UK Act of Parliament 1982 United Kingdom

Civil Aviation Act 1982

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At a glance

Enforced by

CAA

What's here

46 compliance obligations, 7 practical guides across 2 topics · 8 statutory instruments

Penalty landscape

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.

Who this Act binds

Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.

  • Any Person 14
  • Operator 5
  • Licence Holder 1
  • Director or Officer 1
  • Employee 1
  • Applicant 1

Plus 23 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.

Relevant guidance

Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.

Supporting — topic alignment

7 guides

Other Acts binding the same actors

For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.

Any Person also bound by 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Operators also bound by 125 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Licence Holders also bound by 50 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Directors and Officers also bound by 224 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Employees also bound by 53 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Applicants also bound by 146 other Acts (top 5 shown)

What this Act requires

Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.

Part I — Administration

s.004

General objectives.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CAA must manage UK aviation to meet public demand and safety standards Statutory regulator
s.008

General financial duties.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CAA must manage finances to break even and follow capital spending rules Statutory regulator
s.011

Charges.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CAA must consult and publish schemes for business charges Statutory regulator
s.014

Guarantees.

  • Repay Treasury for fulfilled CAA loan guarantees Any Person
s.015

Accounts and audit.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CAA must maintain audited accounts and report to the Secretary of State Statutory regulator
s.021

Annual report.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CAA must submit an annual performance and efficiency report Statutory regulator
Browse 13 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part II — Aerodromes and Other Land

s.026

Consultation with local bodies.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must ensure consultation facilities for aerodromes Crown / Minister / Government department
s.038

Noise control schemes

  • Establish and manage noise control schemes at aerodromes Operator
s.038

Noise control schemes: supplementary

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must consult before setting noise control areas Crown / Minister / Government department
s.038

Breaches of noise control schemes

  • Pay noise control penalties and exercise right to appeal Operator
s.059

Expenses and stamp duty.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State and NI Department must waive stamp duty on aviation land Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 27 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.042

Acquisition of land: air traffic services licence holders.

Part III — Regulation of Civil Aviation

s.071

Procedure relating to regulations under section 71A

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State and CAA must consult before changing travel trust rules Crown / Minister / Government department
s.078

Penalty schemes

  • Pay penalties for aircraft noise or vibration breaches Operator
s.078

Direction to establish, amend or revoke penalty scheme

Unlimited fine
  • Fail to establish or amend an aircraft noise penalty scheme Any Person
Browse 15 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
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 IV — Aircraft

Browse 12 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part V — Miscellaneous and General

Browse 4 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Schedules

s.sch011

Tenure of members

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CAA must provide staff, facilities, and expenses to the Board Statutory regulator
Browse 150 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
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It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State—...

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(1) A member who is in any way directly or...

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The validity of any proceedings of the CAA shall not...

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Subject to section 2, the CAA may appoint such officers...

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(1) The CAA shall, in the case of such of...

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It shall be the duty of the CAA, except so...

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(1) Subject to section 7(1) of this Act, the CAA...

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The fixing of the common seal of the CAA shall...

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A document purporting to be duly executed under the seal...

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In this Schedule — (a) " chair ”, " deputy...

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Subject to the following provisions of this Schedule, a person...

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A person may at any time resign his office as...

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(1) If a a non-executive member becomes or ceases to...

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(1) The Secretary of State may by notification in writing...

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The CAA shall pay each non-executive member such remuneration as...

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(1) The CAA shall make such provision as may be...

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Where a person ceases to be a non-executive member otherwise...

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(1) The chief executive is to be employed on such...

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Subject to section 7 of this Act, the quorum of...

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an executive member, or

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a person appointed in pursuance of this paragraph or employed...

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(1) Section 39(3) of the Public Health Act 1936 (which...

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The CAA shall be deemed to be public utility undertakers...

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(1) Section 93 of Schedule 3 to the Water Act...

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The CAA shall be deemed to be statutory undertakers and...

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In the following enactments, that is to say— section 13...

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A certificate issued by the Secretary of State and stating...

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(1) Any agreement and any provision in a document which...

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For the purposes of . . . Chapter II of...

