Over 200 UK pilots have stepped forward to participate in a ground-breaking initiative called GAINS (General Aviation Improvements in Navigation and Surveillance), funded by the SESAR 2020 programme and project-managed by Helios. This level of interest confirms what we have long suspected, the GA community (both fixed wing and rotorcraft) is keen to be involved in the advancement of aviation and prepared to embrace change where clear benefits can be demonstrated. The project aims to demonstrate, through live flying exercises, the ability of GA to also benefit from technical solutions developed by SESAR that lead to better integration of GA within the airspace. The focus of GAINS is on new surveillance technology and navigation procedures not yet approved for the GA community. It's a complex project, involving AOPA the UK aircraft owners and pilots association, selected UK aerodromes, European aviation regulators and ANSPs, equipment specialists from the UK and Germany, and aerospace engineers from Spain. The project involves extensive consultation and detailed planning, which is still ongoing. The good news is that the first surveillance demonstration already took place in Stapleford and more will follow, in the airfields of, Duxford and Sywell and most likely also Brimpton and Dundee. All…