CAA SkyWise on Airline Safety
Reminder: Defined approach for Type-Certification of VTOL Aircraft
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has defined our approach to type certification of VTOL aircraft for the clarity and information of applicants.
We invite stakeholders to give us your views, the deadline for responses has been extended and they are requested by 20 November 2023.
Dated: November 2023
Defined approach for Type-Certification of VTOL Aircraft
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has defined our approach to type certification of VTOL aircraft for the clarity and information of applicants.
We invite stakeholders to give us your views, responses are requested by 13 November 2023.
Dated: October 2023
Publication of 2022 Annual Safety Review
We have now published the Annual Safety Review 2022. This is the 2022 safety review of serious incidents and accidents that have been reported to the UK CAA, involving UK registered and non-UK registered aircraft in UK airspace.
Dated: September 2023
Annual Aviation Safety Review 2021
We have now published the Aviation Safety Review for 2021.
This annual safety review for the United Kingdom is compiled by the Safety Intelligence team of the UK Civil Aviation Authority. It presents the safety performance of UK civil aviation to the end of 2021.
Data is subject to change as ongoing investigations are completed. For further information on aviation safety please visit our website.
Dated: October 2022
Confidential Aviation Safety Reporting to be Extended to Cover Bullying, Harassment, Discrimination and Victimisation.
From Wednesday 27th October, UK aviation’s Confidential Human factors Incident Reporting Programme (CHIRP) is to be extended to include reporting from commercial flight and cabin crews about bullying, harassment, discrimination and victimisation where the circumstances had, or could have had, a detrimental effect on flight safety.
The CAA has provided funding for this extension to CHIRP’s normal confidential reporting activities and, although the scheme will initially only be open to commercial flight crew and cabin crew, it will be expanded to cover the full range of aviation practitioners once initial lessons from the introductory programme are incorporated.
View full alert details…
Dated: November 2021
New Aviation Safety Regulations published
This Skywise is to advise that The Aviation Safety (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2021, SI 2021 No. 1203 have been published, making amendments to retained EU regulations. A table setting out the various dates upon which the amendments made by this SI will come into force can be found here: Details of retained EU law amended by The Aviation Safety (Amendment) (No 3) Regulations 2021.
Please also refer to the CAA’s Safety Policy and Legislation tracker, which has been updated with links to the full version of the Regulations and the accompanying Explanatory Memorandum.
The CAA’s Regulations page will be updated with consolidated versions of the amended regulations as soon as possible after each amendment comes into force.
For more information please see the following links:
Details of retained EU law amended by The Aviation Safety (Amendment) (No 3) Regulations 2021
Safety Policy and Legislation tracker
UK regulations | Civil Aviation Authority (caa.co.uk)
Dated: November 2021
CAA Impact Analysis – Changes to VMC Minima in UK Class D Airspace
On behalf of the Department for Transport (DfT), the CAA has identified and evaluated the impacts of the revised VMC minima on the safe and efficient operation of UK class D airspace. Our analysis is recorded in CAP 2093 CAA Impact Analysis – Changes to VMC Minima in UK Class D Airspace
It represents a marker in time, analysing and reporting on the impacts of the revised minima at the time of publication.
Dated: April 2021
New aviation reporting portal
The aviation reporting portal relaunched for the UK on 5 January 2021.
At this time UK reporters do not need to register for an account to submit MOR reports to the UK CAA and those wishing to use this portal should do so by selecting the ‘report an occurrence without registration’ option.
The UK working with EASA will be introducing new functionality on the portal over the coming months and these will be communicated as they become available.
Any feedback regarding the portal should be directed to [email protected], you can also feedback directing using the portal contact us page.
Dated: January 2021
European Risk Classification Scheme – update
As you may be aware, from 1 January 2021 the European Risk Classification Scheme (ERCS) will become part of the occurrence reporting regulation for National Aviation Authorities in EU Member States.
The UK CAA will be implementing ERCS internally after that date.
For industry and individual reporters this is not a mandatory requirement and you do not have to adopt ERCS as your risk assessment methodology
Dated: December 2020
ECCAIRS Community Portal – update on new portal
We recently informed you that the ECCAIRS community portal is being phased out to be replaced by a new one from 1 January 2021.
Once the new system is live, UK reporters who have an ECCAIRS community portal account will be able to register for a new account.
There will be no changes to how you access and use the new reporting portal and the information currently available on the ECCAIRS community site will be made available on the new portal.
Any new information related to the new portal, including the process for registering a new account, will be communicated as soon as it becomes available.
Dated: December 2020
CAA’s new Bowtie Risk Model Strategy
The CAA has published a new Bowtie Risk Model Strategy (CAP1329) which identifies how the models can be best used as an effective and proactive safety risk assessment tool. The overall aim is to inform and improve decision making so that the right actions can be taken to achieve the best safety outcomes for the UK public.
The strategy’s objectives are linked to Performance Based Regulation (PBR), Safety Management Systems (SMS), issuance of approvals, obtaining safety assurance and collaborating with the aviation industry. More bowtie information is available on our website: www.caa.co.uk/Safety-Initiatives-and-Resources/Working-with-industry/Bowtie/
Dated: May 2020
Dangerous Goods Radiation Protection Programme
The transport of radioactive material as cargo must be subject to a Radiation Protection Programme (RPP), which must consist of systematic arrangements aimed at providing adequate consideration of radiation protection measures.
Operators that hold a dangerous goods approval and permit the transport of radioactive material should identify their RPP document reference and location within their Operations Manual, Part A, Section 9. The specimen operations manual entries published on the CAA website have been updated to refer to the need for an RPP.
AOC holders should draft amendments to their operations manual to include a reference to their RPP and send to [email protected] with a completed form SRG 1832.
Dated: October 2019
Winter Operations 2019 / 2020
During Winter 2018 / 2019 de-icing MOR data showed primary error factors as 65% ramp services and 30% aerodrome. Of these errors 70% were detected by the pilot, 14% by ground crew, and 11% by cabin crew.
Considerations when preparing for Winter operations:
Sources of information to use, particularly for hold-over times
Specific issues associated with your operation and aircraft
– Permitted contamination
– Permitted fluids
– Refreezing of some fluids
– Effects on aircraft of runway / taxiway de-icing substances
– Contaminated runway performance
Updating documentation / Operations Manuals
Training / retraining staff
Serviceability of de-icing / anti-icing equipment
Service level agreements
Snow plans at aerodromes used
Using your SMS to evaluate Winter Operations
Dated: September 2019
Critical parts awareness and training
We have published guidance for continuing airworthiness organisations managing and / or maintaining critical parts for additional training and raising awareness.
This guidance supersedes IN 2016/026, broadens the scope of applicability to all rotorcraft and their operational types and provides further information relating to critical part management.
Dated: June 2019