What is airspace?

Airspace is a three-dimensional piece of sky in which aircraft fly and it forms a critical part of the national infrastructure. Like the road and rail network, it plays a vital role in facilitating the movement of people and products quickly, safely and efficiently, enabling connectivity and driving economic growth. Although the UK has some of the most congested and complex airspace in the world, the way it is managed has changed little since the 1950s.

The Future Airspace Programme at Manchester Airport forms part of the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA’s) wider Airspace Modernisation Strategy (AMS). Modernising UK airspace has the potential to bring several benefits, including reduced delays, greater reliability, more efficient operations, and the chance to build on the UK’s already world-class aviation safety record. In addition, it presents an opportunity to address some of the wider impacts of aviation such as noise and emissions.

You can find out more about our airspace change programme here.

Drones

Drones are a new challenge and present a large risk to aircraft as if a drone was to collide with an aircraft it could result in a severe accident. As a result drone operators should take extreme care when flying their drone and avoid operating near airports completely. The restrictions on flying drones near airports and airfields are legal requirements and enforced by UK aviation law. To obtain permission to fly a drone within the zone surrounding Manchester Airport, a request should be made by emailing https://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/aviationprofessionals/drones/ or https://nsf.nats.aero/drones-and-model-aircraft/ and we will get in touch with you as soon as possible to discuss details of your application.