A new aviation safety podcast is launched today by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in conjunction with the Sony Award winning Flaps podcast team. Known as Airspace the podcast is initially part of the Airspace & Safety initiative (ASI) work to inform the aviation community of changes resulting from next year’s London 2012 Olympics, but will also feature other safety and airspace issues.

The first edition focuses on the airspace restrictions that the Government will be putting in place during the Olympics and can be heard or downloaded here:

CAA Airspace Podcast by Flaps Podcast

Among the issues covered are: how the restrictions will be put in place; how to use the restricted zone; and, details of the enhanced air traffic service that will be in place to assist pilots.

The podcast has been produced for the CAA by the Flaps Podcast team who are well known for their existing podcasts for the General Aviation community. Jonathan Nicholson, Assistant Director in the CAA’s Corporate Communications Department, explained: “We have a major project underway to explain the changes that will affect pilots next summer and using podcasts is one of the methods we are using.

“By working with Flaps we are accessing an award winning team who are GA pilots and already involved in the aviation community.”

Mark Newman, PPL holder and producer of Flaps Podcast, added: “Flaps has had a great reception by the flying community. Since this is an important message that GA pilots absolutely need to hear, we’re happy to build on the relationship we have with our listeners to help spread the word. We hope that once they've heard Airspace some of the most important questions will have been answered.”

Further Airspace podcasts will follow later this year as part of the ASI Olympics programme and will feature topics including how to use the enhanced flight planning system for the restricted zone and what to do if you’re intercepted by a military aircraft during the Games.