Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the financial and operational implications of continuing to rely on ground-based precision approach infrastructure (such as instrument landing systems) in poor weather conditions following the loss of European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) enabled approaches; and what steps they are taking to mitigate the impact on aviation safety, regional connectivity, and emergency air services caused by the absence of EGNOS for precision landing guidance.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Larger UK airports and many regional airports have Instrument Landing Systems in place and therefore a satellite-based augmentation system) such as European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), is primarily beneficial at smaller regional airports and General Aviation aerodromes during periods of poor weather resulting in restricted visibility. Flights that are taking place continue to do so safely, following alternative Civil Aviation Authority approved procedures.
Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) will, in the UK, be supported through a GNSS Point in Space ‘PinS’ approach to helicopter landing sites at trauma hospitals which will greatly assist in increasing the utility of air ambulance helicopters in poor visibility conditions.
Government is considering options for UK access to a satellite-based augmentation system, following our withdrawal from the EU's EGNOS system. This work is continuing and no decision has yet been made.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the removal of localiser performance with vertical guidance approaches on general aviation, emergency medical services, and regional airports; and what steps they are taking to mitigate the economic and operational impact of the loss of European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service services.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Larger UK airports and many regional airports have Instrument Landing Systems in place and therefore a satellite-based augmentation system) such as European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), is primarily beneficial at smaller regional airports and General Aviation aerodromes during periods of poor weather resulting in restricted visibility. Flights that are taking place continue to do so safely, following alternative Civil Aviation Authority approved procedures.
Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) will, in the UK, be supported through a GNSS Point in Space ‘PinS’ approach to helicopter landing sites at trauma hospitals which will greatly assist in increasing the utility of air ambulance helicopters in poor visibility conditions.
Government is considering options for UK access to a satellite-based augmentation system, following our withdrawal from the EU's EGNOS system. This work is continuing and no decision has yet been made.
Asked by: Mark Garnier (Conservative - Wyre Forest)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the impact of the unavailability of localiser performance with vertical guidance (LPV) approaches on (a) general aviation, (b) emergency medical services and (c) regional airports; and what steps her Department is taking to deal with the (i) economic and (ii) operational impact of the loss of European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) services at airports.
Answered by Mike Kane
Larger UK airports and many regional airports have Instrument Landing Systems in place and therefore a satellite-based augmentation system) such as European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), is primarily beneficial at smaller regional airports and General Aviation aerodromes during periods of poor weather resulting in restricted visibility. Flights that are taking place continue to do so safely, following alternative Civil Aviation Authority approved procedures.
Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) will, in the UK, be supported through a GNSS Point in Space ‘PinS’ approach to helicopter landing sites at trauma hospitals which will greatly assist in increasing the utility of air ambulance helicopters in poor visibility conditions.
Government is considering options for UK access to a satellite-based augmentation system, following our withdrawal from the EU's EGNOS system. This work is ongoing and no decision has yet been made.
Asked by: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat - Stratford-on-Avon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the closure of small training airfields on (a) local rural economies and (b) the availability of aviation training.
Answered by Mike Kane
We recognise the role small airfields play in General Aviation as a gateway for individuals to develop their career aspirations in the aviation sector. Ministers do not routinely intervene in local planning and any consideration of directions to modify local plans including the closure of airfields will be made by the local planning authority in accordance with relevant legislation.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is the independent aviation safety regulator and as part of their role oversee the approval of training organisations who may operate from small training airfields. In circumstances where a flying training organisation ceases operation, the CAA would work with affected trainees to find new training solutions for each of them where required.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many general aviation reports were submitted by region in (a) 2023 and (b) 2024.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Home Office records show that approximately 159,768 General Aviation Reports have been submitted nationally in 2023 and 2024.
2024
North Region -11,413
Central Region - 25,691
Heathrow Region - 21,298
South Region - 16,897
South-East Region - 855
Total - 76,154
2023
North Region -12,237
Central Region - 25,689
Heathrow Region - 22,403
South Region - 17,186
South-East Region - 962
Total - 78,477
Asked by: Jerome Mayhew (Conservative - Broadland and Fakenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made changes to the membership of the Aviation, Maritime and Security Group since 4 July 2024.
