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The Future Flight Challenge (FFC) is a £300m programme in three phases that will assure the UK’s position in the third aviation revolution. Using new classes of electric/hydrogen and autonomous vehicles, the challenge will transform how we connect people, deliver goods, and provide services. It will speed up the acceptance of these innovative air vehicles into service safely and practically by encouraging different businesses to share their knowledge and resources to work together.

Overview

The FFC will not succeed unless new methods of control and regulation are brought into the aviation sector in the UK. For new aviation products to be legally able to fly in UK airspace, new operating models need to be created by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Without the support of the CAA, the regulation needed to fly these new aircraft will not exist in time to allow the UK to be at the forefront of the next aviation revolution.  

The CAA has agreed to support projects funded by the FFC by providing them with a dedicated resource for them to speed up their route to commercialisation by:

  • making it easier for innovators to access CAA expertise, guidance, and viewpoints on regulations by providing a focal point of contact and information
  • helping innovators maximise regulatory readiness for the demonstration of their aviation systems by testing them in safe environments and learning how they address regulatory challenges
  • accelerating the development of new policies and regulations by anticipating regulatory challenges in areas of innovation and defining the requirements for new policies and regulations

If you have any queries regarding the Future Flight Challenge, please email us at FutureFlight@caa.co.uk