Public Consultation on DRAFT CAP1724: Flying Display Pilot Authorisation and Evaluation: Requirements and Guidance (Edition 7)

It is vital that CAP 403 Flying Displays and Special Events: Safety and Administrative Requirements and Guidance remains up-to-date and relevant, and that the CAA’s guidance material in these areas remains proportionate, clear and unambiguous.

We asked for feedback from the regulated community on proposed amendments to CAP 403 ahead of the 2025 display season. 

We compiled a draft of CAP 403 Edition 22 and consulted on it over four working weeks from 09 December 2024 to 03 January 2025. 

We received a total of 65 unique comments to the draft CAP 403 from 12 respondents.  

Of all the comments, 44 clearly conveyed some sort of change and 21 were either unclear / not specific or suggested no changes, many being purely comments. 

Of the 44 conveying a change, 27 were textual in nature, suggesting revised wording or highlighting minor drafting / clarification points, several being duplicated between respondents.  The other 17 comments were more substantive, calling for some sort of change of the underlying policy. 

We accepted 12 of the 44 comments suggesting some sort of change (27%). 10 of these comprised of rewording content or the addition of further information for additional clarification, we have tried to take a balanced view on what would be helpful.  The other 2 concerned minor policy changes.

Of the remaining 32, 12 concerned points that were already covered elsewhere (either in this CAP or CAP1724), 8 were comments that were unclear / not specific or concerned issues with formatting that we were unable to replicate, 8 were aimed at sensitive text that had been changed to align with and reflect wider CAA policy and 4 involved suggested changes to underlying policy.

Regarding the 17 more substantive comments we received, we implemented 2. Of those we elected not to implement, some were beyond the scope of CAP403, others were covered adequately either in this document or elsewhere, some concerned suggestions for unacceptable changes to policy and it was considered that the remaining might have further unintended consequences.

We have produced a final version of CAP 403 Edition 22 which was published on 4 February 2025.