About us

The Military Aviation Authority is responsible for the regulation, assurance and enforcement of the defence air operating and technical domains.


Privacy Notice

On 25th May 2018 the General Data Protection Regulation came into effect and MOD, including the MAA, are required to comply with its requirements. The standards which individuals can expect when we ask for, hold or share their personal information are contained in the MOD Personal Information Charter. Our lawful basis for processing any personal data is that it is necessary for the performance of our task as the MAA for the Defence Aviation Environment including our regulatory responsibilities which we carry out in the public interest, in the exercise of official authority vested in the MAA or to comply with legal obligations to which we are subject.

Purpose

To enhance operational capability by delivering effective Air Safety regulation while fostering good practice and appropriate culture across the Defence Air Environment (DAE).

Vision

To be a world leading Air Safety Regulator.

Organizational overview

Part of the Defence Safety Authority (DSA), the MAA is responsible for the regulation, assurance and enforcement of the defence air operating and technical domains. It ensures the safe design and use of military air systems and was established in response to the recommendations made by Mr Justice Haddon-Cave in his Nimrod Review which called for a radical overhaul of military airworthiness regulation.

As the single regulatory authority responsible for regulating all aspects of air safety across the DAE, the MAA has full oversight of all defence aviation activity. Through independent audit and continuous surveillance of military aviation, the MAA aims to provide the Secretary of State for Defence (SofS), through Director General DSA (DG DSA), the necessary assurance that appropriate standards of air safety are maintained in delivering operational capability.

The DSA was established by Charter, signed by SofS, to be responsible for all defence safety regulators. The MAA draws the authority to discharge its regulatory role by a Letter of Delegation issued by DG DSA. DG DSA is the primary convening authority for all safety related accidents. The MAA, which is located at MOD Abbey Wood (North), Bristol, is led by a 2* Director (D MAA). D MAA is supported by a 2* Director (Technical), and they collectively form the MAA Executive. They are responsible for directing the organisation, setting strategy and prioritising outputs to ensure delivery of MAA strategic and regulatory outcomes.

The organization consists primarily of two 1-Star headed Groups supported by a Chief of Staff (COS) area providing an enabling function across the MAA.

  • The Regulations and Certification (Reg & Cert) group delivers effective regulations to meet the intent of MAA policy across flying, ATM, design and continuing airworthiness areas and the technical certification of new air systems and major changes to ensure compliance with baseline design requirements. It also incorporates a more specialized International Engagement and Recognition (IE&R) Division and has administrative reporting responsibility for the Design approved organization scheme (DAOS) branch, which maintains close functional links with all Operating Assurance Group (OAG) activity.
  • Operating Assurance. The OAG regulates the operation of all air systems registered as UK military aircraft and all activity within the UK DAE. It provides the main delivery arm of the MAA’s assurance activity. It collects, processes and disseminates intelligence concerning risk to life within, and the performance of, the Regulated Community (RC) to construct a rich picture. Analysis of this picture and co-ordination of OAG activity enables the Risk Based Assurance (RBA) of the RC. It focuses on the operating and engineering activity conducted by ADH and ADH-facing organizations and contractor organizations regulated under MAA approval schemes. It also incorporates the Test, Evaluation and Special Tasks (TEST) division, responsible for test and evaluation and special projects.
  • The enabling function provides a range of support services across the MAA. Headed by a military COS, it comprises a number of smaller, interlinked teams: command plans; futures, development and strategy; business compliance; finance; legal services; and the delivery of air safety training.

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