UK Act of Parliament 1982 c. c. 16 United Kingdom

Civil Aviation Act 1982

An Act to consolidate certain enactments relating to civil aviation.

Enforced by
CAA
Status
Amended (in force with amendments)
Penalty ceiling
Imprisonment 4 of 46 obligations carry up to 2 years imprisonment. 8 carry different penalties and 34 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Does it bind you?

Business-side roles with duties under this instrument.

Any Person14 Operator5 Licence Holder1 Director or Officer1 Employee1 Applicant1

Plus 23 duties on the regulator, Crown ministers and public bodies — folded into the section list below.

Other Acts binding the same actors

If a role above is yours, these are the other instruments that most often bind it.

Any Person — also bound by 2340 other Acts
Operator — also bound by 746 other Acts
Licence Holder — also bound by 225 other Acts
Director or Officer — also bound by 429 other Acts
Employee — also bound by 189 other Acts
Applicant — also bound by 307 other Acts

What it requires

Sections creating concrete business duties or carrying penalties, grouped as the instrument is structured. Titles link to the source text — blue means you’re leaving for legislation.gov.uk.

Part 1

Administration

11 of 24 sections shown
s.004 General objectives. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CAA must manage UK aviation to meet public demand and safety standardsStatutory regulator
s.005 Duty of CAA to consider environmental factors when licensing or issuing certificates for certain aerodromes. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CAA must consider environmental impact when licensing aerodromesStatutory regulator
s.008 General financial duties. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CAA must manage finances to break even and follow capital spending rulesStatutory regulator
s.011 Charges. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CAA must consult and publish schemes for business chargesStatutory regulator
s.014 Guarantees. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
  • Repay Treasury for fulfilled CAA loan guaranteesAny Person
s.015 Accounts and audit. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CAA must maintain audited accounts and report to the Secretary of StateStatutory regulator
s.016 Provision by CAA of assistance, etc. for Secretary of State and others. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CAA must provide technical assistance and advice to the Secretary of StateStatutory regulator
s.017 Provision by CAA of information, etc. for Secretary of State. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CAA must provide information and notices to the Secretary of StateStatutory regulator
s.020 Supplementary provisions with respect to the functions of CAA. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CAA must act on behalf of the Crown and follow Secretary of State directionsStatutory regulator
s.021 Annual report. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CAA must submit an annual performance and efficiency reportStatutory regulator
s.023 Disclosure of information. (opens in a new tab) Imprisonment
  • Unlawful disclosure of restricted aviation informationEmployee
13 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Part 2

Aerodromes and Other Land

11 of 39 sections shown
s.026 Consultation with local bodies. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must ensure consultation facilities for aerodromesCrown / Minister / Government department
s.035 Facilities for consultation at certain aerodromes. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
  • Provide consultation facilities at designated aerodromesAny Person
s.036 Health control at Secretary of State’s aerodromes .... (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must arrange public health controls at aerodromesCrown / Minister / Government department
s.038 Noise control schemes Regulated
  • Establish and manage noise control schemes at aerodromesOperator
s.038 Noise control schemes: supplementary Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must consult before setting noise control areasCrown / Minister / Government department
s.038 Breaches of noise control schemes Regulated
  • Pay noise control penalties and exercise right to appealOperator
s.039 Trespassing on licensed or authorised aerodromes. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Trespass on a licensed or authorised aerodromeAny Person

Fine up to £1,000

s.047 Warning of presence of obstructions near licensed or authorised aerodromes. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State may order warning lights on obstructions near aerodromesCrown / Minister / Government department
s.050 Power of entry for purposes of survey. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Obstructing land surveys for aviation purposesAny Person

Fine up to £500

s.055 Registration of orders, etc. under Part II. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CAA and Secretary of State must register land orders and rightsStatutory regulator
s.059 Expenses and stamp duty. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State and NI Department must waive stamp duty on aviation landCrown / Minister / Government department
28 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.042 Acquisition of land: air traffic services licence holders.
Part 3

