The UK National Aviation Safety Plan
Outlining key safety risks, regulatory priorities and future aviation initiatives for 2026–2029.
The UK Main National Aviation Safety Plan (NASP) 2026-2029 is directly linked to the Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP) and Regional Aviation Safety Plan (EUR RASP) published by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and complements the UK State Safety Programme.
It contains Operational Key Risk Areas as well as Organisational Challenges and related Safety Enhancement Initiatives that we will implement over the next 3 years to continuously improve aviation safety management.
The United Kingdom (UK) aviation sector is a global exemplar of safety, resilience, and innovation. As the regulator entrusted with advancing aviation safety across our skies, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) remains steadfast in its commitment to protect those who travel, work, and operate within this dynamic industry, alongside those who are overflown or otherwise indirectly impacted by aviation activities.
Our mission - to ensure the highest standards of safety and consumer protection while enabling a thriving, innovative aviation landscape - lies at the heart of this UK Main National Aviation Safety Plan (NASP).
The global aviation environment continues to evolve rapidly. Emerging technologies such as sustainable aviation fuels, electric aircraft, unmanned aircraft systems and digital air traffic management solutions present unparalleled opportunities to transform the way we connect people and places. At the same time, systemic shifts in international air travel demand, supply chain complexities, and the ongoing imperative to reduce aviation’s environmental footprint are reshaping how safety is both understood and delivered around the world.
In this context, our NASP articulates our strategic priorities and associated Safety Enhancement Initiatives, firmly aligned with global best practice and collaborative frameworks such as those of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). It complements the UK Main State Safety Programme (SSP), supporting a desired level of safety performance.
Safety is the foundation upon which public confidence and sectoral innovation are built. The UK Government’s objective of safely enabling innovation and growth within the aviation industry underscores our approach, recognising that technological and operational advancements must be pursued without compromise to safety. Throughout this latest iteration of our NASP, we set out how we will harness data-driven oversight, strengthen organisational and systemic resilience, and work in partnership with industry, government, and international partners to create an environment where innovation is safe, scalable, and sustainable.
Through the NASP and SSP, the various aviation stakeholders that make up the UK’s aviation system affirm their commitment to the ongoing improvement of aviation safety, sufficient resourcing of activities and influential collaboration at the global, regional, and State level.
This NASP is not merely a regulatory roadmap. It reflects our proactive engagement with evolving risks and opportunities, an unwavering focus on continuous improvement, and a commitment to shaping a safe future for aviation in the UK and beyond. By aligning our regulatory activities with both our mission and the broader objectives of government and global aviation stakeholders, we reaffirm our role as a trusted guardian of safety and an enabler of industry progress.
We invite our partners and stakeholders to join us in implementing the strategic actions within this NASP as we work together to uphold the highest standards of aviation safety and realise the full potential of a safe, innovative, and prosperous aviation sector.
- Giancarlo Buono, Group Director Safety and Airspace Regulation
Read the UK Main National Aviation Safety Plan 2026-2029 (CAP3237)