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The Secretary of State shall, before making a determination or...

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(1) Where after any land was transferred to the CAA...

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(1) Where a person entered the employment of the CAA...

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(1) For the purposes of section 94(1) of and paragraph...

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It is hereby declared that in this Schedule “property” includes...

s.sch004

(1) Eurocontrol shall have the legal capacity of a body...

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(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...

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For references to a district council there shall be substituted...

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References to Schedule 6 to the Local Government Act (Northern...

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For paragraph 1 there shall be substituted the following paragraph—...

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For sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 6 there shall be substituted...

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In paragraph 12(2) for the words “the clerk of the...

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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...

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(1) Where any interest in land is subject to a...

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(1) Where the order provides for the creation of any...

s.sch007

If no objection is duly made by any such local...

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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...

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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...

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The appropriate person shall pay compensation in respect of any...

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The compensation payable to any person by virtue of the...

s.sch009

For the purpose of assessing compensation under this Schedule, in...

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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...

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As soon as may be after the making of a...

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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...

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As soon as may be after the making of a...

s.sch010

The provisions of section 278 of the Town and Country...

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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...

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The deposited sum shall be dealt with by such tribunal...

s.sch012

For the purposes of this Schedule— “owner” shall include the...

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(1) A power to which this paragraph applies shall include...

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A power to which this paragraph applies shall include power...

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(1) An Order in Council made in pursuance of a...

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(1) Any Order in Council, order or regulations made, in...

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Without prejudice to section 101 of this Act, an Order...

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(1) Notwithstanding that an Order in Council or regulation made...

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(1) Without prejudice to paragraph 6 above, an Air Navigation...

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Where any enactment has been repealed (whether by this Act...

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(1) Until the commencement of the British Nationality Act 1981—...

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In this Schedule “the operative date” means the date of...

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(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, where any period of...

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Where anything was done before the operative date for the...

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(1) The repeals made by this Act shall not affect...

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(1) . . . . . . . . ....

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Notwithstanding the repeal of section 6 of the Civil Aviation...

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The rights, powers and privileges of any general or local...

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The enactments and instruments with respect to which provision may...

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The repeal by this Act of Schedule 9 to the...

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For paragraph (b) of section 84(11) of the Law of...

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. . . . . . . . . ....

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In section 236(2) of the Local Government Act 1972, for...

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(1) In section 1(6) of the Land Compensation Act 1973,...

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. . . . . . . . . ....

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(1) In section 1(6) of the Land Compensation (Scotland) Act...

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. . . . . . . . . ....

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In the Air Travel Reserve Fund Act 1975—

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. . . . . . . . . ....

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In subsection (1) of section 56 of the Aircraft and...

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In section 60(7) of the Patents Act 1977, in the...

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(1) In section 1(1) of the Acquisition of Land (Authorisation...

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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In subsection (7) of section 4 of the Suppression of...

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In paragraph 19 of Schedule 1 to the National Health...

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In section 21(7) of the Customs and Excise Management Act...

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In section 3 of the Highlands and Islands Air Services...

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In subsections (2)(j) and (6) of section 20 of the...

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In section 79(3)(b) of the New Towns Act 1981, for...

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In section 32(8) of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981,...

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The Table at the end of paragraph 3 of Schedule...

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In section 37 of the Harbours Act 1964—

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In section 7(1) of the Tokyo Convention Act, . ....

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In Schedule 11 to the Land Registration Act (Northern Ireland)...

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Other sections — not classified into a Part

These sections exist in the Act but the contents-of-Parts walker did not place them under a Part. Likely amendments or sections inserted out of the original Part structure.

Browse 1 other unclassified section
Read the full Act on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)

Official guidance

Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.

Enforcement and responsible bodies

The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.

CAA

Civil Aviation Authority

UK's aviation regulator. Responsible for aviation safety, airspace policy, economic regulation of airports, and consumer protection. Issues air operator certificates, pilot licences, …

Connected legislation

8 statutory instruments

These instruments amend, apply, or refer to this Act. They may not all create direct business obligations.

Explore more

Browse legislation

Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.

Regulators

Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.