Guildford, UK, 16 May 2011 – The Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA), online flight planning company RocketRoute and aviation navigation innovator Airbox Aerospace are announcing today that all European AOPA members and users of RocketRoute and Airbox Aerospace products will be able to file visual flight rule (‘VFR’) flight plans free-of-charge for flights within London’s restricted airspace during the 2012 Olympics.
Kurt Lyall, RocketRoute co-founder, says: “There has been growing concern in the UK aviation community that planned Olympic airspace restrictions will make it hard for many pilots to get VFR flight plans approved during the summer of 2012. Although we are still awaiting precise details of how the authorities will manage flight approvals, RocketRoute and Airbox are committed to ensuring that our online flight planning and navigation technologies will overcome any such hurdles. And, to celebrate the Olympics and encourage flying during this time, we will be offering our VFR flight plan filing service free to AOPA members and our customers while Olympic airspace restrictions apply.”
William Moore, technical director of Airbox Aerospace, says: “Airbox and RocketRoute both work hard to make pilots’ lives easier. We know our customers are concerned about how they will navigate the Olympic airspace, but the free filing service combined with our comprehensive airspace information system should take virtually all the stress out of the exercise.”
Martin Robinson, chief executive officer of AOPA UK, says: “This is a fantastic offer to AOPA members from two of the UK’s most innovative companies serving the needs of general aviation.”
RocketRoute offers comprehensive online support to general aviation pilots flying instrument flight rules (IFR) or VFR across Europe. RocketRoute members receive 24/7 flight planning, filing and management support. RocketRoute’s 24/7 operations team, available on a telephone hotline for flight planning, worldwide bespoke trip preparation and emergencies, complements the company’s online service. Since its market introduction in late 2010, RocketRoute has processed over 40,000 routes and close to 5,000 flight plans.
RocketRoute and Airbox Aerospace recently announced a partnership through which they will share VFR flight planning information and pool technical resources to benefit the customers of both organisations.
Between 13 July and 12 September 2012, any VFR flight plans entered into RocketRoute’s online planning system or submitted to Airbox Aerospace’s FastPlan planning application, will automatically be provided free-of-charge if the flight includes a departure, destination or alternate airfield within the restricted Olympic airspace zone (including ZZZZ locations).
Registration for RocketRoute’s online service is a rapid process, requiring just a mobile phone number and pilot’s licence. Thereafter, filing plans through RocketRoute is quick, easy and highly intuitive. The system includes online help and the reassurance of being able to telephone a RocketRoute flight planner if in doubt.
