UK Prime Minister (PM) Johnson’s Brexit meeting with the European Union’s Juncker was said to be “constructive” and contact between the two sides will now be stepped up. I must wonder with amassment at this summary given that there are only 44 days left on the clock. Whatever has been said, there’s been no change over the few days on the likelihood of the UK leaving the EU with or without a deal on 31 October. In probability terms it looks highly likely.
Meanwhile the PM insists he did not mislead the Queen over suspending Parliament. As of today, that questionable matter is in front of the highest Court in the land.
We are facing a situation where all the existing Agreements and Regulations derived from EU Treaties will fall on 31 October. Yes, a new Regulation does address basic contingency measure that will be available for a short period[1] after Brexit day but then it’s the land of the completely unknown.
The implications of Brexit for Britain’s aerospace and aviation sector are looked at by the Royal Aeronautical Society and it doesn’t make for happy reading[2]. Yet, Brexit supporters will continue to talk loudly of scaremongering and so called “project fear”.
Let me not paint a picture that everything in the UK is chaos and everything in the EU is fine and dandy. The hard facts are that we all have the same problems to confront. A recent exchange between the European Parliament (EP) and the Executive Director of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on aviation safety showed serious challenges for us all[3]. At least in Brussels, MEPs get to ask questions on aviation safety. Currently, with a suspended UK Parliament that’s not possible for UK MPs in the UK.
On another subject, commercially Brexit is looking like a bad dream. Thomas Cook has blamed Brexit uncertainty and the weather for lower bookings and people are now on alert over the airlines possible collapse[4].
If you are a Licensed Engineer and have an EASA Part-66 Licence issued by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), be sure to check the guidance on whether you will be eligible to work on EU Member State registered aircraft in the event of a No Deal Brexit.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have some good aviation news for a change? With the Brexit clock ticking to the point of 40 days and 40 nights maybe a change of biblical proportions is coming[5].
[1] Commission considers that this Regulation does not prejudge the nature of the future relationship with the United Kingdom in the area of aviation and that the exercise of competence in the Regulation is temporary and strictly limited to its period of validity.
[2] https://www.aerosociety.com/news/at-brexits-cliff-edge/
[3] http://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/tran/home.html
[4] https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/42d537c0-d719-11e9-b098-ed106f659f8a
[5] Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights in the Judaean Desert. During this time, Satan came to him and tried to tempt him.
John Vincent 