Welcome to the PFA web pages dealing with CAA proposal to “Amend the Air Navigation Order 2005 for the Purpose of Improving the Technical Interoperability of all Aircraft in UK Airspace.” This is a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) requiring a 12-week public consultation which closed at 1700 on 29 August.

What has been going on?

For those of you who tackled this challenging task and responded to the CAA, thank you. The PFA collated the letters and emails you sent us and has responded to this consultation on your behalf with an official PFA view.

We believe that the CAA has presented a muddled case which does not support their proposal. It has raised a significant number of issues which we have asked them to address. We also consider that the consultation document does not comply with the Cabinet Office guidance on RIA and as this guidance is mandatory, we have complained to the Department for Transport on your behalf. We are very unhappy with the response form which can be used to form false conclusions. We will watch this. We believe that once they have considered the responses the CAA should work with us to consider the safety aspects of the use of Class G airspace.


Our response and other links:


The CAA paper on Mode S

The PFA main response letter

PFA paper on radiation risk factors of Mode S transponders by Jeremy S Harris

PFA paper considering low power transponder systems by G E Laucht

The PFA letter of complaint to the DfT


And some additional reference stuff:


A document we found on the CAA website setting out policy on flight in Class G airspace (not mentioned in the RIA!)

An excellent overview of ADS-B can be found on the Recreational Aviation Australia website.


Popular Flying Association
29 August 2006