CAA consulting on proposals to increase Charges Schemes

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has launched a consultation on proposals to increase all Charges Schemes by 2.4% from April next year, due to 'current cost pressures'.

Last updated: Feb 26, 2021

2 minute read

CAA consults on Charges Schemes price increase The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has launched a consultation on proposals to increase all Charges Schemes by 2.4% from April next year, due to 'current cost pressures'. The CAA, which charges a fee for the issue, renewal, conversion or revalidation of a pilot licence or rating, says that it is looking to increase costs due to 'significant financial pressures, with increases in our cost base as well as the need to make crucial investment in modernising our systems'. The Authority adds that The Project Delivery (Transformation Programme) has and will continue to deliver efficiencies and better customer service and it is 'committed to controlling the costs of making these improvements'. The proposal to increase all Charges Schemes by 2.4% in 2019/20 - beginning from Monday, April 1 - is in line with the October 2018 CPI rate of inflation, the CAA states. In addition, the CAA is proposing specific charges to cover its costs in the three areas where it is undertaking new activities – Brexit contingency planning, cyber security, and airspace change process and airspace modernisation strategy programme. There are a number of further proposed structural changes detailed in the main consultation document.

CAA SAYS PROPOSALS REPRESENT A FAIR AND BALANCED APPROACH

A statement from the CAA said: "We believe our proposals represent a fair and balanced approach to charging and we look forward to receiving feedback on these proposals, in particular from those regulated by us. We welcome comments on all aspects of the proposals, including the charges structure and the level of the charges. "As a body that is directly funded by charges paid by those we regulate, we fully understand the difficulties the industry continues to face. This is one of our primary considerations when we set our charges." The CAA says that over the past eight years, the increase in its charges was 7.9%, while in the same period UK inflation was 20.2%. "This is because we have worked hard to reduce our operating costs over the same period," the CAA states. In addition, the CAA says that it is continuing discussions with the Department for Transport on the best way to introduce the Drone Registration Service together with Remote Pilot Competency education for introduction with effect from Saturday, November 30, 2019. A separate charges consultation will be undertaken early in 2019 in relation to this. The exact timing of this is yet to be finalised, but the proposed charges will be planned to be implemented with effect from Tuesday, October 1, 2019, when registration applications will start to be accepted. For more information and to view the Charges Schemes consultation documents, click here. Send the CAA your comments by emailing charges@caa.co.uk or by completing the online form.  The consultation closes on Thursday, February 7, 2019.  

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