CAP 413 SI 2024/01: Special Use Airspace Activity Information and Crossing Services

Details

Published: 21 February 2024

CAA Consultation: Light aircraft to become safer under new proposals from regulator for CO Detectors

The safety of people flying in light aircraft could increase following new proposals put forward by the UK Civil Aviation Authority to require active carbon monoxide (CO) detectors to be carried on some piston-engine aircraft.

At a glance:

• Safety in light aircraft could be improved following new proposals on carbon monoxide detectors.
• Plans could require active carbon monoxide detectors in some piston engine aircraft.
• Follows on from extensive work undertaken by the UK Civil Aviation Authority in the last three years to raise general aviation pilots’ awareness of carbon monoxide.

Proposals set out in a consultation today by the regulator are integral to understanding what may be holding pilots back from using this potentially lifesaving equipment, and whether the UK Civil Aviation Authority should be doing more to encourage its adoption.

A 2020 Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) review of UK accidents and incidents since 2000 identified two fatal accidents, each with two fatalities, and fifteen other events where carbon monoxide may have been a causal factor.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is a potential danger to pilots and passengers of piston engine aircraft, as the colourless, odourless gas can seep into the cockpit and cause incapacitation with little or no warning.

Michael Macdonald, Head of General Aviation, at the UK Civil Aviation Authority said:

“Plenty of pilots will already have an active carbon monoxide detector in their home but may not have thought that one could be beneficial in their aircraft.

As recent accidents have shown, carbon monoxide entering from aircraft heating systems is a risk to pilots and passengers, but one that can be mitigated with a cheap and easily available bit of kit.

This consultation on active carbon monoxide detectors is about gathering feedback and evidence to understand what may be holding pilots back from using this potentially lifesaving equipment and whether we, as the regulator, should be doing more to encourage its adoption.”

The UK Civil Aviation Authority consultation focuses on the main barriers pilots face in obtaining an active carbon monoxide detector, the role that maintenance plays in combatting CO, the importance of protecting passengers, and whether active detectors ought to be required for some operations.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority has been actively engaged on the topic of carbon monoxide in general aviation over the last three years and has undertaken multiple initiatives to raise general aviation pilot awareness of CO as well as the various prevention and detection measures that can be taken to mitigate the risk.

A key focus has been on commercial off the shelf carbon monoxide detectors with alerting capability, which can provide low-cost, effective carbon monoxide detection in piston engine aircraft.

the CAA have published this consultation: CAP 2975: Carbon Monoxide in Piston Engine AircraftCAP 2975: Carbon Monoxide in Piston Engine Aircraft

The consultation survey will be open for four weeks and will close on the 20 March 2024.

Details

Published: 16 February 2024

ICAO FIS Implementation Call for Input

The CAA have made a public call for Input Engagement on the implementation of better alignment of UK Flight Information Services with International Civil Organisation (ICAO) Flight Information Service (FIS) in the UK.

This engagement supports the implementation of the Airspace Modernisation Strategy (AMS). the CAA have an obligation to review and optimise our degree of alignment with ICAO provisions.

That allows the CAA to demonstrate our air traffic services provision is complementary to that of our neighbouring states, thereby enhancing overall flight safety and providing an adaptable ‘Visual Flight Rules (VFR) or Instrument Flight Rules (IFR)’ solution to service recipients in Classes E and G airspace.

We invite stakeholders to give us your views , responses are requested by 29 March 2024.

As the CAA have not given any explanatory notes with this call for input, unless you access the questionnaire, AOPA sought further clarification from the CAA.

Jon Round, CAA Head of Airspace, Air Traffic Management & Aerodromes (AAA) has responded:

"What the AMS proposes is to better align the UK’s approach to providing flight information service with that of ICAO. To expand on your point, I imagine that many across industry will be unfamiliar with the source of ICAO provisions. Our team considered providing a document that would examine the issues in more detail but, at this stage and through this engagement, we wanted to provide industry with the freedom to explain how they access, use and provide the flight information services. In turn, that will allow us to ‘flesh-out’ the concept of operations described in the AMS, so that we can develop a set of ‘strawman’ procedures to inform subsequent engagement and, in time, consultation."