Regulation of Civil Aviation

16 of 31 sections shown
s.061 Air Navigation Orders etc ,: supplemental. (opens in a new tab) Imprisonment
  • Breach of Air Navigation OrdersAny Person
s.064 Restriction of unlicensed carriage by air for reward. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
  • Obtain an air transport licence for commercial flightsOperator
s.065 Grant and refusal of air transport licences. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
  • Apply for an air transport licence to operate aircraftApplicant
s.066 Revocation, suspension and variation of air transport licences. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CAA must revoke or change licences if standards are not metStatutory regulator
s.067 Supplementary provisions relating to air transport licensing. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
  • Do not provide false information to the CAA or Secretary of StateAny Person
s.068 General duties in relation to air transport licensing functions of CAA. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CAA must prioritize airline competition and minimize industry restrictionsStatutory regulator
s.069 Periodical publication of CAA’s policies. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CAA must publish and consult on its air transport licensing policiesStatutory regulator
s.070 Modification of CAA’s duties with respect to British airlines in relation to certain air transport services. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CAA must treat certain overseas airlines as British airlinesStatutory regulator
s.071 Procedure relating to regulations under section 71A Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State and CAA must consult before changing travel trust rulesCrown / Minister / Government department
s.075 Investigation of accidents. (opens in a new tab) Imprisonment
  • Breach of aircraft accident investigation regulationsAny Person
s.078 Regulation of noise and vibration from aircraft. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
  • Comply with aircraft noise and vibration limits at designated airportsOperator
s.078 Penalty schemes Regulated
  • Pay penalties for aircraft noise or vibration breachesOperator
s.078 Direction to establish, amend or revoke penalty scheme Prosecution
  • Fail to establish or amend an aircraft noise penalty schemeAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.082 Prohibition of aerial advertising and propaganda. (opens in a new tab) Imprisonment
  • Use aircraft for unauthorised aerial advertising or communicationsAny Person
s.083 Recording and registration of births and deaths, etc. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Fail to record or report births and deaths on aircraftAny Person

Fine up to £500

s.084 Provision by others of information for the CAA and Secretary of State. (opens in a new tab) Imprisonment
  • Failure to provide information to the Civil Aviation AuthorityAny Person
15 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.069 Regulation of carriage by air by route licences.
s.071 Contributions by licence holders to Air Travel Trust
s.074 Enforcement of foreign judgments etc. in respect of route charges.
Part 4

