The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is reducing the regulatory requirements for changes to UK airspace in a move intended to speed up modernisation and support the introduction of new aviation technologies.
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.
Fewer stages and gateways
The CAA said the new process would be proportionate to the scale, complexity and potential effects of each proposal. For permanent airspace changes, the number of requirements will fall from 113 to 43 and the number of stages from seven to five.
Formal gateways will be reduced from three to one, while post-implementation reviews will be removed. The CAA said safety and environmental considerations would remain part of the process, alongside consultation with communities affected by proposed changes.
Giancarlo Buono, the CAA’s director of safety and airspace regulation, said the changes 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,” he said.
Support for trials and complex changes
The reforms also include a streamlined process for temporary and other non-permanent airspace changes. Trial periods for some activities will be able to run for up to three years, compared with the current limit of six months.
The CAA said this would support the testing of new technologies and operating models as the aviation system accommodates drones and advanced air mobility alongside commercial and general aviation.
A specific framework will also be introduced for complex airspace changes sponsored by the UK Airspace Design Service (UKADS). NATS En Route, which operates UKADS, has started work on airspace design for the London region.
Transition to new arrangements
The reforms form part of the wider UK Airspace Modernisation Strategy, which aims to make UK airspace more efficient and flexible. The new Air Navigation Guidance sets government priorities for airspace design, including the treatment of capacity, noise, carbon emissions and flight efficiency, as well as expectations for engagement with affected communities.
Existing airspace change proposals will generally continue under the version of CAP1616 they are already using, although some will move to the revised process. The CAA said most proposals must be submitted for a regulatory decision by the end of July 2031 to remain under the current arrangements.