Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if the Government will bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that flight instructors (a) are governed by the same professional standards as teachers and (b) operate under the same safeguards as teachers with respect to relationships with students under the age of 18.

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 places responsibility for safeguarding with the aviation training provider. The provider must ensure that they have a safeguarding process in place for those individuals employed or working with them, for the protection of persons under the age of 18, who use their services.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) oversees UK flight instructors to ensure that they meet the requirements of UK and European aviation legislation. The CAA reminds training organisations that instruct persons under the age of 18 to be aware of their safeguarding obligations.

The Government currently has no plans to amend this system of safeguards.