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
The first tier of the governance structure is the DfT/CAA Joint Airspace Modernisation Programme Board, which comprises of the strategy co-sponsors and representation of the Ministry of Defence.
The second tier of the structure comprises of Airspace Modernisation Oversight – a team within the CAA, responsible for delivery monitoring and oversight of NERL, including CAA-led elements at policy development stages.
Engagement groups include National Air Traffic Management Advisory Committee (NATMAC) and the Joint and Integrated Air Traffic Services (J&I/JANSC).
For a visual representation of this structure please see our Overall airspace modernisation governance structure organogram.
Governance arrangements for NERL’s UKADS and UKACS
Day-to-day Department for Transport (DfT) and CAA governance of NERL’s UKADS and UKACS is achieved by including oversight of those services within the Airspace Modernisation Strategy governance structure in accordance with the governance arrangements for NERL’s UKADS and UKACS that were consulted on by the CAA in November 2025.
NERL is required to set up an Advisory Board, to act as a forum to exchange views, ideas and information with, and obtain advice from, UKADS and UKACS stakeholders in order to assist NERL in contributing to the objectives of the Airspace Modernisation Strategy. In the event that a material issue arises that cannot be resolved through the Advisory Board, CAP 3219 includes provisions for the Advisory Board (or NERL) to escalate the issue to the CAA and DfT via the Joint Airspace Modernisation Programme Board.
CAA airspace modernisation oversight and internal governance
The first tier of the governance structure is the CAA Airspace Modernisation Programme Board and the CAA Airspace Strategy Programme Board.
The second tier of the structure comprises of:
- Integrating Lower Airspace Control Board
- Air Navigation Control Board.
The above updates the information about AMS governance in Appendix A of AMS Part 1.