CAA Stakeholder Advisory Bodies (SABs) Questionnaire

Overview

Help Shape the Future of CAA Stakeholder Engagement 

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is reviewing how it engages with industry and stakeholders as part of its wider commitment to effective, transparent and evidence-based regulation. 

As part of the CAA’s Regulatory Reform Programme, we are exploring options to strengthen and modernise engagement arrangements across the sectors we regulate. One proposal under consideration is the introduction of a Stakeholder Advisory Bodies (SAB) programme. The programme would initially be introduced within the Safety, Airspace and Regulatory Group, with the potential to be adopted more widely across the organisation. We are seeking views from industry and other stakeholders to help assess the potential value, design and implementation of this approach. 

Stakeholder Advisory Bodies provide a more consistent and transparent framework for the regulator to engage with the aviation community. Similar advisory structures are used by both EASA and the FAA. Adopting a comparable approach could enable stakeholders to contribute earlier in the policy and rulemaking process, provide a more structured route for feedback on the implementation of regulations and associated policies and enable earlier identification of areas where existing regulations may be outdated or require revision. 

Over the next two years, subject to further development and stakeholder feedback, advisory bodies could be established across key aviation sectors, including: 

• Aerodromes 
• Air Traffic Management and Air Navigation Services (ATM/ANS) 
• Commercial Aviation 
• General Aviation 
• Rotorcraft 
• Medical 
• Safety Management 
• Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) 

The overall aim is to improve the quality, consistency and accessibility of engagement, ensuring that industry expertise and operational experience can help inform regulatory decision-making and future policy development. 

Why your views matter

We want to hear from organisations, operators, representative bodies, aviation professionals and other stakeholders who engage with, or are affected by, CAA regulation. 

Your views will help us understand whether current engagement arrangements are meeting stakeholder needs and how future engagement mechanisms could be designed to support more effective collaboration between industry and the regulator. 

In particular, we would welcome your feedback on: 

• What works well in current CAA engagement arrangements. 
• Where improvements may be needed. 
• The potential benefits and challenges of Stakeholder Advisory Bodies. 
• How stakeholders can contribute most effectively to policy development and regulatory decision-making. 
• What meaningful engagement and participation should look like in practice. 

Your feedback will help shape the future of stakeholder engagement across UK aviation and inform decisions on the development of the SAB programme. 

We encourage you to share your views, experiences and perspectives. Whether you are an individual aviation professional, an operator, an industry association or another interested stakeholder, your input will help ensure any future engagement arrangements are effective, proportionate and reflective of the needs of the aviation community. 

Thank you for taking the time to contribute to this important discussion and help shape the future of engagement between the CAA and the sectors it regulates. 

For more information please contact stakeholder.engagement@caa.co.uk.