If you have any views that might be used in an AOPA response please let me know: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

In the meantime, these are the contents of the questionnaire:

Policy proposal

The AMS sets out the ambition to replace the UK Flight Information Services with a FIS that is more closely aligned with the intent described within ICAO provisions.

It is proposed that this will enable current and future airspace users to participate in a modernised FIS that is internationally recognisable, simplified, embraces emerging technologies and service delivery capabilities. Inter alia:

• We will develop provisions to support the provision of FIS both with, and without surveillance.
• Where surveillance is utilised by an individual licensed as an air traffic controller, they will be permitted to undertake vectoring and suggest levels to assist an identified aircraft in its navigation; for example, onto final approach.
• Where surveillance is utilised by an individual licensed as an air traffic controller, they will be permitted to provide traffic information and, if so requested by the pilot or if, in the opinion of the controller, the situation warrants, suggest a course of avoiding action. There will not be an associated 'deconfliction minima'; the intent of the avoiding action is to avoid collision, not to achieve a proxy for separation.
• Where surveillance is not utilised by an individual licensed as an air traffic controller, they will be permitted to "advise" or "suggest" routes, tracks, radials, times and levels to assist an aircraft in its navigation; for example, onto final approach.

Do you welcome the intent of the proposal? (Required)

Yes No
If you answer NO, please ensure you explain why and what you would suggest instead in the relevant section

CAP 774 UK Flight Information Services

If you are familiar with CAP 774 and/or receive/provide FIS in accordance with it, please indicate whether you feel it meets your operating requirements?
(Required)

Yes No
If you answer NO, please ensure you explain why and what you would suggest requires improvement.

Which of the air traffic services, within CAP 774, are you familiar with? (Required)

• Deconfliction Service (DS)
• Traffic Service (TS)
• Procedural Service (PS)
• Basic Service (BS)
• None of the above
  

Any comments on the suitability of any of the ATS listed above?

Is the current edition of CAP 774 easy to assimilate? (Required)

Yes No
If you answer NO, please ensure you explain why and what you would suggest requires improvement:

What aspects of CAP 774 should be retained or should all ATS be subject to this review? (Required)

• Elements of Deconfliction Service (DS)
• Elements of Traffic Service (TS)
• Elements of Procedural Service (PS)
• Elements of Basic Service (BS)
• All elements of CAP 774 should be reviewed.
• None of the above

Should you wish to do so, please explain why you answered yes or no and offer any suggestions

Should the future FIS continue to include elements of the existing UK Flight Information Services? For example, the provision of: vectors, level allocation, or sequencing or deconfliction advice within Class G airspace?

• Vectors Level Allocation
• Sequencing
• Deconfliction advice
• An alternative provision, not currently provided.
• None of the above

Please explain your selection:

Are there any elements of UK FIS policy or service delivery that you consider a ‘red line’, where its retention is, in your opinion, non-negotiable? (Required)

Yes No
Please explain your selection

UK Flight Information Service Officers (FISOs)

Are you familiar with the capabilities of a Flight Information Service Officer (FISO) and what they are able to provide in terms of Air Traffic Services? (Required)

Yes No
If you answered YES, please explain which aspects might be changed or improved?

What do you understand to be the main differences between air traffic services delivered by an ATCO and a FISO in the UK?
Please explain which aspects might be changed or improved in the future?

