As part of its continuing business efficiency programme, the CAA has introduced a ‘winter break’ period between Christmas and the New Year. For this winter, 2006/07, the winter break will result in the CAA’s offices at CAA House, Aviation House and those in the regions being closed for all normal operations between Monday 25 December 2006 and Monday 1 January 2007 inclusive. The break will enable us to make more resources available during the busier times of the year, and will enable some energy savings to be made by operating office heating and air conditioning systems at minimum levels during the period of the break.
To ensure that you are not inconvenienced by this decision the CAA’s individual business areas will be making appropriate arrangements for dealing with operational emergencies and any business that cannot be deferred until 2 January, during the shutdown period. Please refer to individual business areas for more specific out of hour details;
Corporate Communications
Medical Department
Personnel Licensing
Safety Data Department : It will not be possible to contact the Safety Investigation and Data Department by telephone during the period of the CAA Winter Break. However, Mandatory Occurrence Reports and other information may still be submitted to the usual e-mail address: sdd@srg.caa.co.uk and fax number; 01293 573972. These will be processed on our return.
Commercial Operations : The CAA will provide a service to cover emergencies for unforeseen circumstances, particularly where commercial air transport operations are affected. This is in addition to already agreed arrangements for the issue of permits to fly following ground damage to an aircraft operated for commercial air transport.
International Aviation - Noise Exemptions
For the purposes of an urgent noise exemption there will be a skeleton staff available on the usual number (see our guidance notes) between Wednesday 27 December and Friday 29 December during normal office hours. If you need to reach us between 23-27 December or 30 December-1 January (or out of normal office hours) regarding an exemption request that cannot be deferred until 2 January, please use our out-of-hours service, details of which are also in the guidance notes .
Airspace Utilisation (AUS)
Any individual or organisation anticipating the need for the co-ordination and/or notification of an Unusual Aerial Activity (UAA) during the afore mentioned period or within the 2 weeks following this period is reminded of the need to comply with the current advance notification requirements detailed in the UK AIP and JSP552. If in doubt, UAA sponsors should make contact with AUS at least 28 days in advance of the start of the closed down period through the normal channels.Emergency Flying Restrictions and Royal Flight Notifications will be handled during the afore mentioned closed down period as per current out of hours arrangements.
Incidents and Accidents
Serious incidents and accidents should continue to be notified to the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch and the CAA as necessary.
In the case of an urgent need to contact the CAA over the period please contact the main CAA switchboard number. This number should be used for assistance whereupon you will be given an emergency contact number for the appropriate functional area.
The CAA switchboard
During the office closure, urgent calls to the CAA main enquiry numbers (01293 567171 and 0207 379 7311) will be dealt with by Security Staff who will be able to pass calls on regulatory matters to appropriate on-call staff.
