Aviation Minister (Robert Coutts): During the passage of the Air
Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Act 2021 through
Parliament, ministers confirmed that the Civil Aviation
Authority’s (CAA)
annual progress report on the airspace
modernisation strategy would be published, and a copy placed
in the libraries of both Houses accompanied by a written
ministerial statement (WMS).
The airspace modernisation strategy sets out, through 15
initiatives, ways and means of modernising airspace, initially
focussing on the period until the end of 2024. The initiatives
include airspace design, operational concepts and new technology.
Six of the 15 initiatives are assessed as on track, and 5
initiatives require further work. The delayed timescales of
delivery against the original plans set out in the airspace
modernisation strategy have predominantly shifted because of
ongoing recovery of the aviation industry from the COVID-19
pandemic.
Four initiatives will need further legislation on
performance-based navigation and air traffic management, core
elements of the airspace modernisation strategy. The Department
for Transport will be taking legislation forward this year to
ensure continued progress to the overall airspace modernisation
strategy programme.
Key areas of progress have been noted within free route airspace
(initiative 2), remobilisation of the future airspace strategy
implementation south and north airspace change programmes made
possible by government funding (initiatives 4 and 5) and
initiatives 9, 10 and 11 on aligning air traffic provision with
international standards, review of airspace classification and
electronic conspicuity respectively.
There has also been progress with the Airspace Change Organising
Groupsubmitting Iteration 2 of their masterplan – which will
set out where airspace changes need to be coordinated and
developed – for assessment by the CAA.
Chapter 2 provides an update from the co-sponsors on policy and
regulatory process, with a particular emphasis on stakeholder
engagement activity undertaken as part of the airspace
modernisation strategy refresh and the re-introduction of the
Airspace Modernisation Strategy Support Fund. Strategic risks
have also been flagged within this chapter, predominantly
concerning future delivery model, financing, and resourcing of
the modernisation programme.
Chapter 3 provides updates related specifically to activities
under the airspace modernisation strategy, undertaken within
areas of particular interest from the general aviation and
communities stakeholder groups.
