CAA streamlines airspace change process to accelerate modernisation
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is reducing the regulatory requirements for changes to UK airspace as part of a revised process intended to accelerate airspace modernisation and make it easier to accommodate new aviation technologies.
image: NATS
The revised CAP1616 Airspace Change Process will come into effect on 1 October 2026 alongside new Air Navigation Directions and Air Navigation Guidance issued by the government. The CAA says the changes will make the process more proportionate by tailoring requirements to the scale, complexity and potential impacts of individual proposals.
The new process reduces the number of requirements for permanent airspace changes from 113 to 43 and cuts the number of stages from seven to five. The number of formal gateways will also fall from three to one, while post-implementation reviews will be removed.
The CAA said the changes are designed to reduce unnecessary regulatory burden while retaining safety and environmental considerations. Consultation with communities affected by airspace changes will remain part of the process.
Giancarlo Buono, CAA Director of Safety and Airspace Regulation, said the revised process would provide a “simpler and more proportionate framework” for airspace changes.
“By tailoring requirements to the scale and impact of proposals, we can reduce unnecessary burdens and help organisations make progress, whilst keeping a consistent focus on safety, evidence and impact.”
The reforms also introduce a more streamlined process for temporary and non-permanent airspace changes. Trial periods for some activities can be extended from six months to up to three years, supporting the testing of new technologies and operating models.
The CAA said the changes are particularly relevant as the aviation system develops to accommodate emerging users including drones and advanced air mobility alongside conventional commercial and general aviation operations.
The revised process will also provide a specific framework for complex airspace changes sponsored by the UK Airspace Design Service (UKADS). NATS En Route, which operates UKADS, has begun work on the design of airspace for the London region.
The changes are part of the wider UK Airspace Modernisation Strategy, which aims to make the country's airspace more efficient and flexible.
The new Air Navigation Guidance sets government priorities for airspace design, including how capacity, noise, carbon emissions and flight efficiency should be considered. It also sets expectations for engagement with communities affected by changes to airspace.
Existing airspace change proposals will generally continue under the version of CAP1616 they are currently using, although some proposals will transition to the revised process. The CAA says existing proposals must, in most cases, be submitted for a regulatory decision by the end of July 2031 if they are to remain under the current arrangements.
Airspace modernisation is a main theme within AIR, running at London ExCeL on 29/30 September. AIR is free to attend, register now to secure your place