The UK aerospace industry is growing alarmed at what it sees as a policy vacuum under the new prime minister, Andy Burnham, with fears that he may not even appear at this year’s Farnborough International Airshow – a traditional fixture for premiers to show support for a sector that employs hundreds of thousands.
The concern, reported by Aviation International News, comes as the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) pushes ahead with a proposal to require e-Conspicuity devices on aircraft currently exempt from ADS-B, a move the authority says is intended to reduce the risk of midair collisions. But industry insiders worry that the wider policy agenda is stalling.
“UK aerospace industry worried as PM Andy Burnham may skip Farnborough airshow, with proposals seen as discriminatory.”
Adding to the unease is a separate proposal that critics say could discriminate against the business aviation sector. Details of the proposed measure are not specified in the report, but the industry is already bracing for potential regulatory headwinds under the Burnham government.
The prime minister’s apparent reluctance to attend the airshow – if confirmed – would mark a break with tradition. Previous prime ministers have used the biennial event to announce investment, sign export deals, and reaffirm the UK’s status as a global aerospace hub. Burnham’s absence would be interpreted by many as a signal that aerospace is not a priority for his administration.
The developments unfold against a backdrop of broader aviation policy shifts elsewhere: the US Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a noise rule for supersonic flight over land and backed radar altimeter coexistence with 5G in the FCC’s C-band auction, while Spike Aerospace has welcomed an FAA supersonic NPRM as a step toward a new era. In California, an aviation coalition is supporting a fuel tax bill that would send 20% of revenue to general aviation airports. The industry group GAMA has also submitted a policy white paper urging the European Commission to recognise the sector’s importance.
But for the UK, the immediate question is whether Burnham will engage. Without clear direction from Downing Street, industry leaders fear that Britain risks falling behind in the global race for aerospace investment and innovation. The CAA’s e-Conspicuity rule may reduce collision risks, but it is no substitute for a comprehensive industrial strategy – something the industry says is conspicuously absent.
