| In the United Kingdom, one of the most | | | | aerospace activities, which should be |
| important regulatory bodies in the aerospace | | | | understood by aerospace professionals. The |
| industry is the Civilian Aviation Authority, | | | | function of the CAA that professionals will |
| or the CAA. The CAA was created in 1972 to | | | | become most familiar with is the licensing of |
| act as a public organization to oversee all | | | | aviation and aerospace professionals. Flight |
| elements of British domestic aviation. The | | | | crew, engineering, and air traffic controller |
| CAA was formally made the government's | | | | licensing all run through the CAA and regular |
| aviation regulator with the Civil Aviation | | | | license upgrades and renewals are required. |
| Act in 1982, which replaced the Department of | | | | In a similar vein, the CAA monitors medical |
| Transport in this role. Aerospace | | | | regulations and facilitates physicals for |
| professionals, from engineers to pilots, need | | | | aviation personnel that are involved in |
| to know about the CAA's regulatory functions | | | | regular flights. |
| and jurisdiction in order to better | | | | |
| understand the British aerospace industry. | | | | Aerospace professionals may become intimately |
| | | | familiar with the professional licensing |
| Aerospace professionals should first | | | | aspects of the CAA but there are a number of |
| understand the jurisdiction in which the CAA | | | | other functions that are equally important. |
| provides regulation and consultation. The | | | | The CAA regulates the United Kingdom register |
| Civilian Aviation Authority is the sole | | | | of aircraft, which is necessary to maintain |
| regulator for flights within the United | | | | an accurate record of all planes in the |
| Kingdom, from small charters to regularly | | | | region. As well, the CAA regulates the |
| scheduled airliners. However, the | | | | licensing of airplanes and other aircraft in |
| international nature of airline travel has | | | | the United Kingdom. The CAA not only |
| required consultation and team work with | | | | regulates individual aircrafts and |
| European aviation organizations in order to | | | | professionals but leads the charge against |
| facilitate safe and efficient travels. When | | | | unfair aerospace business practices. The |
| international regulations come into effect, | | | | CAA's regulatory function allows it to manage |
| the CAA's offices in London act as the local | | | | public aviation organizations while |
| office for the European Aviation Safety | | | | regulating against private monopolies. In |
| Agency. CAA officials also act on regulatory | | | | all, the CAA's jurisdictional and regulatory |
| boards of the EASA which determine | | | | functions allow it to deal with safety and |
| regulations and enforcement policies. | | | | economic issues in the UK's aerospace |
| | | | industry. Aerospace professionals who |
| The CAA has broad authority as the United | | | | understand the nuances of the CAA will |
| Kingdom's regulatory of aviation and | | | | function better in their jobs. |