Airspace modernisation: Consultation on the requirements for a UK Airspace Coordination Service and associated guidance
Introduction
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is consulting on its proposed requirements for a UK Airspace Coordination Service (UKACS), along with associated guidance, under its broader airspace modernisation programme.
The UKACS would replace the current Airspace Change Organising Group (ACOG) service and will be delivered by NATS (En Route) plc (NERL) under a new licence condition.
This consultation opened on 17 November 2025 and closes at 23:59 on 12 January 2026, giving interested stakeholders eight weeks to respond.
Why This Matters
The UKACS is being designed to streamline and modernise how airspace change proposals are coordinated, reducing delays, duplication, and confusion.
The new service is intended to make the decision-making process clearer by aligning the timing of key outputs (such as safety strategies and cumulative assessments) with the CAA’s airspace change process.
Importantly, these changes aim to improve proportionality, making it more efficient for sponsors and affected parties, while maintaining strong oversight and stakeholder engagement.
For communities affected by airspace changes (including Heathrow), the UKACS could influence how change proposals are managed, assessed, and communicated.
What the CAA Is Consulting On
Key elements of the consultation include:
The introduction of a new licence condition for NERL to deliver the UKACS.
Proposed requirements for UKACS activities, replacing older frameworks (CAP 2156a and CAP 2156b) with updated guidance.
A requirement for agile airspace-change monitoring, replacing more static masterplan obligations.
Continued obligations around cumulative environmental assessment and safety strategy development.
More transparent, predictable stakeholder engagement, with a clearer alignment of UKACS outputs and CAA decision points.
The full set of proposed requirements and guidance is laid out in the consultation document, CAP 3159.
Who Should Respond
This consultation is relevant to a wide range of stakeholders, including:
Airports and airspace-change sponsors
Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs)
Aviation industry organisations (airlines, general aviation)
Community groups, especially those impacted by airspace changes
Local authorities and planning bodies
Environmental / noise interest groups
Residents under potentially affected flight paths
How to Respond
You can submit your views in the following ways:
Online
Participate via the CAA’s Citizen Space page: https://consultations.caa.co.uk/policy-development/draft-ukacs-requirements/Email
While the consultation strongly encourages responses via the online form, you may submit responses using subject headings from the consultation document (as free-text) to ensure your input is correctly categorised. airspace.modernisation@caa.co.uk
Note: comments received after 12 January 2026 may not be considered in the analysis.
Next Steps
Consultation opened: 17 November 2026
Consultation closes: 12 January 2026
CAA publishes outcome: expected after the consultation analysis is complete
Implementation: new UKACS licence condition and guidance expected to follow depending on consultation outcome.