The new General Aviation Unit within the CAA, which is designed to reduce red tape in the GA sector, is to be fully operational by April 2014.

The GA Unit will oversee:

  • regulation of non-complex EASA and national Annex II aircraft
  • general non-commercial operation of those aircraft
  • design, production and maintenance of those aircraft
  • pilot training organisations
  • small non-public transport airfields

The GA Unit work programme will be published in 2014 and will include areas of potential deregulation and delegation, which were identified in the General Aviation Red Tape Challenge earlier in 2013.  The first example of this was the consultation on de-regulating single seat microlights, on which the decision is expected in the coming months.

Further issues raised by the general aviation community in the Red Tape Challenge, which are being looked at as a result include:

  • Extending the number of aircraft allowed on a Permit to Fly
  • Regulation of aerodromes e.g. allowing pilot-controlled runway lighting
  • Improving licensing rules and regulations

In the meantime, the CAA has invited further comments and suggested issues for consideration, which should be sent to redtaperesponse@caa.co.uk.