Consultations CAA SRG

Following the Preliminary Consultation on Amendment to the Low Flying Rules at Training Aerodromes held between November 2011 and January 2011 the comments received have all been reviewed and responses prepared. 

Dated: May 2011 

Dated: November 2010 

Potential Operations in Future Ash Contaminated Areas

Since the height of the volcanic ash crisis in April and May the CAA has instituted a comprehensive Work Programme to look at all the aspects of establishing what ash is in the atmosphere, its potential affect on aircraft and how to manage the resultant risks. As an integral part of this Work Programme, CAA colleagues have participated in the ICAO Paris VA Task Force (TF), the ICAO HQ International VA TF, held regular teleconferences with OEMs and operators and held bilaterals/workshops with airlines and the Met Office.  From the national perspective, one of the outcomes of this activity is a matrix looking at what types of operation might be possible in various types of airspace in any future ash event.  A copy of the proposed matrix is attached.

The purpose of this matrix is to:

• Help facilitate as much flight as possible in the vicinity or even within clouds of ash, especially where those flights (and machines typically used for those flights) are used to provide essential services to communities.
• Identify clearly who has the responsibility for the decision to conduct operations in certain volumes of airspace and it puts the burden of responsibility and risk management firmly on the operators of the aircraft.
• Recognise that the ash cloud is a source for a common failure mode (e.g. it would affect all engines on one aircraft) - that is why, for example, twin engine helicopters must be flown as if they were a single engine-machine.

We welcome your views on the ideas set out in the matrix and how it might affect your type of operation.  The material has been sent to the following CAA consultative bodies and to NATS and other ANSPs:  GACC (FOD),  AOA (ASD),  HIAL (ASD),  FOLG (FOD),  NATMAC (DAP)

As a consequence, you may be asked to comment on the matrix as an organisation more than once if you have representatives on more than one of these groups.  It would be helpful if you could co-ordinate your response accordingly and, as this is largely an airworthiness issue, in the case of NATMAC representatives please forward your response to Ray Elgy in the Safety Regulation Group at Gatwick.  His contact details are as follows:  Ray Elgy, Head of Licensing and Training Standards, 2W, Aviation House, Gatwick Road, Gatwick Airport South, West Sussex, RH6 0YR  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 01293 573250

In order to finalise and publish the document on the CAA website it would be helpful to have any comments no later than Friday 24 September 2010.

Dated: August 2010

GHOST - Supplementary Paper on Airside Driving Standards

Dated: March 2010

Dated: November 2009 

Consultation documentation on the CAA web site concerning the proposals for the SRG Schemes of Charges proposed to commence with effect from 1 April 2009.
The consultation will last for the usual 12 weeks and will close on Friday 12 December 2008.
You can view the proposal at www.caa.co.uk/consultations

UK CAA Safety Regulation Group Charges Consultation update

A reminder that the consultation on proposals to expand the use of Mode S on aircraft operating in UK airspace closes on 31 May was issued today by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Closing Date: 31st May 2008