Shapps on Tuesday (19 July) set out plans for a new National Aviation Authority (NAA) network, bringing together regulators and global aviation leaders from across the English-speaking world. So far, the NAA has membership from the UK, United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
"The National Aviation Authorities (NAA) network’s mission is to foster cooperation between world leading aviation regulators on emerging challenges in aviation and aerospace, improving innovation and safety," said the Department for Transport (DfT).
It will support resilience within the aviation sector, ensuring a cohesive approach to new policy, collaboration on how new aviation technology is integrated and regulated, and backing for efforts to continue reducing carbon emissions.
“The aviation industry has shown immense resilience these past two years, with governments and authorities around the world working together with the sector on new challenges like slashing carbon emissions and making new technology as safe as it can be," said Shapps. “The NAA network is a huge step forward in supporting this work – helping the sector safely meet the challenges of tomorrow and improve lives for the better.”
Sir Stephen Hillier, chair of the UK CAA and the NAA governance group, continued: “This is both an exciting and a challenging time for the global aviation sector, and regulators must move quickly to build greater resilience, keep pace with rapid innovation, and work together to reduce carbon emissions.
"The NAA Network helps us strengthen collaborative approaches to common challenges and to share best practice and regulatory approaches. We’re already doing timely and important work together within the network and I very much look forward to continuing to work closely with my colleagues in Australia, Canada, the United States and New Zealand to help advance global aviation.”
Billy Nolen, acting administrator of the US Federal Aviation Administration, added: We can only achieve the next era of aviation by working collaboratively with our international partners. This network will help us with new aviation challenges, like bringing air taxis safely into operation and building a sustainable aviation system, and the FAA looks forward to working together."
The NAA, said the DfT, will "complement" other efforts to coordinate on aviation policy, such as those overseen by the International Civil Aviation Organization. The DfT added NAA network regulators have already shared best practice on safety to help plan for future external shocks, "meaning the sector will be better prepared to sustain operations in the event of a future shock on the scale of the coronavirus pandemic".
