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Aerodrome safeguarding

Our aerodrome safeguarding policy keeps the operation of the UK's second busiest airport safe and secure

Our policies on safeguarding

We’re legally obliged to have an active policy on aerodrome safeguarding. This helps keep the operation of the UK's second busiest airport safe and secure.  

Aerodrome safeguarding is the process used to ensure the safety of aircraft while manoeuvring on the ground, taking off, landing or flying in the vicinity of aerodromes. It is a requirement under both the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Regulations and the requirements are incorporated into UK legislation by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

The process is managed by our aerodrome safeguarding team. They make sure that no developments within the safeguarding zone have an adverse effect on the airport's operation. When assessing new developments.

The Aerodrome Safeguarding zone previously extended out to 15km from the Aerodrome Reference Point (ARP), however from November 2024 the area has been extended out to 55km. This results from Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) requirement in CAP 785B ‘Implementation & Safeguarding of Instrument Flight Procedures (IFPs) in the UK’. The primary purpose of Instrument Flight Procedures (IFPs) is to provide clearance from obstacles to allow safe aircraft operations to/from the airways network or the local airspace.

When assessing new developments, within the 15km Zone we consider:

 

  • Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS) 
  • Cranes and construction issues - to apply for a permit, click here
  • Technical safeguarding including Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) equipment
  • Instrument Flight Procedures (IFPs)
  • Renewable energy sources such as wind turbines and solar. We assess wind turbines out to 30km from the Aerodrome Reference Point (ARP)
  • Managing wildlife hazards 
  • Lighting schemes 
  • Public Safety Zones (PSZ) 
  • Building and/or structure induced turbulence
  • Thermal plumes from chimneys and cooling towers
  • Proposals from mobile network operators
  • Other aviation uses, such as the extension to or creation of a new aerodrome

To learn more about the above, please see the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) website.


When assessing new developments from 15km to 55km, we consider:

  • Building/structure heights in relation to Instrument Flight Procedures (IFPs)
  • Wind turbines out to 30km from the Aerodrome Reference Point (ARP)

If a development falls within our consultation criteria, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there is an issue, just that it needs to be assessed. 

Planning consultations

Gatwick Airport Ltd (GAL) is a statutory consultee through the Town and Country Planning process. It is consulted by the county and local planning authorities (LPAs) about certain developments within the safeguarding zones. The process is described further in DfT/ODPM Circular 01/2003. 

We get hundreds of consultations per year, ranging from domestic extensions to new housing estates, industrial buildings and renewable energy schemes. We also receive pre-planning application queries and respond to Local Planning Policy and Government Policy consultations.

Gatwick lodges a consultation map with each LPA within the 5km safeguarding zone. This encompasses 81 Planning Authorities.

GAL welcomes pre-application enquiries from developers and other third parties. Sometimes we may ask for changes to schemes to ensure that there will be no impact on aerodrome safety. 

We will always look to work with both LPAs and developers to find suitable solutions.

Contact us

If you'd like more details about this process or are proposing development within the safeguarding zone and would like aerodrome safeguarding advice, please email us.

Guidance

CAST Publications


CAA Publications


Government circulars