Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of changing Class E airspace to transponder mandatory zones on the operation of gliding clubs in the UK.

There has been no assessment of the potential impacts of changing Class E airspace to transponder mandatory zones. Any such assessments are a matter for the independent Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

However, as the Government continues to modernise our airspace, it needs to be mindful of longer term changes that will have an impact on wider airspace management. This includes the increasing need to enable the safe integration, rather than segregation, of all aircraft. This is why, as part of the Aviation Strategy, the department is working with the CAA to explore a new policy on mandating electronic identification for all users.

All proposals to change the UK’s airspace design will need to be assessed according to the CAA’s own airspace change process which is set out in CAP1616. This includes the need to consult with all who may be affected by the proposal including members of the gliding community and other general aviation airspace users.