Foot and Mouth Crisis

Page Updated 11th May 2001.

This page sets out club policy and how the club is affected during the Foot & Mouth Crisis. Please keep checking this page for updates as policy may change depending the local or national situation.

Cross Country Ban Lifted

We are pleased to announce that, on Wednesday May 2, 2001, the BGA Executive Committee decided to modify the cross-country ban so that cross-countries can be flown under some circumstances. This modification will be effective from 06.00 on Saturday, May 5. Certain conditions apply and pilots should be aware that these may become more or less restrictive, depending on the foot-and-mouth situation. The situation will be reviewed weekly by the BGA's foot-and-mouth liaison group and this website will be regularly updated.

Conditions of modification for Scotland (north of the Forth-Clyde valley): Because of the different circumstances in Scotland, the Executive also accepted with immediate effect a modification applying to parts of that country. It is recognised that in Scotland, north of the MAFF "buffer" which is the northern side of the Forth/Clyde valley, the rest of the country is designated as a Provisionally Free Area (PFA). Evidence from government departments is that, subject to stringent risk management and control, there should be no reason to restrict activities in the countryside ‚ including cross-country gliding. Discussions with local NFU members have been positive. SERAD have issued a letter to local authorities and lead national bodies that urges a return to as near normal access as is possible. Therefore, subject to ongoing monitoring and risk assessment, it is proposed
that the cross-country ban be relaxed in Scotland under the following conditions.
1. Cross-country flights will only be permitted from sites located in the PFA in Scotland.
2. Flights must be restricted to turning points within the PFA and to aircraft normally based at clubs included in 1.a. above.
3. All cross-country flights must be authorised on an individual basis and approved by the club Duty Instructor, or a competent person appointed by him for the day.
4. The pilot is responsible for ensuring that all reasonable measures are taken, prior to launching, to minimise the risk of spreading infection.
5. The duty instructor is responsible for monitoring and where necessary, enforcing control measures.
6. All pilots will carry a scripted introduction for passing on to farmers in the event of a field landing. This will also include an approval signature.
7. It is further recommended that pilots carry a small domestic disinfectant spray in the cockpit so that they can disinfect shoes etc., before entering property.
8. The general situation regarding FMD and the possibility of spread is to be monitored on a daily basis. In the interim, this will be carried out by the RSO Scotland & NI, (Al Eddie).

If there is any doubt about the effectiveness of our controls, the cross-country ban will be re-imposed across all clubs until risk assessments allow further relaxation.
Notwithstanding local procedures and agreements with landlords, clubs are to impose the strictest control measures on visitors and visiting aircraft to their sites. Absolutely under no circumstances should any club host visiting aircraft that are normally based in areas that are designated as infected. For more information on the latest cases see the DEFRA (MAFF) website.

Weekend Flying

With the cross country ban now lifted for our part of the world we are more or less back to normal. However, if you are a visitor to the club you must read the Visitors section of this page.  Martin Green the farmer at Easterton farm requests that we only use our official entrance to the airfield and not the entrance opposite his farm. Please respect his wishes.

Courses and other Events

The B.G.A. soaring course from the 23rd to 27th April was cancelled. This was because the major part of the course was cross country flying which was of course banned at the time.

The ASH week from 21st to 27th April went ahead. There was some excellent soaring during the week although we were unable to make the best of the conditions due to the cross country flying ban being in force at that time.

The Open Day on the 27th May was cancelled in April because of the ongoing foot and mouth problems. It is planned to hold an Open Day next year.

Visitors

If you are a pilot from Aboyne or Feschie and want to visit us then just turn up. To comply with the BGA directive we must ask all visitors to the club who come from south of the Fourth/Clyde line to not to turn up without warning but to contact the club in advance by email or telephone.

If you live locally and want a trial lesson then just turn up unless you have recently been in a foot and mouth infected area. If that is the case you must contact the club before coming.

More information about the foot and mouth crisis is available form these websites.

British Gliding Association

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)  Until recently called MAFF.