Accident - G-BXBU

2023-011: It is recommended that the Civil Aviation Authority publish guidance for general aviation pilots on responding to unexpected weather deterioration, highlighting the factors affecting their performance and the benefits of planning before the flight how they will respond.

In addition to the guidance highlighted in the CAA’s initial response to this safety recommendation, the CAA is also developing a new Safety Sense Leaflet (SSL) dedicated to inadvertent entry into Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) when operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). The SSL will include guidance on planning to avoid a ‘VFR into IMC’ scenario and what actions to take if a pilot is confronted with deteriorating weather conditions and ends up in IMC when not appropriately qualified.

The SSL has been developed with input from internal and external subject matter experts and is scheduled to be published by March 31st 2024.

The CAA considers the above actions satisfy the intent of the safety recommendation.

Adequate - Closed

Closed

2023-012: It is recommended that the Civil Aviation Authority require air traffic controllers to receive training regarding the human performance characteristics and limitations associated with stress. This should include the verbal cues that may indicate that a pilot is operating under high stress, and mitigation strategies to help controllers deal with such event.

The UK Flight Safety Committee Working Group has submitted a revised draft of CAP 745, Aircraft Emergencies, to the CAA for consideration. The CAA is sincerely grateful for the time and expertise that volunteers from both GATCO and BALPA have contributed to this effort.

The Airspace/ATM Policy team at the CAA will now review the draft and work closely with the UK Flight Safety Committee Working Group to provide CAA comment and input.

The CAA acknowledge the comment made by the AAIB regarding the focus of earlier iterations of the document being on multi-crew operations and will also seek to address the single pilot environment.

The CAA intends to issue a Safety notice asking ANSPs to include this incident in refresher training if they have not already done so. It will also reference the relevant content of CAP 745. However, it is worth noting that our oversight teams report that they have already seen evidence of this report being used in refresher training.

The CAA previously advised that the syllabus, which forms the Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC) for Assimilated Regulation (EU) 2015/340 (the ATCO licensing regulation will be reviewed in conjunction with the legislation changes proposed for UK Reg (EU) 2015/340. Regrettably, this rulemaking activity has been delayed due to CAA resource availability and is unlikely to be published until 2027/8. The CAA acknowledge the AAIB’s suggestion that another CAA publication might be used to achieve the same outcome and will consider the feasibility of doing so.

Adequate - Open

February 2026

2023-013: It is recommended that the Civil Aviation Authority specify the types of information that air traffic controllers will obtain and record when responding to aircraft in an emergency to ensure that pilots’ needs are met and reported correctly if communicated to other air traffic control units.

The draft CAP 745, Aircraft Emergencies, has introduced a section which includes a number of checklists and it is our intention to include an additional checklist that can be used in a handover situation to obtain relevant information.

The CAA intends to issue a Safety Notice to highlight the relevant content of CAP 413 to flying training organisations and include reference to the new checklists that will be provided in CAP 745.

Partially Adequate - Open

February 2026

2023-014: It is recommended that the Civil Aviation Authority encourage the use of checklists in air traffic management operations when dealing with abnormal and emergency situations.

Please note our comments against Recommendation 2023-13 in respect of checklists.

Adequate - Open

February 2026

2023-015: It is recommended that the Civil Aviation Authority determine the effect the D&D Cell’s executive control has on civil ATCOs and inform civil ATCOs of any differences in their responsibilities whilst executive control is exercised.

CAP 493 SI 2024/01: Distress and Diversion Cell dated 19/07/2024 has removed the terms Executive Control and Operational Control and aims to better describe the functions and services offered by the D&D Cell and their interactions with civil ATS units.

Adequate - Open

February 2026