Commercial displays and events
We offer guidance for the following:
- aerial surveys, flight trials, calibration, oil spill dispersal and research flights
- air races
- civil or military events featuring military aircraft
- events (outdoor) involving lasers, searchlights, fireworks and sky lanterns
- events (outdoor) involving helium-filled toy balloons
- filming
- flying displays and special events
- gliding
- hot air ballooning
- kite flying
- parachuting
- tethered unmanned gas balloons
Obstacle notification
Guidance on notifying new obstacles or changes to existing obstacles is available as follows:
Additional guidance on obstacles is available as follows:
Other notifications
Guidance on notifying other activities is also available:
- dropping of articles
- explosives, flares and illuminants
- flight priorities
- gas venting
- hang gliding, paragliding, paramotoring and parascending
- high altitude unmanned balloons
- rocket launches
- underslung loads
- unmanned aerial systems
Airspace co-ordination notices (ACNs)
For certain activities, we publish ACNs which detail the co-ordination arrangements that have been agreed with air traffic control to accommodate the flight/s. ACNs are also used to alert other airspace users about the activity. Please note that the issue of an ACN does not necessarily constitute permission to undertake an activity or grant access to Prohibited, Restricted or Danger Areas. Short-term ACNs are generally distributed directly to the relevant stakeholders but may also be listed on the Short-term Airspace Co-ordination Notices page. Long-term ACNs are published in the list of Long-term Airspace Co-ordination Notices.
Airspace restrictions
Guidance on UK airspace restrictions (and exemption requests) is available on our Commercial industry page
Contact
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Airspace Regulation need to be notified of any display, event or obstacle in the UK that may affect other airspace users. Our role is to:
- Assess the potential flight safety implications of the proposal
- Co-ordinate with key stakeholders to determine if any conditions/restrictions need to be imposed
- Deconflict known activities
- Appropriately notify the aviation community
For some types of activities, you will require a formal CAA permission or exemption.
If you have any questions, please initially read the guidance available in the above links. If your question is not answered in the published guidance, please contact Airspace Regulation between the hours of 08:30 and 16:30 Monday to Friday (excluding Public Holidays). It may not be possible to action messages/notifications submitted after 16:00 until the next working day.
Planned periods of extended closure of the Airspace Regulation section will be notified here:
Nil
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