The purpose of the consultation was to ask you to help us identify volumes of controlled airspace in which the classification could be amended to better reflect the needs of all airspace users on an equitable basis. The consultation asked respondents to each identify two volumes of airspace where amendments to current structures and access arrangements should be considered. Respondents were asked to identify the location of the opportunities as well as the flight level, and time of the day and year when the classifications could be amended. We asked respondents to provide a rationale and supporting evidence for their suggestions. In addition to the online consultation, the CAA held four public engagement events including three dedicated roundtables with groups that represent airspace users.
We had 604 responses to the consultation, which we have published where we have been given permission to do so. Most respondents identified themselves as members of the general aviation community, accounting for 557 of the 604 responses. Geographically, 274 respondents were in the South East, including those who represented an organisation based there; the remainder was spread across the UK.
Respondents were asked to submit up to two volumes of airspace each. With over 600 responses received, the CAA assessed over 1000 volumes of airspace submitted through the consultation. These opportunities corresponded to 57 locations across the UK. The full list of these locations is included in our report on the consultation, CAP 1935, available at the bottom of this page.
On the whole respondents expressed support for the concept and intention of the classification review and several comments were received on the engagement opportunity presented by the consultation. Despite welcoming the review, several concerns were expressed that it will fail to deliver any tangible benefits to the general aviation community.
There was a high level of dissatisfaction expressed over the visualisations included in the consultation. It was felt that the visualisation images did not provide a clear indication of activity in the various controlled airspace areas shown and questioned why movement data was not supplied in the consultation.
Although support was expressed for the need to modernise and rationalise UK airspace to create structures which are safe, efficient and proportionate for all users, some respondents were concerned with the implications of continually increasing the level of controlled airspace. Similarly, concerns were expressed that the current restrictions on general aviation movements had resulted in flights being funnelled into tight corridors, creating pinch-points.
There was support shown for the introduction of using airspace flexibly, and several respondents commented on the need for technological solutions, such as electronic conspicuity, to be implemented to support its deployment. A number of respondents cautioned however that introducing flexible airspace around busy airfields could cause confusion and create a significant additional risk.
Strong comments were received from the general aviation community on airspace change decisions taken within the last few years, and the resulting detrimental effect they have had on the community and their ability to use airspace. There were also suggestions, in particular in the roundtables, that policies concerning lower airspace should be reviewed.
We have published a report on the consultation CAP 1935, available at the bottom of this page. The CAA has also published CAP 1934, a consultation on our proposed procedure for amending airspace classifications. Once this new procedure has been agreed and implemented, we will use that to review the potential volumes of airspace submitted through this initial consultation and identify those where we think the classification could be amended in line with safety and security requirements.
In the consultation report we:
View submitted responses where consent has been given to publish the response.
The CAA would like you to help us identify volumes of controlled airspace in which the classification could be amended to better reflect the needs of all airspace users on an equitable basis.
How do I respond?
Please complete the survey below. You will probably find it helpful to review the visualisations of controlled airspace and their use. These images are ordered by geographical area of the UK (north, midlands and south) and then by height (presented as a flight level) and representative times of day, because airspace is used differently at different times. The air traffic presented is derived from NATS radar data and within +/- 500 feet of the presented flight level. We have focused on four flight levels, based on those that are of most interest to a range of users: FL20 (i.e. 2,000 ft), FL40, FL60 and FL100.
What happens next?
Once this consultation closes, there will be three more stages to complete the work:
How will the CAA decide which volumes of airspace are shortlisted?
We will use the following evidence and analysis to decide which are the priority volumes of airspace in which the classification could be amended:
Responses to this consultation:
Analysis of technical data about safety and other important factors. The data we will analyse may include:
Why is the CAA doing this?
On 30 October 2019 the Secretary of State for Transport wrote to the CAA[2] to amend the 2017 Air Navigation Directions[3] to give us a new role regarding the way in which airspace is classified. Directions 3(a), (b) and (ba) come into force on 1 April 2020. They state that the CAA must:
(a) develop and publish a national policy for the classification of UK airspace;
(b) classify UK airspace in accordance with such national policy, publish such classification, regularly consider whether such classification should be reviewed, carry out a review (which includes consultation with airspace users) where the CAA considers a change to classification might be made and, as the CAA considers appropriate, amend any classification in accordance with procedures developed and published by the CAA for making such amendments;
(ba) in developing the national policy referred to in sub-paragraph (a), classifying UK airspace under sub-paragraph (b), or amending the classification of a volume of airspace under that sub-paragraph, seek to ensure that the amount of controlled airspace is the minimum required to maintain a high standard of air safety and, subject to overriding national security or defence requirements, that the needs of all airspace users is reflected on an equitable basis;
This now means that we must:
The CAA has decided to review the classification of UK airspace and conduct our first review now, and this consultation forms part of our first review. The CAA has considered its obligation to consult with airspace users in carrying out the review and developed this public consultation to do so. As explained above, we will, separately, develop a new regulatory procedure for considering solutions and if possible amending the classification of the volumes of airspace that are identified through the review.
