2019 infringements
| January | February | March | |
| CTA (includes airways) | 30 | 24 | 25 |
| TMA | 13 | 22 | 25 |
| CTR | 9 | 21 | 15 |
| ATZ | 6 | 4 | 6 |
| Restricted/Prohibited/Danger Areas | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| Temporary Restricted/Prohibited/Danger Areas | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TMZ | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| RMZ | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Total reported airspace infringements | 64 | 78 | 85 |
Rob Gratton, CAA lead for airspace infringements, stated that the statistics continue to show an unacceptable rise in airspace infringements. Investigations show that many pilots involved in airspace infringements are not using moving map technology or failing to use it correctly. This is particularly evident in reports of infringements which occur during instructional or training flights. Other key factors include poor planning and inadequate use of Frequency Monitoring Codes (FMC).
Infringement statistics: 2017 and 2018
| Year | 2017 | 2018 |
| Total reported airspace infringements | 1162 | 1358 |
| Airspace infringements reported December 2018 | 55 | |
| CTA (includes TMA and Airways) | 812* | 706 |
| CTR | 285 | |
| * 2017 CTA and CTR combined | ||
| ATZ | 97 | 130 |
| Restricted/Prohibited/Danger Areas (perm and temp) | 81 | 87 |
| TMZ | 57 | 76 |
| RMZ | 115 | 74 |
Airspace infringements: 2018 statistics
Causal factor analysis of airspace infringements
Analysis of airspace infringement reports from 2017 has shown that the correct use of a moving map could have helped avoid 85% of airspace infringements.
Occurrence reports from private pilots were assessed against four key measures that could have helped prevent the infringement or reduced its impact on other air traffic or controllers:
- Use of moving maps with an airspace warning
- Use of a frequency monitoring code (FMC), also known as a listening squawk
- Recognition of/dealing with overload and distraction
- Better familiarity with aircraft and equipment
The report was carried out by a sub-group of the CAA’s Airspace Infringement Working Group, made up of three experienced General Aviation pilots.
Read the full report: Causal Factor Analysis of Airspace Infringements 2017
Airspace infringement series: A controller’s story
A series of controller’s stories from NATS
Mark Davenport, an air traffic controller at Swanwick centre, talks about his experience with airspace infringements. Airspace Infringement Series: A controller’s story… (20 May 2019)
Brian Ringrose is an air traffic controller at Swanwick centre. He talks about his experience looking after airspace around Gatwick. Airspace infringement series: A controller’s story (12 April 2019)
Amanda Rhodes is an air traffic controller at Swanwick Centre. She talks about her experience looking after airspace around Luton Airport. Airspace Infringement Series: A controller’s story (22 March 2019)
