Guidance

Civil Aviation Authority review

In 2022, the DfT commissioned an independent review to assess the CAA's governance, accountability, efficiency and efficacy.

• From: Department for Transport and Civil Aviation Authority
• Published: 14 December 2022
• Last updated: 17 July 2023 — See all updates

Documents

Civil Aviation Authority review: report

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Civil Aviation Authority review: terms of reference

Unnumbered command paper

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Details

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) review was led by an independent lead reviewer, Jeremy Newman, who was supported by a challenge panel and a team of Department for Transport (DfT) officials.

The review concluded that the CAA fulfils a critical role as the UK’s aviation safety regulator. It recommends protecting the CAA’s status as a public corporation.

The review identified areas where improvements should be made:

• governance – CAA’s accountability to DfT, and how DfT exercises its role as the sponsoring department
• accountability – CAA’s relationship with its stakeholders (including consumers and freight)
• efficiency – improving CAA’s financial efficiency and service delivery
• efficacy – the role of CAA’s Board, consumer powers, risk appetite for new and emerging technologies and economic regulation

DfT ministers and the CAA’s board endorsed the review’s 24 recommendations in May 2023.

The review met with and consulted extensively with a wide range of stakeholders. Its conclusions were also informed by the 444 responses to its call for evidence from organisations and individuals regulated by or impacted by the CAA. The review also interviewed officials from both DfT and the CAA.

Read the Call for evidence report.

The review was part of the Cabinet Office’s Public Body review programme.

Published 14 December 2022
Last updated 17 July 2023 + show all updates

1. 17 July 2023

   Civil Aviation Authority review published.

2. 14 December 2022

   First published.