UK Updating Its Aviation Law

The United Kingdom (UK) will soon publish an Order that updates the references in its basic aviation regulations. This change permits more precise references to the UK’s own legal structures, as it continues to implement the withdrawal from the EU.

When it was part of the EU, the UK previously relied on Regulation (EC) 216/2008 which was the European Community’s basic regulation on civil aviation safety. This law was often known as the “Basic Regulation.” In the EU, the Basic Regulation was repealed and replaced by Regulation (EU) 2018/1139. In the UK, the 2018 EU regulations were retained but subsequently amended by S.I. 2019/645.

This next soon-to-be-issued amendment to the UK CAA aviation law – known as the Air Navigation (Amendment) Order 2022 – was published in draft form on January 24, 2022. 

The new law is expected to come into force on April 13, 2022. As it as not yet been published, there is not yet a final version.

For more details, you can rely on the following resources:

• Notification to Parliament which formally notifies Parliament that the draft law has been published for comment.
• Draft statutory instrument: The Air Navigation (Amendment) Order 2022 which identifies the changes made by the Order (this is fairly short). 
• Draft explanatory memorandum: The Air Navigation (Amendment) Order 2022 which explains how the new law conforms to other UK legal requirements.