Recommendation 1

The evidence that we have taken indicated that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) got off to a slow start with implementing the spaceflight regulations. Some people in the launch sector reported that their engagement with the CAA was more cumbersome than they would have wished. However, it is clear that during the past year, the CAA has taken steps to expand its team dedicated to space launch and to improve its engagement with licence applicants. We are pleased to hear that the regulatory experiences of the UK launch sector are moving in a positive direction, and we encourage the CAA to continue this trajectory. However, more can be done to streamline the regulatory process to help ensure that the UK launch sector can reach its full potential. As the spaceflight regulations were put in place before any implementation could take place, there is now a need for the regulations and their implementation to date to be reviewed. We are encouraged to hear that the Government does intend to conduct this review, but recommend that it does so at pace, publishing the outcomes of the review and the planned improvements to the regulatory process by September 2023. Focus should be placed on streamlining the process and improving the experience for both licence applicants and the CAA, whilst maintaining the best safety standards.

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