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Law Commission seeks views on air traffic management and air navigation services for uncrewed aircraft

Published:
An image of air traffic control.

Today the Law Commission has published its second consultation paper on aviation autonomy, which focuses on air traffic management and air navigation services (ATM/ANS) for uncrewed aircraft.

The consultation paper and a summary are available on the aviation autonomy project page.

The Commission is seeking views from anyone with an interest in or awareness of this area. 

In its first consultation paper on aviation autonomy, the Commission looked at the law relating to drones and vertical take-off and landing aircraft (“VTOLs”). To operate safely in integrated airspace, those uncrewed aircraft will require some form of ATM/ANS, which we refer to as uncrewed aircraft systems traffic management (“UTM”).  

In the second paper, the Commission make provisional proposals about how UTM should be regulated, and about the legal mechanisms for establishing liability when things go wrong. 

Air Traffic Management and Air Navigation Services are key to enabling safe uncrewed aircraft operations. It is paramount that we get the regulation of these services to uncrewed aircraft right, and that there are appropriate mechanisms in place if things do go wrong. We want to hear from those involved in developing autonomous aircraft or ATM/ANS to unpiloted aircraft, as well as anyone who may be affected by the regulation of autonomous aviation more generally.
Commissioner for Public Law and the Law in Wales, Professor Alison Young

Watch the video below of Professor Alison Young, Commissioner for Public Law and Law in Wales, discussing the Law Commission’s aviation autonomy consultation.

Drones and electric air taxis are exciting technology that bring unique challenges. Our Airspace Modernisation Strategy is transforming our skies to enable new innovations and the safe deployment of uncrewed aircraft is central in that work. 

The review by the Law Commission is vital; futureproofing laws and regulations is key to unlocking the next step of delivering air traffic services that enable whole new ways of flying.
Jon Round, Head of Airspace, Aerodrome and Air Traffic Management at the UK Civil Aviation Authority
Since 2019 UKRI’s Future Flight Challenge has positioned the UK as leaders in emerging aviation technologies and provided a focal point for industry, academia and government to collaborate. As technology advances and the industry prepares to operate at scale, it is critical the UK has appropriate regulatory foundations and air traffic management capabilities to enable uncrewed aircraft to operate safely, while unlocking significant economic benefits.  

This review by the Law Commission is vital and we encourage all interested parties to provide input to help shape the UK regulatory environment.
Simon Masters, Deputy Director Future Flight, Innovate UK

The consultation is open until 18 July 2025. The consultation paper and a summary are available on the aviation autonomy project page.