The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as the UK’s aviation regulator, is required to take noise into account when discharging a number of its regulatory functions.
Aircraft Noise Certification
Article 9(2) of UK Regulation (EU) 2018/1139, brings into UK law the requirement for aircraft and their engines, propellers, parts, and non-installed equipment, to comply, where applicable, with the environmental protection requirements of Volume I of Annex 16 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. UK Regulation (EU) No 748/2012 then outlines that the responsibility for ensuring compliance against the aforementioned environmental protection requirements for the issuance of a type-certificate (Regulation (EU) No 748/2012 Annex I point 21.B.85) and airworthiness certificate (Regulation (EU) No 748/2012 Annex I point 21.A.173), sits with the CAA.
In addition, the Aeroplane Noise Regulations 1999 (as amended) apply and outline further requirements, such that any civil subsonic jet aeroplanes with a maximum take-off mass of 34,000 kg or more, or with more than 19 passenger seats, shall not be operated at any airport in the UK on or after 1 April 2002 unless that aeroplane complies with requirements which meet the standards specified in Part II, Chapter 3 of Volume I of Annex 16 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. This sets a requirement for subsonic jet and larger propeller aeroplanes to meet Chapter 3 noise standards. Regulation 25 gives the CAA the ability to grant specific, temporary exemptions from this ban. The CAA’s Noise Certification function oversees the application of these Standards for UK registered aircraft.
Further information regarding the specific certification Standards for Volume I of Annex 16 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation is detailed on our international policy webpage.
Airspace Regulation
The Transport Act 2000 and the Civil Aviation Authority (Air Navigation) Directions 2023 establish the CAA as the UK airspace regulator responsible for making decisions related to changing the design of UK airspace. Section 70 of the Transport Act 2000 states that the CAA must exercise its air navigation functions to maintain a high standard of safety in the provision of air traffic services and then the CAA must take account of several other secondary factors, including any guidance on environmental objectives given to the CAA by the Secretary of State. This guidance is issued under the Air Navigation Guidance 2017 which sets out the Government’s key environmental objectives with respect to air navigation, including noise considerations. Further information regarding the CAA’s duties with respect to its air navigation functions can be found on our legislative framework to airspace change process webpage.
Consideration and assessment of the potential environmental impacts resulting from an airspace change proposal, including noise, is a necessary part of the CAA’s decision-making process, and also enables those who are affected by the proposed airspace change to better understand the impacts of the different design options being considered. To achieve this, the CAA requires change sponsors to provide an environmental assessment that evolves through the various stages of the airspace change process.
While developing and assessing the environmental impacts of airspace change design options, change sponsors must take into account the Air Navigation Guidance 2017, including the Government’s environmental objectives and priorities as set out in that guidance.