Asked by: Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to extend the deadlines for Class 1 and 2 aviation medicals which are due to expire during the period of measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK’s priority is to ensure aviation safety is upheld while also reducing any additional burdens on Aero-medical Examiners and GPs during this period.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has already granted an exemption to holders of a Part-MED Class 1 medical certificate that expires before 31st October 2020. Holders of such a medical certificate will continue to have their medicals validated until 22nd November 2020.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which the UK is a member of, is currently considering action in relation to Class 2 medicals.
We anticipate those affected by the deadline to be minimal as a routine revalidation for Class 1 and 2 medical certificates only applies where certificates have been expired for less than two years.
We will continue to monitor the situation closely and make any appropriate changes necessary.
Asked by: Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Civil Aviation Authority on creating a process to downgrade the classifications of controlled airspace within the UK.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Civil Aviation (Air Navigation) Directions 2017 provide the independent Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) with the responsibility for overseeing the design of UK airspace. This includes defining the policy on the classification of UK airspace and how this is implemented.
The Government continues to keep under review how airspace is managed and a key policy objective is to ensure that the UK has the minimum volume of controlled airspace consistent with safe and efficient air traffic operations. This issue is being considered as part of the Aviation Strategy green paper, which is currently out for consultation. As co-sponsors of the process, the Government and the CAA have also committed to working collaboratively with all affected stakeholder groups to support delivery in a manner which balances the objectives of each group.
Asked by: Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to extend the DVLA's Data Sharing Strategy to ParkTrade Europe AB and others who legitimately seek information to allow authorities in Europe to recover monies due to them from UK registered vehicle owners.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) takes the protection of the data it holds very seriously and has robust measures in place to protect it. The request from ParkTrade Europe is receiving careful attention and an outcome will be provided as soon as the consideration of these matters is complete.
Asked by: Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what powers the Civil Aviation Authority has to manage lower airspace in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
Sections 66, 68 and 104 of the Transport Act 2000 provide the Secretary of State with powers to issue directions to the Civil Aviation Authority on how it should manage the UK’s airspace. These powers are set out in The Civil Aviation Authority (Air Navigation) Directions, the latest version of which came into force on 1 January 2018.
A copy of these directions can be found in the Air Navigation Guidance 2017 which the department published on 24 October 2017.
Asked by: Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how the needs of general aviation pilots will be addressed under any future airspace strategy.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
General aviation is a key stakeholder in the successful delivery of airspace modernisation and the creation of a future airspace which is efficient and meets the reasonable requirements of all airspace users. The specific needs of general aviation pilots will be considered by the independent airspace regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority, when determining proposals to amend the UK airspace design or with any other measure that may affect them.
Last year, the Secretary of State commissioned NATS to produce a feasibility assessment of the potential future demands for airspace of airports in the South of the UK. This work was the first step in the co-ordination of airspace modernisation, examining its feasibility and potential implementation. It was a design requirement of the NATS modelling that the total volume of controlled airspace does not increase and that where possible, controlled airspace would be released to other airspace users, including general aviation. The Government expects to publish the high level findings of this later in 2018.
Asked by: Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to applying for a derogation from the European Aviation Safety Authority to allow pilots over the age of 65 to continue to fly commercial aircraft.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The age restriction for commercial air transport pilots is set both globally by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and in Europe by the European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA). The standards were developed to minimise the risk of pilot incapacitation, error or reduced physical or mental performance affecting the safety of commercial air transport operations.
The European Aviation Safety Agency has commissioned a ‘Pilots’ Age Limits’ research study. The results of this study are anticipated to provide evidence for EU rulemaking on pilot age limits, specifically whether or not the current upper age limits should be retained, amended or removed and whether mitigations to offset any increase in medical risk can be put in place if they are amended or removed. Although the study was commissioned primarily to review the age 60 upper age limit for single pilot commercial air transport operations, the evidence gathered will also influence the age 65 upper age limit for multi pilot commercial air transport operations. The Government will review the conclusions of this study closely.