UK Statutory Instrument 2016 United Kingdom

Air Navigation Order 2016

At a glance

Enforced by

CAA

What's here

146 compliance obligations, 6 practical guides across 2 topics

Penalty landscape

19 of 146 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 7 carry different penalties and 120 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 86
  • Operator 34
  • Contractor 5
  • Licence Holder 5
  • Applicant 1
  • Employer 1
  • Occupier 1
  • Landlord 1

Plus 12 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.

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)
Contractors also bound by 56 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Licence Holders also bound by 50 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Applicants also bound by 146 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Employers also bound by 171 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Occupiers also bound by 101 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Landlords also bound by 70 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 3 — Registration and marking

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

Part 4 — Airworthiness of Aircraft

s.040

Issue of national permits to fly

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CAA must issue or refuse national permits to fly based on airworthiness Statutory regulator
Browse 10 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 5 — Operations

s.carriage of equipment

Carriage of equipment

  • Ensure aircraft equipment is carried and fit for use before flight Operator
s.operator responsibilities in relation to communica

Operator responsibilities in relation to communications

  • Maintain continuous radio communication during controlled flights Operator
Browse 35 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.certain small unmanned aircraft: competency of rem

Certain small unmanned aircraft: competency of remote pilots

s.certain small unmanned aircraft: registration as a

Certain small unmanned aircraft: registration as an SUA operator

s.certain small unmanned aircraft: requirement for a

Certain small unmanned aircraft: requirement for acknowledgement of competency

s.certain small unmanned aircraft: requirement for r

Certain small unmanned aircraft: requirement for registration as SUA operator

s.certain unmanned aircraft: permission for flights

Certain unmanned aircraft: permission for flights that are over or near space sites

s.interpretation of expressions used in the definiti

Interpretation of expressions used in the definition of “flight restriction zone of a protected aerodrome”

s.meaning of “remote pilot” and “sua operator”

Meaning of “remote pilot” and “SUA operator”

Part 6 — Aircrew

s.153

Ratings and certificates

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CAA must issue pilot ratings and certificates upon proof of qualification Statutory regulator
s.aerobatic rating

Aerobatic rating

  • Obtain an aerobatic rating for pilot licences issued after September 2025 Any Person
Browse 22 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.declared training organisation

Declared training organisation

Part 7 — Air traffic services

Browse 16 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 8 — Aerodromes, lighting and en-route obstacles

s.221

Aeronautical lights

  • Obtain CAA permission for aeronautical lights and beacons Any Person
Browse 9 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 9 — Documents and records

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

Part 10 — Prohibited behaviour, directives, rules, powers and penalties

s.243

Smoking in aircraft

  • Display 'No Smoking' notices and prevent smoking on aircraft Any Person
s.246

Stowaways

  • Do not hide on an aircraft to travel without permission Any Person
s.265

Offences and penalties

5 years imprisonment
  • Breach Air Navigation Order or related regulations Any Person
s.minimum age requirements: uas operators and remote

Minimum age requirements: UAS operators and remote pilots

Fine up to £2,500
  • Operate unmanned aircraft with under‑aged remote pilot Any Person
s.offence: registration of certified unmanned aircra

Offence: registration of certified unmanned aircraft

Fine up to £1,000
  • Fail to register a certified unmanned aircraft Any Person
s.offences: contravention of commission implementing

Offences: Contravention of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 on the rules and procedures for the operation of unmanned aircraft – remote pilot

Unlimited fine
  • Breach remote‑pilot UAV operating rules Any Person
s.offences: tethered small unmanned aircraft

Offences: tethered small unmanned aircraft

Fine up to £2,500
  • Fly tethered small drone without meeting required regulations Any Person
s.penalties

Penalties

Fine up to £2,500
  • Breach of remote‑pilot competency or registration requirements Any Person
Browse 24 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.decisions under article 250(1a) and (1b)

Decisions under article 250(1A) and (1B)

s.fixed penalty offences

Fixed penalty offences

Part 11 — Revocations and savings, consequential amendments and transitional arrangements

Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 12 — Review

Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

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

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, …

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Browse legislation

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Regulators

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