We use necessary cookies to make our website work. We'd also like to use optional cookies to understand how you use it, and to help us improve it.

For more information, please read our cookie policy.

UK Civil Aviation Regulations

These are published by the CAA on our UK Regulations pages. EU Regulations and EASA Access Guides published by EASA no longer apply in the UK. Our website and publications are being reviewed to update all references. Any references to EU law and EASA Access guides should be disregarded and where applicable the equivalent UK versions referred to instead.



Our principles are reinforced by the government's Better Regulation framework and its Regulators' Code, to which all UK regulators must comply. The Code's core principles are:

  • Proportionality - Regulators should intervene only when necessary; remedies should be appropriate to the risk posed, and costs identified and minimised
  • Accountability - Regulators should be able to justify decisions and be subject to public scrutiny
  • Consistency - Government rules and standards must be joined up and implemented fairly
  • Transparency - Regulators should be open and keep regulations simple and user-friendly
  • Targeting - Regulation should be focussed on the problem and minimise side effects.

Our recent work to improve the regulatory environment in aviation

In support of these principles we publish:

  • clear guidance on how to apply for, or renew, Certificates, Licences and Approvals and we define clearly the terms or privileges of Certificates, Licences and Approvals;
  • the charges applicable to the grant and renewal of Certificates, Licences and Approvals;

Additionally, to assist in clear understanding, we provide written and/or oral advice about any of the foregoing and in respect of our interpretation of requirements.

Where applicants are unable to meet the Certification, Licensing or Approval requirements, we will explain why this is so and indicate what steps could be taken to comply so that the relevant privileges may be granted or renewed.

In the event of any formal proposal to refuse or revoke a Certificate, Licence or Approval, we will set out fully and clearly the grounds for taking such action. Before formal enforcement action is taken, we will provide an opportunity to discuss the circumstances of the case and, if possible, resolve points of difference, unless immediate action is required in the interests of safety.

Where there are rights of appeal against formal action, advice on the appeal mechanism will be clearly set out in writing at the time the action is taken (see also Appeals Against Regulatory Decisions.