Having your say
Effective stakeholder engagement is essential throughout the seven stage airspace change process to ensure the change sponsor understands and considers how the potential impacts might affect others and the implications those impacts may have.
While the change sponsor must engage with impacted stakeholders throughout the process, there are three clear points where change sponsors should explicitly seek stakeholder input to their airspace change proposal:
- Stage 1 – to inform the development of design principles
- Stage 2 – to inform the development and assessment of design options
- Stage 3 – to inform the selection of the final design option and development of the final airspace change proposal.
The change sponsor must maintain clear records of engagement activity with all stakeholders throughout the airspace change process. The CAA will expect to see details of what change sponsors have been told by their stakeholders, how they responded to this feedback, and how it has informed (or not) the development of the airspace change proposal.
There are also specific points within the airspace change process where, depending on the type or level of the proposal, the CAA may invite feedback from stakeholders. Outside of these points, all feedback should be provided directly to the change sponsor. As the airspace regulator and primary decision-maker, it is important that the CAA strikes a balance between the transparency of the process and our independence as a decision maker. We are therefore not able to substantively respond to queries or comments in relation to any specific aspect of an airspace change proposal, outside of the appropriate points in the CAP1616 process.
The opportunities throughout the process where stakeholders can engage directly with the CAA are:
- Stage 5 – You may be able to attend a Public Evidence Session (Level 1 changes only and if proportionate to hold one).
- Stage 5 – You may be able to submit feedback on the CAA’s draft decision on the airspace change proposal.
- Stage 7 – You may be able to submit feedback on the impact of an airspace change for the CAA to consider in its post implementation review.
Detailed guidance on engagement and consultation in the airspace change process is available in CAP 1616.
You can also read a summary of the airspace change process on the airspace change portal page, about airspace change.
Although the requirements vary depending on the type or level of the airspace change proposal, the opportunities to have your say in the airspace change process are summarised below:
Stage 1: Define
It is important that early in the development of the airspace change proposal, the change sponsor takes into consideration the views of relevant stakeholders likely to be impacted by the change.
At Stage 1 the change sponsor should clearly communicate the objectives of their airspace change proposal and the airspace issues or opportunities they are seeking to address. Relevant identified stakeholders must have the opportunity to explain what considerations are important to them, so that the change sponsor can ensure these are adequately reflected in their design principles.
Stage 1 does not look at detailed design ideas or specific flight paths, this comes later in the process.
Engagement during Stage 1 will generally take place with key representatives of affected stakeholders, rather than with the wider public. Key representatives may include elected representatives and/or groups representing communities, airport consultative committees, directly affected local aviation stakeholders, and aviation and non-aviation national organisations.
As part of Stage 1, the change sponsor must demonstrate what they have heard from stakeholders and how this feedback has, or has not, informed the content of the current-day scenario and development of the design principles.
Stage 2: Develop and Assess
At Stage 2 the change sponsor develops the baseline scenarios and a list of design options that address the statement of need, seeking feedback from the representative stakeholders that were engaged in Stage 1.
During Stage 2, the change sponsor must again show what they have heard and how this feedback has, or has not, informed the development of the baseline scenarios and design options.
Stage 3: Consult/Engage
Once the change sponsor has further developed their proposal, Stage 3 gives wider stakeholders the chance to provide feedback to inform the development of the final airspace change proposal and selection of the final design option.
Whether the particular airspace change requires full public consultation or targeted stakeholder engagement will depend on the scale and impacts of the airspace change proposal.
Once the change sponsor has passed the Consult Gateway, consultations will be hosted on the Citizen Space consultations hub. Any interested stakeholder can submit a response to the consultation. All consultation responses will be published by the change sponsor - anonymously where requested.
After the consultation, the change sponsor must produce a consultation response document. This shows how they have categorised the consultation responses and details which responses present information that may impact the final airspace change proposal and are being taken forward for further consideration at Stage 4.
Engagement at Stage 3 still requires the change sponsor to understand stakeholders’ views about the impact of an airspace change proposal. However, it is usually aimed at a more targeted audience, is less formal and may adhere to a less strict timetable.
Stage 4: Update and Submit
During Stage 4 the change sponsor will make any final adjustments to the airspace design ahead of submitting the final airspace change proposal to the CAA. This may involve further engagement with some stakeholders to ensure that impacts are fully understood.
Where there is a substantial difference between the airspace change proposal consulted on and the final design option the change sponsor may need to re-consult.
Stage 5: Update and Submit
During stage 5, the CAA reviews and assesses the final airspace change proposal and may request supplementary information or clarification from the change sponsor ahead of making the regulatory decision.
For permanent airspace change proposals, once the change sponsor’s formal airspace change proposal has been received by the CAA a 28-day window will open. During this time anyone can request, via the Airspace Change Portal, that the final decision is made by the Secretary of State rather than by the CAA. Only the more significant changes can be ‘called-in’ in this way, and the Secretary of State is not obliged to call in a proposal.
You can find more information about how the Secretary of State call-in works on this page.
The CAA may also convene a public evidence session and/or publish a draft decision for Level 1 airspace change proposals, when it is proportionate to do so.
Stage 6: Implement
During stage 6, the change sponsor must monitor the impacts of the change.
The change sponsor must continue to engage with stakeholders and review and collate feedback received regarding the impacts of the airspace change.
Feedback and complaints – temporary airspace changes and trials
When a temporary change to the notified airspace design is made or an airspace trial is underway, the change sponsor is required to collate and review feedback, including complaints, from affected stakeholders.
Feedback and complaints are an important part of the temporary airspace change and airspace trial process. It allows the change sponsor to identify design issues and determine whether the outcomes and impacts are as expected.
Feedback and complaints can result in urgent investigation by the CAA if it:
- Contains new information on environmental impacts that differs significantly from what was proposed or expected.
- Contains evidence of significant health effects that are not being mitigated.
- Contains information relating to operational issues, including safety issues, that have not previously been identified.
- For trial airspace changes only, the trial is not meeting its objectives.
Noise complaints not directly associated with an ongoing airspace change proposal should be directed to the airport concerned as they will be best placed to provide information on their operations.
Stage 7: Post Implementation Review
A post implementation review must be completed for all Level 1 airspace change proposals. It will only be completed for Level 2 and Level 3 airspace change proposals when the CAA determines that it is proportionate to do so.
The post implementation review examines how the airspace change has performed and considers whether it has, or has not, produced the intended outcomes.
Where a post implementation review is required, the change sponsor will monitor and gather data on the impacts of the airspace change. Around one year after implementation, the sponsor is required to publish its data submission on the airspace change portal. After publication, there will be a 28-day feedback window. During this time any interested stakeholder can provide feedback on the change sponsor’s data, and how the impacts of the airspace change compare with what was expected. The CAA will consider this feedback in its post-implementation review.
You can read more about the post implementation review process on our post implementation review pages.