Aviation red-tape role an ‘honour’ for Horsham man

Laurie Price, 62, who lives in Smithbarn, will chair the General Aviation Red Tape Challenge Panel. He will report to Grant Shapps, minister without portfolio, and minister for aviation Robert Goodwill.

The panel will be looking at whether the regulation of general aviation, not commercial air transport, is ‘proportionate’. He said he hoped to encourage and enable the UK to become one of the best places in the world for pilots and aviation engineers.

Mr Price said: “I was obviously very pleased and I was honoured to think somebody thought I could make a difference.”

Already an advisor to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Aviation, he also served as the aviation advisor to the House of Commons Transport Select Committee from 1998 to 2005.

He worked for British Caledonian on planning and commercial activity on its North Atlantic routes before joining British Airways after the former’s takeover of the latter.

As someone who had learned to fly before he learned to drive on an RAF flying scholarship, Mr Price said there was nothing to compare to flying.

He is currently involved in the Horsham Flying Group, which flies an aircraft out of Slinfold Airfield.

Mr Price added: “I just enjoy the whole aspect of flying over the beautiful West Sussex countryside which is stunning.”