23 January 2008
The Airspace and Safety Initiative* today confirmed that the introduction of proposed changes to UK Air Traffic Control Services Outside Controlled Airspace (ATSOCAS) has been delayed in order to allow more time to consider the responses to the consultation on the proposal. The introduction had been planned to take place in April.
Richard Taylor, Head of the CAA’s Air Traffic Standards Department, said: “We received some 400 comments on the proposals during the consultation period which ended in mid-December. To allow a fair review of those comments, consider any changes that may be required and allow sufficient time for air traffic control units to train staff in the new procedures, we will unfortunately have to aim for a later date than the planned April 2008 introduction.”
The CAA is now assessing the responses to the consultation and working with the other ASI partners to introduce the requirements for improved ATSOCAS as soon as practicable.
Further updates on the project will be provided as soon as possible on this website.
For more media information please contact Jonathan Nicholson on 020 7453 6027.
In the UK ATSOCAS are provided by both civil and military air traffic control units to a variety of airspace users ranging from commercial airliners to military fast jets and private pilots.
*The Airspace & Safety Initiative (ASI) is a joint CAA, NATS, Airport Operator’s Association, General Aviation and Ministry of Defence effort to investigate and tackle the major safety risks in UK airspace.
It emerged from a top-level discussion between the CAA Chairman, NATS Chief Executive and MoD Assistant Chief of the Air Staff following a number of incidents where light aircraft infringed controlled airspace, or military and commercial flights conflicted outside controlled airspace.
The ASI is a major review covering a number of different areas, with the aims of: