CAA airspace reform, Manchester route and drone updates
28 June 2026
The big theme this week is airspace. The CAA has moved on several fronts at once, from proposals on how UK airspace is modernised to practical changes around flying in Manchester airspace. For pilots, that means the consultation papers and local route details are worth a careful look before the next trip. There is also a fresh reminder for drone users to use the new airspace notification system, with the CAA now appointed to oversee drone safety standards more broadly. On the club and airfield side, the AAIB has dispatched a team to Dunkeswell Airfield, and the LAA has both a vacancy and rally ticket news for those planning ahead. And because summer weekends fill up fast, there is already a healthy list of fly-ins and airshows on the calendar, including events at Cotswold Airport, Monewden and Stoke Medway.
Drone users reminded of new airspace notification system. The CAA is reminding drone users about its new airspace notification system, ACOMS, which is intended to make notifications of flying activity simpler, faster and more accurate. The regulator says the service has already handled more than 900 RPAS activities from 351 sponsors since it was rolled out in June, helping meet growing demand for access to UK airspace. The system is now available through the CAA Customer Portal, where users can register before applying for ACOMS. The CAA says the resulting notifications can be shared through aeronautical information for a wide range of users, from recreational pilots and kite fliers to airports and commercial operators.
Before your next flight, check whether your route is affected by the Manchester airspace changes, and make sure any drone activity in your area is using the new notification system correctly. A quick briefing-room check now can save a re-plan later.
The UK’s first designated air traffic control zone was introduced at London Airport in 1946, helping shape the modern airspace system pilots use today.
In the circuit
UK aviation regulator proposes reform of how UK airspace is modernised
The Civil Aviation Authority has opened a consultation on reforming the UK airspace change process, saying the aim is to make airspace modernisation more proportionate, more timely and still evidence-based and transparent. The regulator says the changes are intended to reflect what has and has not worked since the current process began in 2018, and to take account of the new UK Airspace Design Service. The CAA says modernised airspace will be important for resilience, capacity, and the safe integration of newer aircraft and other airspace users, while supporting wider transport and environmental goals. Chief executive Rob Bishton described the consultation as a critical step towards delivering the airspace modernisation the UK needs.
Regulator sets out possible improvements for flying in Manchester airspace
The UK Civil Aviation Authority has published a review of the Manchester Low-Level Route, setting out possible ways to improve both safety and efficiency for light aircraft pilots using the route between Manchester and Liverpool. The report says the corridor gives General Aviation pilots a direct VFR path without needing to go over high terrain or water, and notes that the regulator is considering changes such as a higher upper limit, a different airspace classification, and, possibly, restricted airspace. The CAA says further work is needed before any of the ideas can move forward, and that it will continue talking with Manchester Airport, Liverpool Airport, their air traffic control providers and the local General Aviation community. The report was published on 26 June 2026.
UK Civil Aviation Authority appointed to oversee safety standards for drones
The Civil Aviation Authority says it has been appointed as the UK’s Market Surveillance Authority for drones, giving it a new role in checking that drones placed on the market meet the required product standards. The CAA says this is intended to strengthen safety and security while supporting the sector’s growth, with oversight focused on manufacturers, importers and distributors. The page notes that, from 1 January 2026, drones in the Open Category are subject to new Class Marking product standards under retained EU law. The CAA says it will intervene where there is non-compliance, and that the change should give drone users greater confidence that the aircraft they buy meet safety requirements.
The AAIB has dispatched a team to Dunkeswell Airfield, Devon
The AAIB says it has launched an investigation after a light aircraft accident at Dunkeswell Airfield, Devon, which was notified to the Branch on 26 June 2026. A team of inspectors is on its way to the site. For local pilots and club members, the key point is simply that the AAIB has taken the event into its formal investigation phase, with no further detail given in this notice. The page provides the Branch’s media contact numbers and confirms the story was published on 26 June 2026.
Engineering Employment Opportunity - Design Verification Engineer
The Light Aircraft Association is recruiting a Design Verification Engineer to join the team at Turweston. The role is focused on evaluating and approving designs for the LAA-managed fleet, including reviews of modifications and repairs, checks on new designs against airworthiness codes, and assessments of new examples of existing types. The post is full-time, with some hybrid or remote working and site visits possible, and the advertised salary is £35,000 to £60,000 depending on experience. Applicants need relevant engineering experience, good communication skills, IT competence, and must be eligible to work in the UK; CVs are to be sent to the association’s office.
LAA RALLY ENTRANCE TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE!!!
The Light Aircraft Association says entrance tickets for the 2026 Rally are now available through the LAA Shop. The news item is dated 24 June 2026 and sits alongside the association’s wider rally announcements for this year’s 80th-anniversary celebrations. That is all the linked page search result supports, so readers should refer to the original notice for any further ticketing detail.
On the calendar
4 July 2026
Stoke Medway & Invicta Aero Club Airshow, Stoke Medway Airfield
On 4 July 2026, Stoke Medway Airfield hosts the Stoke Medway Airfield & Invicta Aero Club Airshow 2026 in Middle Stoke, Rochester. The organiser says visitors can expect a day of thrilling aerial displays, live entertainment, great food, and family fun, with an action-packed programme of spectacular aerobatic performances. For UK GA pilots and enthusiasts, it’s a handy chance to enjoy a local airshow at a familiar airfield and keep in touch with club flying and aviation-themed events.
4 July 2026
Open Weekend & Fly-in, Cotswold Airport
4–5 July 2026: Cotswold Airport’s Open Weekend invites aviation enthusiasts, families and visitors from across the South-West to explore the airfield from 10am to 4pm. The headline draw is rare access to aircraft including the resident Boeing 747 ‘Negus’ and Boeing 727 M-STAR, plus visiting warbirds, helicopter rides, airside tours, live music and family attractions. For UK GA pilots and enthusiasts, it’s a chance to combine a fly-in atmosphere with close-up aircraft access, on-airfield action and a strong community feel at one of the country’s most distinctive GA destinations.
4 July 2026
Suffolk Coastal Strut Fly-in, Monewden Airfield
On 4 July 2026, Suffolk Coastal Strut is hosting a fly-in at Monewden Airfield near Woodbridge, with PPR required and a landing fee of £10 that includes drinks and biscuits. The FLYER listing also notes an extra charge for BBQ, making this a straightforward, sociable outing for UK GA pilots and enthusiasts who want a friendly Suffolk stopover. Monewden describes itself as a GA-friendly family-run strip, which adds to the appeal for visiting light aircraft crews.
5 July 2026
Lundy Sunday Fly-in moves 2026 date to beat weather
On Sunday, 2026-07-05, Bodmin Airfield’s Lundy Sunday Fly-in returns for its 25th outing, bringing pilots to Lundy Island off the North Devon coast. Organiser Pete White says the event draws support from flyers across the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands, and that PPR is essential before joining. For UK GA pilots, the appeal is the chance to fly into one of the country’s most distinctive island destinations, with a strong sense of aviation history and the possibility of seeing the Auster 5 G-AJXC back on the island for the first time since the 1950s.
10 July 2026
SleapKosh 2026
10–12 July 2026 at Sleap Airfield, SleapKosh returns as Shropshire Aero Club’s fly-in weekend for fly-in visitors and SAC members, with day visits, camping, a trade show and a full airshow programme. The club says bookings are open and fly-in slots must be prebooked, making this a strong draw for UK GA pilots who want a lively under-wing camping weekend with displays, exhibitors and social flying atmosphere.