What does the airspace classification review seek to achieve?
As the Directions state, we need to “ensure that the amount of controlled airspace is the minimum required to maintain a high standard of air safety and, subject to overriding national security or defence requirements, that the needs of all airspace users is reflected on an equitable basis.”
This means we want to review airspace classifications in the UK to reflect the needs of a range of airspace users – including commercial aviation, General Aviation, and new technologies such as drones and spaceflights – on an equitable basis, and we must do so safely. However, while equitable means fair and reasonable, it does not mean that all airspace users must have equal access to a volume of airspace. For example, small drone operations are usually performed locally and below 400 feet, which is a very different airspace need to that of a private pilot licence holder flying cross country.
Why are there so many consultations, why can’t you just amend the airspace quickly?
Some of the reasons for there being different stages to this work are explained above, under ‘What happens next?’. For example, there may need to be new procedures, training and equipage for making use of airspace in a more flexible way.
The Air Navigation Directions require us to consult airspace users when we review whether airspace classifications can be amended; that’s what we’re doing in this consultation. But we will also have to a) consult on the new regulatory process for considering amendments to airspace classifications in the future (this will be a one-off) and b) as part of that new regulatory process, consult on specific reclassification proposals before we make any amendments.
This new regulatory process includes consultation so that when we propose to amend a specific volume of airspace we capture all evidence and opinion to ensure we do the right thing. We need to understand all the implications of the amendment, including considering whether the classification can be amended safely and hearing the views of those using or affected by the airspace classification.
How does this relate to airspace modernisation?
The UK’s airspace structure is an essential, but largely invisible, part of our national transport infrastructure. It is divided into controlled and uncontrolled airspace, and further divided into classifications. There are rules attached to classifications about how and where aircraft can fly, and the air navigation services and procedures that must be used. The UK’s skies are accommodating increasing numbers of commercial flights, military activities and an active General Aviation sector, as well as new technologies such as drones.
The vast majority of commercial flights operate solely in controlled airspace; recreational flying and aerial sports operate largely in uncontrolled airspace below 6000 feet, alongside a few commercial and business flights. The military also has significant requirements to use both types of airspace and occasionally also operates within the confines of segregated training or danger areas. The creation of controlled airspace may impinge on the availability of airspace for other users, and an appropriate balance is needed to satisfy both the safety needs and economic requirements of the various types of, often conflicting, operational requirements. At lower altitudes there is more of a challenge in balancing the differing requirements of a more diverse range of affected parties.
Many air routes and air traffic management practices are not fully utilising the modern technologies available, and aircraft continue to use prescribed flightpaths that are outdated. Those flightpaths often constrain aircraft climb performance such that more time is taken for them to reach their optimum cruising altitude. This creates inefficiencies and results in greater fuel burn, more emissions and larger blocks of controlled airspace to contain such procedures. Flightpaths may not presently be optimised to reduce noise impacts or designed to offer relief from noise. This inefficient use of airspace causes unnecessary delays for passengers and significant air traffic control workload to manage bad weather or other forms of disruption. It also has excessive impacts on the environment and those living near our airports. The outdated design is also, crucially, constraining the number of flights that the airspace can safely accommodate.
With these challenges in mind, the CAA’s Airspace Modernisation Strategy (AMS) set out 15 initiatives to modernise airspace. The airspace classification review sits in a strategic context which includes the following existing AMS initiatives:
Work on these initiatives will continue and the co-sponsors of airspace modernisation, the CAA and Department for Transport, expect every organisation responsible for the delivery of initiatives to engage relevant stakeholders and coordination across the initiatives to ensure coherent delivery.
[1] Mandatory Occurrence Reporting requires the reporting, analysis and follow up of occurrences in civil aviation and delivers a European Just Culture Declaration. An occurrence means any safety-related event which endangers or which, if not corrected or addressed, could endanger an aircraft, its occupants or any other person. The purpose of occurrence reporting is to improve aviation safety by ensuring that relevant safety information relating to civil aviation is reported, collected, stored, protected, exchanged, disseminated and analysed. It is not to attribute blame or liability. https://www.caa.co.uk/Our-work/Make-a-report-or-complaint/MOR/Occurrence-reporting/
[2] https://www.caa.co.uk/uploadedFiles/CAA/Content/Standard_Content/Commercial_industry/Airspace/Airspace_change/20191030%20Transport%20Secretary%20to%20Richard%20Moriarty%20CAA%20Air%20Navigation%20Directions%202017.pdf
[3] The Civil Aviation Authority (Air Navigation) Directions 2017, as amended by The Civil Aviation Authority (Air Navigation) (Amendment) Directions 2018 and The Civil Aviation Authority (Air Navigation) (Amendment) Directions 2019. A consolidated version is on the CAA website. https://www.caa.co.uk/uploadedFiles/CAA/Content/Standard_Content/Commercial_industry/Airspace/Airspace_change/2017%20Directions%20as%20amended%20by%202018%20and%202019%20Directions.pdf
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