United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority
Encyclopedia
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is the public corporation which oversees and regulates all aspects of aviation
in the United Kingdom
. The CAA head office is located in the CAA House on Kingsway
in Holborn
, London Borough of Camden
. The CAA Safety Regulation Group is in the Aviation House in Gatwick Airport in Crawley
, England
.
regulating aviation in the UK is the Civil Aviation Act 1982. Responsibility for air traffic control
in the UK passed to NATS
in the run-up to the establishment of its public-private partnership
in 2001.
, Holborn
in London
and Aviation House, next to London Gatwick Airport
. It does not get any direct government funding, but runs entirely on subscriptions from its member companies. It is classed as a public corporation in the public sector. The connection it has with the government is via the Machinery of Government and Standards Group of the Cabinet Office
.
(EASA), the CAA acts as EASA's local office, implementing the regulations. Representatives from the CAA sit on EASA's advisory bodies, taking part in the Europe-wide regulation process.
(ATOL). The ATOL licence offers financial protection for travellers booking package tours, in the form of insurance to provide return journeys for holidaymakers stranded abroad by the sudden bankruptcy of an airline or tour operator.
The CAA were also responsible for the calibration of navigation and approach aids until this was privatised as Flight Calibration Services Ltd. The CAAs Flying Unit has operated a variety of primarily British aircraft including de Havilland Dove
s, Hawker Siddeley HS 748s and Hawker Siddeley HS 125s.
Civil Aviation Authority
This is a list of national and supra-national civil aviation authorities.-See also:* Air route authority between the United States and the People's Republic of China* National Transportation Safety Board -External links:****...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The CAA head office is located in the CAA House on Kingsway
Kingsway (London)
Kingsway is a major road in central London in the United Kingdom, designated as part of the A4200. It runs from High Holborn, at its north end in the London Borough of Camden, and meets Aldwych in the south in the City of Westminster at Bush House. It was built in the 1900s...
in Holborn
Holborn
Holborn is an area of Central London. Holborn is also the name of the area's principal east-west street, running as High Holborn from St Giles's High Street to Gray's Inn Road and then on to Holborn Viaduct...
, London Borough of Camden
London Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
. The CAA Safety Regulation Group is in the Aviation House in Gatwick Airport in Crawley
Crawley
Crawley is a town and local government district with Borough status in West Sussex, England. It is south of Charing Cross, north of Brighton and Hove, and northeast of the county town of Chichester, covers an area of and had a population of 99,744 at the time of the 2001 Census.The area has...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
History
The CAA was established in 1972, under the terms of the Civil Aviation Act 1971, following the recommendations of a government committee chaired by Sir Ronald Edwards. Previously, regulation of aviation was the responsibility of the Air Registration Board. The current main Act of ParliamentAct of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
regulating aviation in the UK is the Civil Aviation Act 1982. Responsibility for air traffic control
Air traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
in the UK passed to NATS
National Air Traffic Services
NATS Ltd. is the main air navigation service provider in the United Kingdom. It provides en-route air traffic control services to flights within the UK Flight Information Regions and the Shanwick Oceanic Control Area, and provides air traffic control services to fifteen UK airports and Gibraltar...
in the run-up to the establishment of its public-private partnership
Public-private partnership
Public–private partnership describes a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies...
in 2001.
Structure
The CAA employs just over 1,000 staff, mainly in two offices, CAA House in KingswayKingsway
-Canada:*Burnaby—Kingsway, a federal electoral district in British Columbia between 1988 and 1997*Kingsway , a road in Edmonton, Alberta *Kingsway , a road in Vancouver, British Columbia...
, Holborn
Holborn
Holborn is an area of Central London. Holborn is also the name of the area's principal east-west street, running as High Holborn from St Giles's High Street to Gray's Inn Road and then on to Holborn Viaduct...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Aviation House, next to London Gatwick Airport
London Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport is located 3.1 miles north of the centre of Crawley, West Sussex, and south of Central London. Previously known as London Gatwick,In 2010, the name changed from London Gatwick Airport to Gatwick Airport...
. It does not get any direct government funding, but runs entirely on subscriptions from its member companies. It is classed as a public corporation in the public sector. The connection it has with the government is via the Machinery of Government and Standards Group of the Cabinet Office
Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the United Kingdom....
