This proposal is for an Airspace Trial, for which a scaled airspace change process applies and a change level is not applicable.
After a 10-year process, the last Airspace Change Process (ACP) for an Instrument Approach Procedure to Runway 03
was unsuccessful owing to failing to satisfy the CAA’s statutory duty to maintain a high standard of safety as set out in
CAP2500, Para 81 a-i.
Biggin Hill believe they have identified a new, innovative design solution which addresses many of the issues identified.
Biggin Hill considered commencing a new ACP for a permanent change but are concerned that they may be unable to
provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate that all of the issues in Para 81 a-i of CAP2500 have been addressed, without
more extensive, real-life operational testing of such a procedure. The risk of progressing through a lengthy and expensive
Level 1 ACP to fail, again, at the last IFP Regulatory hurdle by means of largely subjective issues cannot be mitigated.
Biggin Hill therefore wish to progress an Airspace Trial to test an innovative new design solution through several months
of live flight trials in variable, real-life meteorological conditions. Through extensive real-life flight trials to test performance
and capture evidence we will be able to demonstrate to ourselves and CAA the extent to which the issues cited in
CAP2500 materialise.
