The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has confirmed it has now begun payment of claims for the funding of new 8.33 kHz radios for general aviation aircraft. Payments to pilots and aircraft owners who applied for the radio grants during the first tranche of applications began on the 10 August 2017.
The CAA said that 1,072 of the first tranche claims will be paid in this initial payment run totalling £401,233. Claims can be made for 20% of the total purchase costs, with an average payment per person of £374. Processing of claims continues and remaining claims from this first tranche will be paid in the coming weeks.
In November 2016 the CAA signed a contract with the EU’s Innovation and Networks Executive Agency to distribute €4.3m of EU funds to UK aircraft owners and pilots to assist the transition to 8.33 kHz radios, which aircraft wanting to continue using a radio need to have fitted by the end of 2017. This EU funding covers all UK registered aircraft up to 14,000 kg as well as portable transceiver radios used by pilots.
The funding rebate scheme remains open to claims and the CAA confirmed it still had funding available, noting that the scheme will close for applications on 31 December 2017
More details of 8.33 kHz radio funding are available on the CAA website.
