CAA publishes 60 day update on General Aviation work

Significant progress has been made in 2014 to make regulation of the UK’s General Aviation (GA) sector more proportionate and evidence-based the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said today.

In the first of what will be regular updates to confirm its work in the area the CAA said that in the last 60 days it had:

• Launched proposals to simplify the initial testing process for experimental aircraft in the UK that will benefit small-scale aircraft designers and manufacturers, as well as encouraging the growth of aerospace excellence in new design concepts. Details at www.caa.co.uk/consultations
• Used the new proportionate approach to regulation to grant an approval to a UK microlight manufacturer that has made it financially viable to sell its aircraft as finished factory-built types rather than amateur-build kits. More details here.
• Published its finalised policy framework for GA. This will be used by the CAA as a basis for decisions around GA regulation, providing a transparent process for the GA community and others to follow. It explains how decisions will now be made based on evidence and risk. It can be viewed at www.caa.co.uk/ga
• Scrapped the need for UK validation of design changes for Annex II aircraft via supplementary type certificates approved by a state with which the UK holds a bilateral agreement – such as the US or Canada. Meaning the owner/operator of an aircraft can simply arrange for installation of the modification as per the approval and then get their maintenance organisation to certify its installation in the aircraft’s log-book. More details here.
• Withdrawn the overflight restriction from the permit operating limitations of factory-built, type-approved gyroplanes. Meaning they can be flown over congested areas providing pilots can demonstrate they can manoeuvre their gyroplane clear of a built up area should it suffer a failure preventing continued safe flight, such as an engine failure. More details here.
• Allowed owners of light aircraft to choose which fuel they use, including MOGAS, providing it is approved for their aircraft. Details at www.caa.co.uk/ga
• Published clear guidance on restoring vintage aircraft, available at www.caa.co.uk/ga

All of the changes support the CAA’s new top level principles for GA regulation:

• Only regulate directly when necessary and do so proportionately
• Deregulate where we can
• Delegate where appropriate
• Do not gold-plate, and quickly and efficiently remove gold-plating that already exists
• Help create a vibrant and dynamic GA sector in the UK.

Commenting on the work Grant Shapps, Government Minister Without Portfolio, said: “This is yet another good set of measures that will provide a much-needed boost to GA. They will allow for innovation to be unlocked in the sector, creating exciting new business opportunities that could bring jobs and growth to the UK”.

Similar 60 day updates will be published throughout 2015 on 2 March; 1 May; 1 July; 1 Sep; and 2 Nov.

More detail on the CAA’s GA activities and the work of the GA Unit are available at www.caa.co.uk/ga