Policy for the Design of Controlled Airspace Structures

This document sets out the Civil Aviation Authority’s policy for the design of controlled airspace structures. It provides generic design criteria for controlled airspace and describes the lateral and vertical relationship between instrument flight procedures and the dimensions of the controlled airspace that contains them.

The CAA has published a revised version of CAP 1616, Airspace Change Process, which implements the latest government policy set out in the Air Navigation Directions 2026 and the Air Navigation Guidance 2026. These changes come into effect on 1 October 2026 and this publication will be updated in due course to reflect any relevant changes.