THE CONSULTATION
Proposals
The airspace change process
An industry-wide drive led by the regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), to create airspace infrastructure fit for the 21st century, is underway.
This national Airspace Change Programme aims to fulfil the vision of the Government’s Airspace Modernisation Strategy to deliver quicker, quieter, and cleaner journeys and more capacity for the benefit of those who use and are affected by UK airspace.
Airspace change is the process through which flight paths, routes, controlled airspace boundaries and controlled airspace classification can be changed. The Department for Transport (DfT) is responsible for all aviation policy in the UK, including airspace.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is responsible for regulating airspace and for the Airspace Change Process which all airports must follow where changes to airspace are proposed.
Glasgow Airport is responsible for the design of any changes to flight paths into and out of the airport up to approximately 7,000ft, and NATS is responsible for changes to airspace above 7,000ft. As part of Scottish Airspace Modernisation, Glasgow Airport is coordinating its proposals with NATS.
Proposals
The CAA
The aviation industry is regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the UK, and they ensure that the environmental impact of aviation on local communities is managed through efficient use of airspace. When changes to airspace are proposed, an airport is required to follow the CAA’s Airspace Change Proposal (ACP) process, which is known as CAP1616.
CAP1616
CAP1616 outlines a 7-stage process for changing airspace design, including community engagement requirements.
A key principle of the airspace change process is that it is as transparent as possible. Those potentially affected by an Airspace Change Proposal should feel confident that their voice has a formal place in the airspace change process.
The CAA monitors the progress of an Airspace Change Proposal against the requirements of the airspace change process at key defined points called gateways. At each gateway, the CAA will assess whether the relevant airspace change process requirements have been met.
Glasgow Airport is now in Stage 3 of the 7 stage process, and our public consultation has concluded.
