The CAA and Department for Transport cannot deliver airspace modernisation alone. We are working collaboratively with a range of aviation organisations, such as air navigation service providers, airports, airlines, manufacturers, representative organisations and, where appropriate, bespoke delivery bodies. A wider range of other stakeholders, including communities, will need to be engaged throughout this delivery.
The AMS governance structure is key to delivering airspace modernisation successfully. by overseeing delivery of the AMS elements. It ensures that each of the organisations involved has the right role, powers and/or incentives, underpinned by appropriate governance and enforcement. It sets out which organisations make decisions, what they are responsible for, and the stakeholders they will engage with. The governance structure has evolved over time and will continue to evolve.
There are two distinct strands to governance of the AMS:
- ongoing review of the strategic content to ensure it remains appropriately aligned with the legal and policy framework
- oversight activities reporting progress on delivery activities through the CAA airspace modernisation oversight team including providing annual AMS progress reports (see below) to the Secretary of State.
Overall airspace modernisation governance structure
Airspace Strategy Board (ASB) is the first tier of the governance structure. The Department for Transport has committed to carrying out a review of the ASB.
The second tier of the governance structure is DfT/CAA Co-sponsors Airspace Modernisation Programme Board, including Ministry of Defence.
The third tier of the structure contains:
- Airspace Modernisation Oversight - a team within the CAA, responsible for delivery monitoring and oversight of NERL, ACOG, and Ministry of Defence-led elements, including CAA-led elements at policy development stages
- CAA Airspace Programme Board
- Industry Modernisation Steering Group (which is a potential future group for consideration)
Engagement groups include: Joint and integrated air traffic services (J&I/JANSC), National Air Traffic Management Advisory Committee (NATMAC) and other external groups as needed.
For a visual representation of this structure please see our Overall airspace modernisation governance structure flowchart.
CAA airspace modernisation oversight and internal governance
CAA Airspace Modernisation Assurance Group is the first tier of the governance structure.
The second tier of the structure contains:
- Air Vehicle Capability Steering Group
- Digital Data Transformation Steering Group- containing CAA/MET Office working group, AIM working group, SWIM working group
- Integrated Comms, Nav, Surveillance and Spectrum Steering Group- containing CAA/Ofcom working group, Virtual Datalink working group
- Airspace Integration Steering Group- containing Flexible use of airspace state programme working group, ATM/UTM working group, and two potential future working groups, which are Technical infrastructure integration working group and Airspace structures working group. There is also a link between the steering group and the Future aviation industry working group – airspace integration.
For a visual representation of this structure please view our CAA airspace modernisation oversight and internal governance structure flowchart.
More information about AMS governance is in Appendix A of AMS Part 1.
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