Difference between revisions of "Flying Matters"
(New page: '''Flying Matters''' (FM) is a airline industry lobby group, which says it "seeks to contribute to a balanced and informed debate on aviation's contribution to climate change".<ref>[http:/...) |
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'''Flying Matters''' (FM) is a airline industry lobby group, which says it "seeks to contribute to a balanced and informed debate on aviation's contribution to climate change".<ref>[http://www.flyingmatters.co.uk/site/uk/about About Us], Flying Matters (Accessed: 24 May 2008)</ref> It states: "We aim to demonstrate that the environmental costs of aviation can and are being addressed effectively, efficiently and fairly."<ref>[http://www.flyingmatters.co.uk/site/uk/about About Us], Flying Matters (Accessed: 24 May 2008)</ref> | '''Flying Matters''' (FM) is a airline industry lobby group, which says it "seeks to contribute to a balanced and informed debate on aviation's contribution to climate change".<ref>[http://www.flyingmatters.co.uk/site/uk/about About Us], Flying Matters (Accessed: 24 May 2008)</ref> It states: "We aim to demonstrate that the environmental costs of aviation can and are being addressed effectively, efficiently and fairly."<ref>[http://www.flyingmatters.co.uk/site/uk/about About Us], Flying Matters (Accessed: 24 May 2008)</ref> | ||
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| + | ==Their remit== | ||
| + | [[Michelle Di Leo]], director of [[FlyingMatters]], said: “The terms of the debates on aviation were being set by those opposed to a growth in air transport. Our main objective is to rebalance the public debate.”<ref name="Ungoed-Thomas"/> | ||
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| + | ==Funded by BAA== | ||
| + | According to an article in ''The Sunday Times'' | ||
| + | : [[BAA]] funds two key groups – [[Future Heathrow]], led by [[Soley]], and [[FlyingMatters]], which is headed by [[Wilson]] and has also investigated opponents of expansion.<ref name="Ungoed-Thomas">Jon Ungoed-Thomas [http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article3559500.ece Labour’s flying club lobbies for BAA], ''The Sunday Times'' 16/03/08, accessed 31/01/11</ref>Their precursor was [[Freedom to Fly]], which was set up at a time when [[BAA]] was concerned that its arguments for more air travel were not being given the same prominence as those of environmental groups, which were warning of the dangers of growing carbon emissions.<ref name="Ungoed-Thomas"/> | ||
| + | :[[BAA]] is also one of the biggest backers of [[FlyingMatters]], contributing £48,000 in 2007-08. The lobby group operates from offices a short stroll from Westminster where it campaigns for airport expansion and investigates groups opposing [[BAA]]’s plans.<ref name="Ungoed-Thomas"/> | ||
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| + | ==Flying Matters' precursor== | ||
| + | According to an article in ''The Sunday Times'', the precursor of Flying Matters was | ||
| + | :[[Freedom to Fly]], which was closed after the 2003 [[aviation white paper]] was published, was followed by [[Future Heathrow]], the lobby group headed by [[Soley]]. As well as [[BAA]], the group’s backers include [[British Airways]], the pilots’ union [[Balpa]] and the [[London Chamber of Commerce]].<ref name="Ungoed-Thomas"/> | ||
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| + | ==Links with Labour government== | ||
| + | Many cross-overs between government roles and prominent aviation-related roles have been exposed. As related in an article in ''The Sunday Times'' | ||
| + | :[[Freedom to Fly]] was chaired by [[Brenda Dean]], the Labour peer, and was supported by other aviation companies, including [[British Airways]], and unions. The director was [[Irvin]], who is now a special adviser in Downing Street on trade unions.<ref name="Ungoed-Thomas"/> | ||
==Science Museum complaints== | ==Science Museum complaints== | ||
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==Principals== | ==Principals== | ||
*[[Brian Wilson]] (former MP) | *[[Brian Wilson]] (former MP) | ||
| + | *[[Michelle Di Leo]] (director) | ||
==Members== | ==Members== | ||
Revision as of 14:21, 31 January 2011
Flying Matters (FM) is a airline industry lobby group, which says it "seeks to contribute to a balanced and informed debate on aviation's contribution to climate change".[1] It states: "We aim to demonstrate that the environmental costs of aviation can and are being addressed effectively, efficiently and fairly."[2]
Contents
Their remit
Michelle Di Leo, director of FlyingMatters, said: “The terms of the debates on aviation were being set by those opposed to a growth in air transport. Our main objective is to rebalance the public debate.”[3]
Funded by BAA
According to an article in The Sunday Times
- BAA funds two key groups – Future Heathrow, led by Soley, and FlyingMatters, which is headed by Wilson and has also investigated opponents of expansion.[3]Their precursor was Freedom to Fly, which was set up at a time when BAA was concerned that its arguments for more air travel were not being given the same prominence as those of environmental groups, which were warning of the dangers of growing carbon emissions.[3]
- BAA is also one of the biggest backers of FlyingMatters, contributing £48,000 in 2007-08. The lobby group operates from offices a short stroll from Westminster where it campaigns for airport expansion and investigates groups opposing BAA’s plans.[3]
Flying Matters' precursor
According to an article in The Sunday Times, the precursor of Flying Matters was
- Freedom to Fly, which was closed after the 2003 aviation white paper was published, was followed by Future Heathrow, the lobby group headed by Soley. As well as BAA, the group’s backers include British Airways, the pilots’ union Balpa and the London Chamber of Commerce.[3]
Links with Labour government
Many cross-overs between government roles and prominent aviation-related roles have been exposed. As related in an article in The Sunday Times
- Freedom to Fly was chaired by Brenda Dean, the Labour peer, and was supported by other aviation companies, including British Airways, and unions. The director was Irvin, who is now a special adviser in Downing Street on trade unions.[3]
Science Museum complaints
John Vidal and David Adam, writing in The Guardian, commented on Flying Matters's response to a 2008 exhibition at the Science Museum in London about the environmental impact of aviation. Vidal and Adam said the exhibition
- does a decent job of running through the scale of the problem, and an equally decent job of putting forward how the industry says it can respond. The latter is to be expected, given the whole thing was put together with the help of EADS, owner of Airbus. Airbus is a member of Flying Matters, the industry lobby group that has now written to Chris Rapley, director of the museum, to criticise the exhibition as "tendentious and unscientific". The lobbyists are unhappy with a pledge that visitors are asked "to buy less air-freighted produce".[4]
Principals
- Brian Wilson (former MP)
- Michelle Di Leo (director)
Members
- ABTA
- ACTE Global
- African Organic Farming Foundation
- Airbus
- BAA
- Boeing
- British Airways
- easyJet
- Farmers Own
- QinetiQ
- Rolls Royce
- Unite the Union
- Virgin Atlantic
Contact, References and Resources
Contact
- Flying Matters
- Unit 7 Salamanca Square
- 9 Albert Embankment
- London SE1 7SP
- Website: www.flyingmatters.co.uk
