Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average time taken by the Civil Aviation Authority to complete certification applications was for (a) aircraft, (b) engines, (c) components and (d) modifications in each of the last five years.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has provided the following information on the average time taken to complete certification applications in each of the last five years:

The CAA’s ability to complete certification activity is not solely dependent on its own resourcing and performance. The time taken to complete certification applications is also influenced by factors such as the complexity of an application and the responsiveness of the applicant organisation.

The CAA has expanded its design and certification capability since EU Exit and has worked with industry to improve guidance and support application preparation, which has contributed to reduced average completion times in recent years.