CAA considers establishing more stakeholder panels to improve engagement and rulemaking

The UK Civil Aviation Authority is seeking views on establishing a new range of advisory panels as part of a review into how it engages with industry and stakeholders. 

The proposals could create new ways for stakeholders to contribute at an early stage to policy development, rulemaking and regulatory decisions. 

The Civil Aviation Authority is seeking feedback on current engagement and how future engagement should work. 

This is part of the UK's aviation and airspace regulator's commitment to effective, transparent and evidence-based regulation under its Regulatory Reform Programme. 

One proposal under consideration is the introduction of a series of Stakeholder Advisory Bodies.  

Similar advisory structures are used by EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) and the FAA (the US Federal Aviation Administration). 

A spokesperson for the UK Civil Aviation Authority said:  

"Stakeholder Advisory Bodies can provide a more consistent and transparent framework for engagement with the aviation community.  

"They could enable stakeholders to contribute earlier in the policymaking and rulemaking process, provide a more structured route for feedback and flag areas where existing regulations may be outdated." 

Subject to feedback, advisory panels could be established in the next two years on: 

• Aerodromes 

• Air Traffic Management and Air Navigation Services (ATM/ANS) 

• Commercial Aviation 

• General Aviation 

• Rotorcraft 

• Medical 

• Safety Management 

• Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) 

The programme would initially be introduced within the Safety, Airspace and Regulatory Group, with the first panels provisionally meeting from next summer.