Proposed amendments to the UK Performance-Based Navigation Regulation

Feedback updated 29 Dec 2025

We asked

We ran a consultation, CAP3045, from 14th November 2024 to 16th January 2025 asking for views on our proposals to amend and consolidate the rules that govern Performance-Based Navigation in the UK to better support the development of a systemised, sustainable, and modernised airspace network.

The consultation covered the following areas:

  • Refreshing the requirements and implementation dates for implementing PBN
  • Aligning PBN with the objectives set out within the CAA Airspace Modernisation Strategy (AMS); and
  • Achieving consistency in application and maintaining interoperability with equivalent regulations in the European Union (EU)

You said

You said

We received 35 responses to this consultation. While most respondents answered all survey questions and many also provided detailed comments, some chose not to provide answers to certain questions.  (Some additional responses were received other than via the online survey, making comments in a format that did not align with our questions; where possible we have taken these into account and included these in the consultation statistics).

Amending and consolidating UK Reg (EU) 2018/1048 (the UK PBN Regulation) and the PBN elements of UK Reg (EU) 716/2014 (the UK PCP Regulation): Most respondents agreed with the case we had put forward to achieve this.

Supporting the development of a systemised, sustainable and modernised airspace network aligned with AMS: Most respondents believed that our proposals to amend and consolidate the 2 specified regulations would achieve this.

RNP APCH with 3 lines of minima at Instrument Runway Ends (IRE): Most respondents did agree that this should apply, but there was concern over the ability to realise LPV line of minima under the proposed timescale. 

SBAS SoL service transitional arrangements: While most respondents did agree that our proposed transitional implementation date was realistic, there was concern around deployment given currently unknown timescale of re-instatement of a SoL service, prohibitive cost of design and deployment.

Proposed navigation specifications: Most respondents thought our proposals across all flight phases were appropriate.  Some comments were raised as to whether the proposals provided the most optimal solution for airspace design and if alternative specifications with better lateral navigation accuracy should be considered.

Proposed implementation dates: Most respondents agreed with our proposed implementation dates.  However, there was some concern with respect to the timescales for deployment of RNP APCH and terminal airspace specifications given a current lack of resources across the sector in respect of both design and approval of Instrument Flight Procedures.  Also, considerations should be made with respect to the additional cost burden this could bring.

Transitional measures:  Most respondents agreed with our revised requirements, with requests to ensure clarify the reporting requirements and to ensure that duplication with existing reporting mechanisms were not introduced.

We did

We did

We are proceeding with the next phase of this project to amend and consolidate the regulations that govern PBN in the UK. 

Work has begun work on drafting the necessary documents, required by the Department for Transport (DfT), to implement the changes.  We are working towards a legislative date in Summer 2026.

We have published our consultation response document below, setting out these findings in more detail: 

CAP 3204 Consultation Response Document: Proposed amendments to the UK Performance-based Navigation Regulation

Closed 16 Jan 2025

Opened 14 Nov 2024

Contact

pbnconsultation@caa.co.uk

Overview

We are currently proposing to amend and consolidate the regulations that govern Performance-based Navigation (PBN) in the UK to support the development of a systemised, sustainable, and modernised airspace network that meets the needs of economic growth, enables noise mitigation, and helps to reduce greenhouse gasses.

Your feedback will help us to better understand whether there are any issues that still need to be resolved, concerns to be addressed and improvements to be made, and whether our proposed timelines are reasonable before a proposal is put to the Secretary of State (Department for Transport) for new legislation.

Regulations (also known as Implementing Rules)

Regulations contain requirements which must be complied with. The CAA’s statutory role is to consider the required content of regulations, consult on our proposed changes to the regulations, take consultation responses into account before forming a final view and then communicate 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

The purpose of this consultation is to seek views on proposals to update PBN legislation in the UK by amending and consolidating Assimilated Regulation (EU) 2018/1048 (the UK PBN Regulation) and the PBN elements contained within Assimilated Regulation (EU) No. 716/2014 (the UK PCP Regulation).

The proposed changes, which are set out in the CAP3045 : Proposed amendments to the UK Performance-Based Navigation Regulation, cover areas including:

  • Refreshing the requirements and implementation dates for implementing PBN
  • Aligning PBN with the objectives set out within the CAA Airspace Modernisation Strategy (AMS); and
  • Achieving consistency in application and maintaining interoperability with equivalent regulations in the European Union (EU)

Why your views matter

It is important to the CAA that everyone has an opportunity to voice their opinion on matters that could affect them. There is also a legal requirement to consult when creating or amending regulations. For these reasons, we are asking for comments on these proposed changes.

We welcome comments from every sector of the community. This includes the gneral public, government agencies and all sectors of the aviation industry, whether as an aviator, aviation consumer and/or provider of related products and services.

How to respond

Responses to this consultation can be submitted by no later than 16th January 2025.

Please submit your comments using the online survey link below only. If you are unable to use the online survey link, or if you have any questions regarding the consultation content or clarification requests, please send them to us at pbnconsultation@caa.co.uk.

If you do respond to the consultation via email, we do ask that your response is structured around our questions. Otherwise, we will not be able to analyse the submissions in the same way that we analyse the online responses.

We expect to publish responses we receive on our website as soon as is practicable after the period for representations expires. Any material that is regarded as confidential should be clearly marked as such and included in a separate annex.

What happens next

Your feedback will be used to refine the policy, implementation timeline and proposed changes to PBN legislation. We will publish a consultation closing response that summarises the feedback we received, explains how we took your views and suggestions into account and sets out our policy decisions.

We will develop our final proposals for submission to the Department for Transport in the form of an Opinion and Instruction Document, which we will publish on the CAA website. We will then work with the Department to develop the text of the new legislation. Responsibility for the drafting lies with the Department.

The amending regulations will then be made by the Secretary of State (subject to their approval) and submitted for parliamentary scrutiny. It is expected that the regulations will be made using powers in Assimilated UK Reg (EU) 2018/1139 and Assimilated UK Reg (EU) 2004/550. They would in that case be made using the negative resolution procedure (i.e., they would be law unless either House resolved that they should be annulled).

Audiences

  • Aerodrome Operators
  • Air Navigation Service Providers
  • Airport operators
  • Commercial airlines
  • Community groups
  • European Aviation Safety Agency
  • Flightcrew
  • General Aviation
  • Ground handling providers
  • Industry representative bodies
  • Military
  • Organisations affected by aviation
  • Regulatory bodies
  • Residents affected by aviation
  • UAV operators

Interests

  • Air Traffic Control
  • Airspace design, categorisation and access
  • Flightpaths
  • Light aircraft