What is the Masterplan?
Airspace modernisation is a highly complex and technical programme that has never been done before at this scale.
Because of the number of airports involved and the complexities of the programme, ACOG’s role is to coordinate these changes into a single coordinated implementation plan – or Airspace Change Masterplan. Over time, the Masterplan will provide detailed information on the airspace change proposals (ACPs).
The purpose of the Masterplan is to set out what airspace changes are needed to upgrade the UK’s airspace and deliver the objectives of airspace modernisation at a strategic level. In doing so the Masterplan will:
- identify where and when ACPs are needed, with proposed timelines for implementation;
- describe how the ACPs relate to each other (i.e. interdependencies) and highlight potential conflicts between their designs;
- explain how trade-off decisions to resolve those conflicts have been made; and
- demonstrate the anticipated cumulative impacts of the ACPs.
Iterative approach
The Masterplan is being developed in iterations that must be assessed and accepted by the airspace modernisation co-sponsors (DfT and CAA). The iterations broadly align with the gateways of the regulatory process for airspace change (known as the CAP1616 process), published here. The Masterplan will show more detail about the interdependent ACPs as the iterations are developed.
Iteration 1 (2020) of the Masterplan, provided a high-level programme plan for airspace changes in the south of England.
Iteration 2 (2022), expanded the scope of the Masterplan to provide a national view of the ACPs needed for airspace modernisation and the potential interdependencies between the proposals.
From Iteration 3 onwards the Masterplan is being developed separately for each regional. This will allow the designs brought forward by each cluster, once approved, to be deployed and the benefits realised, without waiting for all the ACPs to complete the airspace change process.
Iteration 4 of the Masterplan will be created by ACOG once feedback from the coordinated ACP consultations has been analysed and taken into account. Building on the previous iterations, Iteration 4 will provide an updated description of the airspace structure and route network envisaged by the ACPs when viewed as a collective for each cluster, including the final proposed trade-offs and the expected cumulative impacts.
