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

It is vital that CAP 1724 Flying Display Pilot Authorisation and Evaluation: 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 1724 ahead of the 2025 display season. 

We compiled a draft of CAP 1724 Edition 7 and consulted on it over four working weeks from 16 January 2025 to 12 February 2025. 

We received a total of 48 unique comments to the draft CAP 1724 from 15 respondents.  

Of all the comments, 27 clearly conveyed some sort of change and 21 were either unclear / not specific or suggested no changes, many being purely comments.  21% of all the comments supported the proposed amendments.

Of the 27 conveying a change, 17 were textual in nature, suggesting revised wording or highlighting minor drafting / clarification points, several being duplicated between respondents.  The other 10 comments were more substantive, calling for some sort of change of the underlying policy. 

We accepted 4 of the 27 comments suggesting some sort of change (15%).  3 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 comment concerned a minor policy change.

Of the remaining 23, 8 concerned points that were already covered elsewhere (either in this CAP or CAP403), 7 concerned issues that are beyond the scope of this CAP, 1 suggested a change that had already been made, 2 were unclear / not specific and 5 were aimed at sensitive text that we are unable to change.

Regarding the 10 more substantive comments we received, we implemented 1. Of those we elected not to implement, some were beyond the scope of CAP 1724, 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 1724 Edition 7 which was published on 10 March 2025.