ICAO FIS Alignment

Should elements of ICAO Doc 4444 PANS-ATM be better aligned with, or emphasised, within the future UK FIS? (Required) Yes No
Please provide detail on why you have selected your answer

UK FIS Delivery

Should the CAA simplify the operational delivery of UK FIS? (Required)

Yes No
Please explain your selection:

The AMS describes the digitisation of FIS provision through the use of FIS-B and TIS-B technologies and the concept of the 'connected aircraft'. Should the CAA use technology to improve the delivery of FIS, and if yes, how? (Required) Yes No
Please explain your selection:

Do you think it is important for a verbal agreement to be made stating the type of service an aircraft is in receipt of? For example, ‘….leaving controlled airspace, Flight Information Service…..’. (Required)

Yes No
Please explain your selection.

UK Airspace

What changes, if any, may be required to the UK airspace structures and classifications to facilitate the provision of the future UK FIS? (Required)

Yes No
Please explain your selection and offer any suggestions.

Lower Airspace (Radar) Services. What is your opinion on current availability, delivery and service levels of UK Lower Airspace Radar Services (LARS)? From your interaction with LARS, have services been provided by the ATS provider as expected? How might the Lower Airspace Services (LAS) be delivered in the future?

The AMS proposes

The AMS proposes, inter alia, replacing ATZs at uncontrolled aerodromes with RMZs. With regards to UK airspace constructs, do you have any comments upon:

• (Required) Designs.
• Shapes (e.g. circle or lozenge).
• Use of ATZs. Use of RMZs.
• None of the above.
• An alternative method (please describe below).

Please provide detail on why you have selected your answer.

Other feedback

What other opportunities to improve UK FIS regulation, beyond those suggested in this Call for Input, would you like to see progressed?

If you have additional feedback, please feel free to upload an attachment and make sure your file is in PDF or Word format.

Details

Published: 13 February 2024

NATS OpenAir: Consultation

NATS have published a consultation for their proposal to establish, operate and charge for a new service they are calling NATS Openair. The consultation closes on 28 March 2024.

It is their proposed solution to establishing a co-operative airspace environment allowing the integration of al airspaces users, current and new. In particular the integration of unmanned aerial systems operating beyond visual line of sight.

In their words:

"NATS OpenAir is our proposed new airspace management service to enable safe and seamless airspace integration in a changing aviation landscape.

Our proposals for NATS OpenAir have been shaped by working with industry and other stakeholders to deliver flight trials and create new concepts of operation. Building on our work so far, we now need to hear from you to ensure we fully understand your requirements and what you might need from an integrated airspace traffic management system of the future.

To that end we are seeking your feedback on the proposed new NATS OpenAir service offering and associated charging structure as outlined in the consultation document."

The consultation details and proposal can be found here.

AOPA Comment:

There are a number of innovative solutions being proposed or even competing to be the answer for managing traffic in the lower airspace and clearly NATS as an ANSP has its own agenda. Any future airspace has to provide GA with greater access and improved safety but the answers are not straight forward and often complex.

Please let Martin Robinson know if you have any views on the NATS proposal by 21 March 2024: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Details

Published: 12 February 2024

CAA launches AI survey

The aviation industry continues to embrace the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI). It already enhances safety and efficiency through predictive maintenance, aiding air traffic management, and refining pilot training with advanced insights and simulations. Understanding what AI will mean for the CAA and how it will affect the way we work and how we regulate is a crucial part of this strategy work.

The CAA have created a survey that focuses on how we regulate AI and would be grateful for your support in helping us to create a strategy for the safe and secure use of AI in aviation.

The survey will close Friday 29 March 2024. More information is available in CAP 2966: Speaking a Common Language: A terminology framework for AI  and on the CAA website.

Details

Published: 12 February 2024

Consultation: Notice of proposals to make the Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2024

OfCom are proposing to make new regulations (Proposed Regulations) that would amend the existing 2020 Regulations in relation to the introduction of three new licence products and their associated fees. We are also removing one class of licence that is now licence exempt.

The full details can be found here: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0037/277588/consultation-notice-proposals-wta-fees-amendment.pdf

The response form can be found here: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/file/0035/277586/consultation-response-form.odt