Inclusion of FJA into UK AIP

Overview

This Portal aims to provide stakeholders with the information that they require in order to fully understand the MOD’s airspace change proposal to Include the Fast Jet Areas into the UK AIP.

The MoD identifies a requirement for a suitable and safe airspace in the UK to facilitate Exercise Joint Warrior (ex JW), the largest tri-service military exercise in Europe, allowing for modern military air systems to train to their full capabilities in a joint operating environment. That Statement of Need is as follows:

• Is within reach of Navy Forces, more specifically a Carrier Strike Group (with embarked 5th generation air systems) operating within Deep Water, which through the development of the scenario is likely to span hundreds of miles.

• Provides a sufficient mixture of overland and overseas areas which offers exercise planners flexibility to create more complex scenarios across both environments, for necessary littoral operations.

• Crucially caters for ranges within the area, which allows for necessary Air Land integration.

• Is of large enough size to accommodate representative operational numbers. In order for UK Danger Areas to comply with both the UK’s Airspace Modernisation Strategy and incoming Free Route Airspace (FRA), every danger area requires a “parent” danger area in the UK AIP in order for Flight Buffer Zones to be applied and thus enable FRA. In an increasingly busy UK airspace, segregated airspace of a large enough size and in a suitable location will not exist after FRA is implemented and current solutions are untenable to deliver the required needs of Defence,

This Portal allows stakeholders to provide feedback on the airspace option proposed in the consultation document. The consultation document, as well as all supporting documentation can be found below. All other documentation relating to this airspace change proposal to date can be found on the CAA Airspace Change Portal, a link to which can be found at the bottom of this page. Should you require any documents as a hard copy, please write, or send an email, to:

air-fastjetareasproposal@mod.gov.uk

FAO: Sqn Ldr Steve Blakemore

JTEPS

The Old Iron Foundry

6 Queen Street

HMNB Portsmouth

PO1 3HL

Why your views matter

The MoD would like the views of a wide range of stakeholders including:

1. Members of the National Air Traffic Management Advisory Council (NATMAC)
2. Aviation stakeholders

The purpose of this consultation period is to provide an opportunity for all stakeholders to comment on the proposed airspace design option. This feedback will be collated and analysed by the Change Sponsor and help to shape the final proposal that will be submitted to the CAA.

The key themes that the Change Sponsor is seeking to answer through consultation include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Your feedback on the airspace design presented
• The perceived effect of this proposal (positive or negative)
• Key concerns for stakeholders
• Mitigating factors that could be employed to minimise impact

The consulation period will commence on Wednesday 7th December 2022 and will close on Friday 24th February 2023.