who want to drop in, look around, and enjoy the airfield atmosphere.
10 July 2026
SleapKosh 2026
SleapKosh 2026 runs from 10–12 July 2026 at Sleap Airfield, hosted by Shropshire Aero Club, with fly-in bookings now open for a weekend of flying, an airshow, trade stands, camping, live music and food and beer tents. It is an exclusive event for fly-in visitors and SAC members, with no public road access, and the organisers say it is designed as a relaxed weekend for pilots by pilots. For UK GA pilots, the big draw is the combination of a major fly-in, a packed exhibitor area and a night airshow, making this one of the standout summer gathering points of the year.