Answered by Mike Kane
The Department for Transport is made up of seven groups led by a Director General or Permanent Secretary, which are subdivided into directorates and divisions. Organisational structures are always kept under review to best deliver the Department’s responsibilities. As of 10 December 2024, there have been no major organisational restructures which have resulted in substantive changes to the membership, scope or responsibilities of any of the groups since 4 July 2024.
Asked by: Jerome Mayhew (Conservative - Broadland and Fakenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made changes to the membership of the Aviation, Maritime and Security Group since 4 July 2024.
Answered by Mike Kane
The Department for Transport is made up of seven groups led by a Director General or Permanent Secretary, which are subdivided into directorates and divisions. Organisational structures are always kept under review to best deliver the Department’s responsibilities. As of 10 December 2024, there have been no major organisational restructures which have resulted in substantive changes to the membership, scope or responsibilities of any of the groups since 4 July 2024.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate her Department has made of the carbon footprint of the private jets registered in the UK.
Answered by Mike Kane
The government is committed to delivering greener transport and is currently considering its strategic approach to decarbonising aviation.
DfT commissioned research in 2022 which estimated the carbon footprint of UK-registered General Aviation aircraft arriving and departing from UK aerodromes in 2019. General Aviation consists of all non-scheduled civil aviation activity, including recreational flying, business aviation and other aviation activities. By considering the typical maximum takeoff weight of aircraft used for business aviation, this research indicates that approximately 370 ktCO2e were emitted by business aviation aircraft in 2019, although this figure may also incorporate emissions from larger recreational aircraft, or those engaged in specialty air services.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he is taking steps to help (a) ensure that regulations on cost-sharing flights do not disproportionately affect the general aviation community, (b) support pilots in meeting potential new regulatory requirements and (c) minimise the (i) financial and (ii) operational costs of meeting those requirements.
Answered by Anthony Browne
The CAA supports the practice of cost sharing and recognises that it brings many benefits to pilots. However, following a review of cost sharing regulations, the CAA determined that the rules on cost sharing are open to misinterpretation and potential abuse in their current form.
Proposals to reform cost sharing regulations in the UK include limiting the number of passengers that can be carried on a single flight, clarifying the costs which pilots can legitimately share and requiring pilots to complete and retain a Passenger Declaration Form. The latter will make their passengers aware of the increased risk associated with general aviation flying compared to commercial air transport flights. The CAA has also proposed changes to the advertising requirements for flights posted online to improve the transparency of cost sharing arrangements for the participating public.
The CAA has consulted extensively with the general aviation community on its proposed changes to cost sharing regulations and has taken this feedback into account when drafting its final recommendations to the DfT. The CAA plans to develop a range of guidance to be made available on its website, which will explain what is required of them and provide vital support for pilots. This guidance will be published once changes to the regulation are finalised. Providers of cost sharing services will be given appropriate time to adjust their systems and procedures before the changes come into effect.
The Department supports the CAA’s initiative to revise its cost sharing regulations, to help emphasise the safety measures to protect consumers and prevent potential abuse of the activity. The CAA will continue to provide updates on the progress of its changes to cost sharing regulation as part of the regular forums it holds with DfT and general aviation organisations.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Feedback on Proposed changes to the advertising element of the cost sharing regulations, published on 29 February 2024, what stakeholder consultations on the proposed changes to cost-sharing regulations were undertaken by the Civil Aviation Authority; and if he will make it his policy to ensure that (a) all relevant stakeholders and (b) general aviation organisations are consulted before the proposed changes are finalised.
Answered by Anthony Browne
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) initially launched an open consultation on the proposed changes to the cost sharing regulation in November 2021. A response document was subsequently published in December 2022, which detailed the CAA’s policy recommendations to the Department for Transport (DfT). Following further engagement with general aviation organisations, the CAA opened a second consultation to gain stakeholder views on updated wording to the advertising element of the proposals in November 2023. A response was issued to this second consultation in February 2024, which detailed changes to the CAA’s recommendations based on the additional feedback received.
The CAA is currently in the process of finalising its advice to DfT on regulatory changes following both consultations and are conducting a de minimis impact assessment, which will include further consultation with businesses that could potentially be impacted by the proposed changes. The CAA will continue to provide updates on the progress of its changes to cost sharing regulation as part of the regular forums it holds with DfT and general aviation organisations.