A new Military Aviation Authority (MAA) which will provide the regulatory framework for all aspects of military aviation has started work today, Thursday 1 April 2010.

The MAA will take over responsibility from the various organisations across Defence who currently deliver military airworthiness regulation.

The establishment of the MAA was a key recommendation of the independent Nimrod Review Report written by Mr Charles Haddon-Cave QC and published in October 2009.

The MOD has formed a senior team with the appropriate blend of skills and experience necessary to lead and develop this new organisation as the centrepiece of a new military aviation safety regime.

The senior team consists of:

• Air Marshal Timo Anderson, who has been selected as the first Director General of the MAA, a post he takes up from today. As Director General, his primary role will be to direct the work of the MAA, and ensure that the regulation and assurance of military aviation is delivered coherently and effectively.
• Rear Admiral Simon Charlier as MAA Operating Director. He will be responsible for flight operations, flight test and air traffic management.
• Air Vice Marshal Charles Ness as MAA Technical Director. His responsibilities will include technical regulations, organisational approvals and, in due course, aircraft military type certificates.

Air Marshal Anderson said:

“Mr Haddon-Cave QC made it clear in his Report that the MOD needs to overhaul radically the way it regulates and assures military airworthiness.

“The Secretary of State for Defence supported this view when he responded, on behalf of the Government, shortly before Christmas.

“Since then, much effort has gone into establishing the necessary change process and the platform from which to initiate it with the launch of the Military Aviation Authority (MAA) today.

“From today, the MAA will bring together, under an independent unitary body, the existing functions and people who deliver military aviation regulation and assurance across Defence.

“The MAA will be founded on three strong, linked pillars. The Operating Safety Regulation Group will regulate and assure flight operations, flight test and air traffic management functions; it will be headed up by Rear Admiral Simon Charlier.

“The Technical Safety Regulation Group will issue technical regulations, issue approvals to organisations and assure technical airworthiness; this group will be led by AVM Charles Ness.

“Finally, a single Military Air Accident Investigation Branch will support all Service Inquiries into military accidents that I convene.”

From April 2010, the MAA will have a small headquarters based at MOD Ensleigh (Bath). However, the longer-term aim, consistent with the Nimrod Review, is to create a tangible organisation at a single collocated site.

Source: MOD UK
Picture: Rob Vogelaar ZAP16 Group