18/02/2026
PRESS RELEASE
FOR RELEASE – 12 FEBRUARY 2026 / 1530 HOURS
General Aviation Safety Council to Conclude Operations After More
Than 60 Years
The General Aviation Safety Council (GASCo) has announced that its Board
has taken the decision to wind up the organisation in an orderly manner,
ending more than six decades of work in support of general aviation safety in
the United Kingdom.
The decision follows a thorough review of the Council’s financial position
and long-term prospects. While the organisation has stabilised its finances
in the short term and has continued to deliver safety activity with the support
of many member organisations, the Board concluded that it no longer has a
sufficiently secure and sustainable funding base to continue operating at a
level consistent with its charitable purpose. Like many small safety
charities, the Council has faced increasing financial pressures in recent
years, and reductions in external funding have proved difficult to replace.
Founded in 1964 as the General Aviation Safety Committee and later
reconstituted as the General Aviation Safety Council, GASCo has for over
sixty years provided an independent forum bringing together representative
bodies from across the UK general aviation community. Its work has focused
on improving safety through education, the sharing of information, analysis
of accidents and incidents, and the promotion of good airmanship across all
sectors of general aviation.
Over that period the Council has organised hundreds of safety evenings and
seminars across the country, delivered Military-Civil Air Safety Days and
other national safety initiatives, published safety material and analysis, and
provided a long-standing Safety Information Exchange through its regular
Council meetings. More recently, it has also undertaken research and safety
promotion work in areas such as human factors and electronic conspicuity,
and has supported the Civil Aviation Authority’s just culture approach
through delivery of the Airspace Infringement Awareness Course.
Captain Nils Jamieson, Chairman of GASCo, said:
“After more than sixty years of service to the general aviation community,
this has been a difficult decision for the Board. GASCo has played a unique
role in bringing together the many parts of UK general aviation to share
safety knowledge and experience. We are deeply grateful to all those
organisations and individuals who have supported that work over many
years. The Council has always believed that lasting improvements in safety
come through education, understanding and cooperation — safety through
knowledge — and we remain proud of what has been achieved.”
The Board has emphasised that the organisation remains solvent and that
the decision has been taken in order to allow an orderly wind-down and to
preserve continuity where possible in areas of ongoing value to the aviation
community. Work is underway with the Civil Aviation Authority and partner
organisations to ensure that key activities currently delivered by GASCo,
including the Airspace Infringement Awareness Course, can continue
without interruption through appropriate successor arrangements.
GASCo will now work with its member organisations, partners and
stakeholders to manage the transition responsibly. Further information
regarding timing and arrangements will be shared in due course.
The Council has expressed its sincere thanks to the many volunteers, staff,
tutors, member organisations and partners who have contributed to its work
over more than six decades.
Media enquiries: [email protected]
