Preserving Airspace Access for Air Sports

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) sets the tone in the world of aviation rules and regulations, but a great deal of the ICAO Standards And Recommended Practices (SARPs) are not really focused on air sports and recreational flying. There is a strong tendency by national authorities and regulators of implementing restrictions to airspace, thereby limiting air sports activities and recrea­tional flying.

In this book, Dr. Ronald Schnitker and Dick van het Kaar are offering a well-researched brief leading to a strong Manifesto for the Preser­vation of Airspace Access for Air Sports. Available airspace is a critical resource that deserves every effort to be conserved. To secure the rights of air sports and recreational flying, the interests of this aviation sector must be addressed to international organizations like the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and other influential entities in the world, so that air sports and recreational flying can be conducted under proportional and simplified regulations, the greatest possible freedom and in balanced interaction with other avi­ation activities. In this light, the responsible regulators and authorities regarding airspace management should observe the need for flexible use of airspace for air sports and recreational flying.

The issue of the constantly diminishing airspace available to air sports is a serious one that has never been addressed before on such a global legal basis.