Useful regulatory frameworks
Find out how existing UK and international regulations apply to your innovation by exploring the themes and guidance below.
You can also find details of regulatory approvals that you may need to consider for the trial of your innovative solution.
Airworthiness
You may find the guidance documents listed below useful if you are designing a new aircraft, a new part, modifying an existing aircraft or maintaining one.
- Certificate of Airworthiness: Find out about requirements and how to apply
- Continuing Airworthiness: Find out about the rules concerning continuing airworthiness and maintenance of an aircraft including how to get approval from EASA
- Aircraft Certification: Read EASA guidance on how to certify an aircraft
- EASA Certification noise levels: Find out EASA's process for the certification of noise levels
- EU No 748/2012 Part 21 Subpart J: Design Organisation Approval: This document shows you the certification process for the approval of a design organisation. It also highlights rules governing the rights and obligations of applicants, and holders of those approvals.
- EASA guidance on Design organisation approval: Read EASA's guidance documents on design organisations approvals and who to contact
- EU No 748/2012 Part 21 Subpart G: Design and production organisational approvals for EASA aircraft, products, parts, and appliances: This document shows you regulations linked to the production of EASA aircraft or associated components.
- Permits to Fly: Application and guidance information associated with CAA permits to fly
Flight Operations
You may find the guidance documents listed below useful if you want to carry out commercial operations or an aircraft, for example, UAM:
- Airline licensing: If you are based in the UK, you will need an Operating Licence from the CAA to operate most kinds of commercial air travel. Find out how to apply for a licence.
- Air Operator Certificates : Information about the types of Air Operator Certificates available and the related costs and standards
Radio communications licences
To use any radio transmitting device in the UK, it will need to either be licensed, or have a specific licence exemption. Information about applying for aeronautical radio licensing can be found on the Ofcom website.
The Skyway Code
The Skyway Code is designed to provide private pilots with easy, quick access to the key information they need.
As well as covering the regulations it includes examples of radio phraseology, tables to work out crosswind components and ground marshalling signals.
Unmanned aircraft systems including carriage of dangerous goods
You may find the guidance documents listed below useful if you want to maintain, modify or operate a drone:
- CAP 722 provides policy, guidance and requirements for the development and operation of UAS within the UK.
- CAP 1789 provides a simple explanation of the intent behind the EU UAS regulations.
- The example Dangerous Goods Manual for RPAS Operators carrying UN3373 as cargo may be useful if you are applying for an approval to carry dangerous goods.
- CAP 2248 - Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems.
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