Personnel Licensing - Powered-lift Stakeholder Working Group

Overview

The Future of Flight Action Plan aims to establish the UK as a leader in emerging aviation technologies, with a sustainable industry and thriving ecosystem by 2030. Enabling powered-lift flights in the UK by 2028 is a first step to scaled operations and a sustainable industry (vertical take-off and landing capable aircraft are included in this sub-category). 

To achieve initial, scaled and sustainable operations, the CAA has determined that elements of current Implementing Rule (IR) for Aircrew, its Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC), Guidance Material (GM) and other documents may need to be amended to enable a personnel licensing route for the safe operation of powered-lift aircraft (including, tilt-rotors, lift-cruise and any other equivalent innovative design types).   

A working group comprised of stakeholders and representatives from industry is to be established to support the CAA policy teams and other subject matter experts with reference to this work. The stakeholder working group will provide evidence-based views of the requisite skills, experience and training required to operate vertical take-off and landing capable aircraft systems and deliver a proportionate but robust personnel licensing framework ensuring safe integration of advanced air mobility aircraft systems into the UK Aircrew Regulations (UK Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011).   

The PLSWG is established to facilitate effective engagement, discussion and collaboration between the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and selected industry and community representatives related to the incorporation of powered-lift for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) into the UK Aviation Industry, with the aim of ensuring that the needs and expectations of stakeholders are considered whilst maintaining  proportionate but robust standards of safety while promoting innovation in AAM operations in the UK. 

Stakeholders will be invited to:  

• Provide feedback on all relevant aspects of the CAA policy position that will impact the Implementing Rule, and its associated AMC/GM and CS as applicable. 
• Provide feedback on how, and to what extent the CAA policy position may need to be amended. 
• Liaise with other technical disciplines to ensure a holistic approach to the policy position. 
• Identify data that is capable of offering insights helpful to the development of the personnel licensing framework. 

The CAA invites stakeholders to register their interest in the following areas:

1. Head of training, test pilots, instructors, examiners with relevant experience, safety experts or other aviation professionals with relevant expertise in powered-lift sub-category or similar operations particularly in the field of AAM and regulations.  
2. Stakeholders with an interest or expertise in innovation energy sources e.g. lithium battery technologies, hydrogen cell, hybrid energy sources, or any other energy source, their associated risks and mitigations. 
3. Powered-lift AAM manufacturers, existing aviation OEM’s or experts with aviation (or similar) industry/operational knowledge that is directly applicable to the work of the PLSWG. 
4. Prospective powered-lift AAM operators, other service providers and professional associations/approved training organisations (ATOs) with aviation (or similar) industry/operational knowledge that is directly applicable to the work of PLSWG.  

This application process is for stakeholders who meet the selection criteria and/or work or aim to work with powered-lift sub-category. Stakeholders who work with powered-lift sub-category in State operations i.e. military, police, Coastguard, HEMS operated aircraft or similar are also invited to participate in this working group.