Aircraft

2 of 13 sections shown
Part 5

Miscellaneous and General

8 of 12 sections shown
Schedules

Schedules

5 of 155 shown
s.sch001 Additional Provisions Relating to Constitution, Etc. of CAA (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must ensure CAA members have no conflicting interestsCrown / Minister / Government department
s.sch007 Provisions Relating to Certain Orders Under Part II (opens in a new tab) Regulated
  • Notify affected parties before applying for a land-use orderLicence Holder
s.sch008 Provisions Relating to Orders Under Section 45 (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must pay compensation for land value loss or disturbanceCrown / Minister / Government department
s.sch009 Provisions Relating to Directions Under Section 46 (opens in a new tab) Regulated
  • Notify affected parties of aviation land-use directions and pay compensationAny Person
s.sch011 Tenure of members (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CAA must provide staff, facilities, and expenses to the BoardStatutory regulator
150 other schedules
s.sch001 It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State—...
s.sch001 (1) A member who is in any way directly or...
s.sch001 The validity of any proceedings of the CAA shall not...
s.sch001 Subject to section 2, the CAA may appoint such officers...
s.sch001 (1) The CAA shall, in the case of such of...
s.sch001 It shall be the duty of the CAA, except so...
s.sch001 (1) Subject to section 7(1) of this Act, the CAA...
s.sch001 The fixing of the common seal of the CAA shall...
s.sch001 A document purporting to be duly executed under the seal...
s.sch001 In this Schedule — (a) " chair ”, " deputy...
s.sch001 Subject to the following provisions of this Schedule, a person...
s.sch001 A person may at any time resign his office as...
s.sch001 (1) If a a non-executive member becomes or ceases to...
s.sch001 (1) The Secretary of State may by notification in writing...
s.sch001 The CAA shall pay each non-executive member such remuneration as...
s.sch001 (1) The CAA shall make such provision as may be...
s.sch001 Where a person ceases to be a non-executive member otherwise...
s.sch001 (1) The chief executive is to be employed on such...
s.sch001 Subject to section 7 of this Act, the quorum of...
s.sch001 an executive member, or
s.sch001 a person appointed in pursuance of this paragraph or employed...
s.sch002 (1) Section 39(3) of the Public Health Act 1936 (which...
s.sch002 The CAA shall be deemed to be public utility undertakers...
s.sch002 (1) Section 93 of Schedule 3 to the Water Act...
s.sch002 The CAA shall be deemed to be statutory undertakers and...
s.sch002 In the following enactments, that is to say— section 13...
s.sch002 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
s.sch003 A certificate issued by the Secretary of State and stating...
s.sch003 (1) Any agreement and any provision in a document which...
s.sch003 For the purposes of . . . Chapter II of...
s.sch003 The Secretary of State shall, before making a determination or...
s.sch003 (1) Where after any land was transferred to the CAA...
s.sch003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
s.sch003 (1) Where a person entered the employment of the CAA...
s.sch003 (1) For the purposes of section 94(1) of and paragraph...
s.sch003 It is hereby declared that in this Schedule “property” includes...
s.sch004 (1) Eurocontrol shall have the legal capacity of a body...
s.sch004 (1) The Secretary of State may from time to time...
s.sch004 (1) Subject to paragraph 1 above and sub-paragraph (2) below,...
s.sch006 For references to the department concerned there shall be substituted...
s.sch006 For references to a district council there shall be substituted...
s.sch006 References to Schedule 6 to the Local Government Act (Northern...
s.sch006 For paragraph 1 there shall be substituted the following paragraph—...
s.sch006 For sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 6 there shall be substituted...
s.sch006 In paragraph 12(2) for the words “the clerk of the...
s.sch006 Paragraph 20(2) shall be omitted.
s.sch007 (1) Before making the order, the Secretary of State shall,...
s.sch007 (1) Any person having an interest in land the value...
s.sch007 (1) Where any interest in land is subject to a...
s.sch007 (1) Where the order provides for the creation of any...
s.sch007 If no objection is duly made by any such local...
s.sch007 If any objection duly made as aforesaid is not withdrawn,...
s.sch007 Notwithstanding anything in paragraphs 2 and 3 above, the Secretary...
s.sch007 (1) Immediately after the order has been made the appropriate...
s.sch007 In this Part of this Schedule “owner” has the same...
s.sch007 If any person aggrieved by the order desires to question...
s.sch007 Subject to the provisions of paragraph 7 above, the order...
s.sch007 (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, this Part of this...
s.sch008 Any person having an interest in land to which the...
s.sch008 Paragraph 11 of Schedule 7 to this Act shall have...
s.sch008 Any person who sustains damage by being disturbed in the...
s.sch008 For the purpose of assessing compensation under this Schedule, in...
s.sch008 Where any dispute arises as to whether compensation is payable...
s.sch009 (1) Immediately after the Secretary of State has given the...
s.sch009 Where the direction affects any building, structure, or apparatus held...
