Legislation – Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Act 2021
Changes to legislation:
Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Act 2021, Section 2 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 23 December 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 2:
- Sch. 8 para. 2(3)(b)(ia) inserted by S.I. 2025/1284 Sch. 3 para. 2(2)(c)
- Sch. 8 para. 2(6)(aa) inserted by S.I. 2025/1284 Sch. 3 para. 2(4)(b)
- Sch. 8 para. 5(ba)(bb) inserted by S.I. 2025/1284 Sch. 3 para. 3(b)
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- Sch. 8 para. 2(3)(b)(ia) inserted by S.I. 2025/1284 Sch. 3 para. 2(2)(c)
- Sch. 8 para. 2(6)(aa) inserted by S.I. 2025/1284 Sch. 3 para. 2(4)(b)
- Sch. 8 para. 5(ba)(bb) inserted by S.I. 2025/1284 Sch. 3 para. 3(b)
PART 1Airspace change proposals
2Direction to progress airspace change proposal
(1)
The Secretary of State may give a direction to a person involved in airspace change requiring the person to do one or more of the following—
(a)
prepare an airspace change proposal or take steps towards the preparation of an airspace change proposal;
(b)
submit an airspace change proposal to the CAA;
(c)
take steps to obtain approval to an airspace change proposal that has been submitted to the CAA;
(d)
review the operation of an airspace change proposal that has been implemented (having been approved).
(This is subject to subsection (4).)
(2)
For the purposes of this Part, a person is involved in airspace change if the person is—
(a)
an air navigation service provider,
(b)
an airport operator, or
(c)
another person with functions relating to air navigation.
(3)
Before giving a direction to a person under subsection (1) the Secretary of State must consult the person.
(4)
The Secretary of State may give a direction under subsection (1) only if the Secretary of State considers that the direction will assist in the delivery of the CAA’s airspace strategy.
(5)
A direction given to a person under subsection (1) may require the person, in doing what the person is directed to do, to—
(a)
act in accordance with procedures published by the CAA, and
(b)
have regard to guidance published by the CAA concerning those procedures.
(6)
A direction given to a person under subsection (1) may—
(a)
require the person to do specified things by specified dates;
(b)
require the person to keep the CAA informed at specified intervals of the progress being made towards doing what the person is directed to do.
(7)
The references in subsection (5) to procedures and guidance published by the CAA are to procedures and guidance published by the CAA in accordance with directions given (from time to time) under section 66 of the Transport Act 2000 (air navigation directions given by the Secretary of State to the CAA).