Amendment to UK Regulation (EU)139/2014

Overview

The objective of the proposed changes is to maintain a high level of safety for the aerodrome design and operations and to ensure alignment with Amendment 15 to ICAO Annex 14, Volume I

This proposed changes to existing organisational and operational requirements of Assimilated Regulation (EU) No. 139/2014 and the related Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC) and Guidance Material (GM).

The proposed amendments are expected to enhance safety and improve alignment with ICAO and will improve runway safety and reflect the industry best practice.

The purpose of the consultation is to gain feedback from industry and the wider public on the proposed amendments to the Aerodromes Regulations to reflect the CAA’s previous work with ICAO. The output of the consultation will be taken into consideration and a Comment Response Document (CRD) will be published.

The changes are anticipated to be laid before Parliament in a Statutory Instrument (SI) in November 2024. We would welcome your views on your ability to meet the requirements of the proposed regulation by that date.  

It is on this date that all operators will be required to comply with the new regulations.

The CAA is also considering the AMC/, GM and Certification Specifications (CS) necessary to support the implementation of these changes to the regulator requirements.  It is anticipated that these will be published in draft form as part of another consultation ahead of the SI being laid, with a final version published as close to the laying of the SI as possible.

What are the Regulations?

Regulations contain requirements which must be complied with.  The CAA’s statutory role is to consider the required content of the regulations, consult on our proposed changes to the regulations, take consultation responses into account before forming a final view and then communicating that view to the Secretary of State (Department for Transport) in the form of an Opinion.  Our Opinions are published. 

The Secretary of State makes the final decision whether to implement CAA’s proposed changes to the regulations, and the final wording of the regulations.  The proposed wording of the regulations in this consultation may well change if and when the Secretary of State decides to amend the regulations.     

This consultation

This consultation document relates to the:
•    Revision of the rule related to the operation of higher code letter aircraft 
•    The establishment of criteria for pavement overload operations 

Areas requiring Regulatory change 

Definitions         Revised and new definitions to support changes. 
ADR.OPS.B.090    Use of the aerodrome by aircraft exceeding the certified design characteristics of the aerodrome

Since the term ‘higher code letter’ is no longer appropriate, it is proposed to be replaced by ‘exceeding the certified design characteristics of the aerodrome’ in all occurrences. 
The Outer Main Gear Wheel Span (OMGWS) parameter is proposed to be added in paragraph (a). 
Paragraph (c) contains the aircraft characteristics that needs to be assessed against the aerodrome design characteristics.  
Although not all the aircraft characteristics may be applicable depending on the case, the list is exhaustive and ensures that during the assessment all the aircraft characteristics have been taken into account.

ADR.OPS.C.011    Overload operations

This provision is amended to establish criteria for overload operations that may result in pavement damage with regard to the absence of criteria to regulate overload operations.

Why your views matter

It is important to the CAA that the everyone has an opportunity to voice their opinion on matters that could affect them. For this reason, we are asking for comments on these proposed changes to the Regulations.

What happens next

At the end of the response period, we will review and publish each comment and submission received.

Your feedback will be used to guide the development of the regulatory changes and refine the AMC and GM.