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I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and are raring for 2012. It’s going to be a very memorable year for readers in the UK with a number of important aviation anniversaries to celebrate and the Olympic circus coming to town. Whether you are pro- or anti-Olympics, the simple fact is that there are now just a few months until our lives turn upside down with the excitement and/or chaos associated with the largest sporting event in the world. But what is the relevance to Jets Monthly I hear you ask? Well, to ensure the safety of both competitors and visitors, a number of ‘No Fly Zones’ are to be established over much of southern England for the duration of the games. These will limit the freedom of pilots and have a knock-on effect around the country. The government has indicated that airspace restrictions will be placed around all UK Games venues, although the major restrictions will be centred on London and the Olympic Park and will run from July 14 until August 15. A smaller set of airspace restrictions will then be put in place for the London 2012 Paralympic Games from August 16 until September 12. Prohibited According to the CAA: “Aircraft will not be allowed within the Prohibited Zone unless they have undergone crew, passengers and baggage screening in accordance with the relevant aviation security programme, and inbound to or outbound from Heathrow, London City, RAF Northolt, Biggin Hill and under the control of those airports or NATS TC or Thames Radar. They must also meet all the requirements to enter the Restricted Zone. The existing airfields at White Waltham, Denham, Fairoaks and London Heliport will be provided with exemptions to allow both IFR and VFR operations to and from the Restricted Zone. To comply with this exemption all aircraft will need to comply with the requirements to operate in the Restricted Zone.”