.
Functions
The CAA directly or indirectly regulates all aspects of aviation in the UK. In some aspects of aviation it is the primary regulator, in other areas, where the responsibility for regulation has passed to the European Aviation Safety AgencyEuropean Aviation Safety Agency
The European Aviation Safety Agency is an agency of the European Union with offices in Cologne, Germany, which has been given regulatory and executive tasks in the field of civilian aviation safety. It was created on 15 July 2002, and it reached full functionality in 2008, taking over functions...
(EASA), the CAA acts as EASA's local office, implementing the regulations. Representatives from the CAA sit on EASA's advisory bodies, taking part in the Europe-wide regulation process.
Responsibilities
The CAA's responsibilities include:- Flight Crew, Aircraft Engineer and Air Traffic Controller licensing;
- Medical regulation of safety-critical aviation personnel;
- Licensing of aerodromes and other aviation facilities;
- Maintaining the UK register of aircraft;
- Licensing of aircraft;
- Regulation of aircraft airworthiness and related engineering functions;
- Economic regulation, including the regulation of monopoly and near-monopoly organisations involved in the provision of aviation services (for example National Air Traffic ServicesNational Air Traffic ServicesNATS Ltd. is the main air navigation service provider in the United Kingdom. It provides en-route air traffic control services to flights within the UK Flight Information Regions and the Shanwick Oceanic Control Area, and provides air traffic control services to fifteen UK airports and Gibraltar...
and BAA Limited), as well as regulating aviation-related organisations operating in a competitive marketplace (for example UK-based airlines); - Development of aviation policy, both within the UK and Europe-wide.
ATOL
The CAA also oversees the Air Travel Organisers' LicensingAir Travel Organisers' Licensing
Air Travel Organisers' Licensing is a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority scheme to protect people who have purchased package holidays and flights from a member tour operator....
(ATOL). The ATOL licence offers financial protection for travellers booking package tours, in the form of insurance to provide return journeys for holidaymakers stranded abroad by the sudden bankruptcy of an airline or tour operator.
CAA Flying Unit
De Havilland Dove
The de Havilland DH.104 Dove was a British monoplane short-haul airliner from de Havilland, the successor to the biplane de Havilland Dragon Rapide and was one of Britain's most successful post-war civil designs...
s, Hawker Siddeley HS 748s and Hawker Siddeley HS 125s.
Aerodrome Licensing
There are a number of unlicensed aerodromes/airfields, however, those with higher traffic levels will usually require a license. The different licence categories that are issued to Airfields, Aerodromes/Airports by the CAA:- Permanent License
- Public Use License
- Ordinary License
- Seasonal License: Issued to those aerodromes that are in use for more than 12 consecutive days, but less than 12 months in a year.
- Temporary License: Issued to those aerodromes that are in use for not more than 12 consecutive days.
See also
- Military Aviation AuthorityMilitary Aviation AuthorityThe Military Aviation Authority is the UK organisation which regulates, audits and assures all aspects of military aviation.The MAA was created on 1 April 2010 as a result of the recommendations of the Haddon-Cave Review into the crash of RAF Nimrod XV230 over Afghanistan in September...
- Air Accidents Investigation BranchAir Accidents Investigation BranchThe Air Accidents Investigation Branch investigates air accidents in the United Kingdom. It is a branch of the Department for Transport and is based on the grounds of Farnborough Airport near Aldershot, Rushmoor, Hampshire.-History:...
- Air safetyAir safetyAir safety is a term encompassing the theory, investigation and categorization of flight failures, and the prevention of such failures through regulation, education and training. It can also be applied in the context of campaigns that inform the public as to the safety of air travel.-United...
- Pilot licensing in the United KingdomPilot licensing in the United KingdomPilot licensing in the United Kingdom is regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority under the auspices of the Joint Aviation Authorities and European Aviation Safety Agency. Each member nation in the EU has responsibility for regulating their own pilot licensing...
- Civil Aviation Department (Hong Kong)Civil Aviation Department (Hong Kong)The Civil Aviation Department is the Civil aviation authority of Hong Kong, headquartered in the Queensway Government Offices . The department is responsible for providing air traffic control services to all aircraft operating within the Hong Kong Flight Information Region. It reports to the...