s.sch009 In this Schedule— “the appropriate person” means— except where the...
s.sch009 The provisions of Part II of Schedule 7 to this...
s.sch009 Any person having an interest in land the value of...
s.sch009 Paragraph 11 of Schedule 7 to this Act shall have...
s.sch009 Any person who sustains damage by being disturbed in the...
s.sch009 The appropriate person shall pay compensation in respect of any...
s.sch009 The compensation payable to any person by virtue of the...
s.sch009 For the purpose of assessing compensation under this Schedule, in...
s.sch009 Where any dispute arises as to whether compensation is payable...
s.sch010 Where it appears to the Secretary of State, upon a...
s.sch010 Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph 1 above, an...
s.sch010 As soon as may be after the making of a...
s.sch010 The provisions of section 278 of the Town and Country...
s.sch010 An order under this Part of this Schedule shall be...
s.sch010 Where on a representation made for the purpose by the...
s.sch010 As soon as may be after the making of a...
s.sch010 The provisions of section 278 of the Town and Country...
s.sch010 If any objection to the making of an order under...
s.sch011 (1) A person shall hold and vacate office as a...
s.sch011 If the chairman ceases to be a member he shall...
s.sch011 The procedure of the board (including the quorum) shall be...
s.sch011 It shall be the duty of the CAA—
s.sch011 In this Schedule— “the board” means the Airworthiness Requirements Board;...
s.sch012 Where it is alleged by any person interested that a...
s.sch012 The deposited sum shall be such sum as may be...
s.sch012 The deposited sum shall be dealt with by such tribunal...
s.sch012 For the purposes of this Schedule— “owner” shall include the...
s.sch013 (1) A power to which this paragraph applies shall include...
s.sch013 A power to which this paragraph applies shall include power...
s.sch013 (1) An Order in Council made in pursuance of a...
s.sch013 (1) Any Order in Council, order or regulations made, in...
s.sch013 Without prejudice to section 101 of this Act, an Order...
s.sch013 (1) Notwithstanding that an Order in Council or regulation made...
s.sch013 (1) Without prejudice to paragraph 6 above, an Air Navigation...
s.sch014 Where any enactment has been repealed (whether by this Act...
s.sch014 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
s.sch014 (1) Until the commencement of the British Nationality Act 1981—...
s.sch014 In this Schedule “the operative date” means the date of...
s.sch014 (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, where any period of...
s.sch014 Where anything was done before the operative date for the...
s.sch014 (1) The repeals made by this Act shall not affect...
s.sch014 (1) . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch014 Notwithstanding the repeal of section 6 of the Civil Aviation...
s.sch014 The rights, powers and privileges of any general or local...
s.sch014 The enactments and instruments with respect to which provision may...
s.sch014 The repeal by this Act of Schedule 9 to the...
s.sch015 For paragraph (b) of section 84(11) of the Law of...
s.sch015 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch015 In section 236(2) of the Local Government Act 1972, for...
s.sch015 (1) In section 1(6) of the Land Compensation Act 1973,...
s.sch015 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch015 (1) In section 1(6) of the Land Compensation (Scotland) Act...
s.sch015 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch015 In the Air Travel Reserve Fund Act 1975—
s.sch015 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch015 In subsection (1) of section 56 of the Aircraft and...
s.sch015 In section 60(7) of the Patents Act 1977, in the...
s.sch015 (1) In section 1(1) of the Acquisition of Land (Authorisation...
s.sch015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
s.sch015 In subsection (7) of section 4 of the Suppression of...
s.sch015 In paragraph 19 of Schedule 1 to the National Health...
s.sch015 In section 21(7) of the Customs and Excise Management Act...
s.sch015 In section 3 of the Highlands and Islands Air Services...
s.sch015 In subsections (2)(j) and (6) of section 20 of the...
s.sch015 In section 79(3)(b) of the New Towns Act 1981, for...
s.sch015 In section 32(8) of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981,...
s.sch015 The Table at the end of paragraph 3 of Schedule...
s.sch015 In section 37 of the Harbours Act 1964—
s.sch015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
s.sch015 In section 7(1) of the Tokyo Convention Act, . ....
s.sch015 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch015 In Schedule 11 to the Land Registration Act (Northern Ireland)...
s.sch015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10 other provisions
s.para.214 Section 31 (order authorising local authority to carry on ancillary...
s.para.215 Section 42(2) (order vesting land in CAA).
s.para.216 Section 42A(2) (order vesting land in licence holder).
s.para.217 Section 44 (order for creation of rights over land).
s.para.218 Section 45 (order restricting use of lant).
s.para.219 Section 46 (order for control of land).
s.para.220 Section 47 (order requiring warnings on land).
s.para.221 Section 48(1) (order for stopping-up or diversion of a highway)....
s.para.222 Part I or Part II of Schedule 10 (orders with...

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