Useful Information

National Policies, Strategies and Work Programmes

Click/tap on a heading to find out about the current policies and strategies of interest to UKACCs.

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Department for Transport (DfT)

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero:

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Airport Consultative Committees (ACCs). Click/tap on a heading to see more.

  1. What is an Airport Consultative Committee (ACC)?
    ACCs are independent forums established by airport operators to facilitate open, honest, and constructive dialogue between airports and their local stakeholders, including communities, businesses, passengers, and other interest groups.
  2. Why are ACCs important?
    ACCs play a critical role in promoting transparency, fostering trust, and helping to ensure that airports consider the views and concerns of local stakeholders in their operations and future plans.
  3. Are ACCs mandatory?
    No, however Department for Transport Guidelines considers that the best means of meeting an airport’s statutory obligations is through ACCs. ACCs are established under Section 35(1) of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 (as amended), which requires airports to provide adequate facilities for consultation with stakeholders.
  4. Do ACCs have decision-making powers?
    No, ACCs do not have executive or decision-making powers. They act as advisory bodies, providing recommendations, constructive challenge and feedback to airport management.

  1. How are ACCs structured?
    ACCs are structured differently depending on the local circumstances of the airport and its surrounding community. They typically include representatives from local authorities, businesses, community groups, passengers, environmental interests, airlines/aviation businesses and other stakeholders that may have an interest in an airport’s operations.
  2. Who funds ACCs?
    ACCs are generally funded by the airport, but they operate independently through mechanisms such as independent chairs, secretaries, and terms of reference.
  3. What is the role of ACC members?
    ACC members represent their respective organisations or communities, gather views before meetings, actively participate in discussions, and provide feedback to their organisations after meetings.
  4. What is the role of the ACC Chair and Secretary?
    The Chair conducts meetings effectively and constructively. They decide on the topics that form the agenda for meetings and engages at a high level with senior airport managers and external stakeholders. Where an ACC also has a Secretary, the Secretary manages administrative tasks, ensures transparency, and facilitates communication between members and stakeholders.

  1. How do ACCs engage with stakeholders?
    ACCs engage through regular meetings, external communications (e.g., newsletters, websites, and reports), and consultations with local communities, businesses, and government agencies, including the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
  2. What issues do ACCs typically discuss?
    ACCs discuss a wide range of topics, including passenger experience, environmental impacts (e.g. noise and air quality, climate change), airport expansion plans, airspace changes, transport provision, and community support initiatives.
  3. How do ACCs handle controversial issues?
    ACCs act as facilitators of discussion, ensuring mutual respect among members and providing a platform for diverse perspectives. They aim to build trust and transparency while encouraging stakeholders to provide direct feedback to the airport through the ACC.
  4. How do ACCs monitor airport performance?
    ACCs review various performance data, such as passenger service standards, noise complaints, air quality levels, carbon reduction targets, and compliance with Noise Action Plans (NAPs) and other obligations and commitments. They provide advice and recommendations to airports based on their findings. While recommendations are non-binding, airports value input from ACCs.

  1. Do ACCs work with the government and the CAA?
    Yes, ACCs can engage with the UK government and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to provide feedback on airport operations, and participate in consultations on airspace changes and other regulatory matters.
  2. What are the Department for Transport (DfT) guidelines for ACCs?
    The DfT guidelines outline high-level principles for establishing and operating ACCs, emphasising the importance of open communication, transparency, and stakeholder engagement.
  3. Can ACCs influence government policies or airport regulations?
    While ACCs do not have direct decision-making powers, they can provide valuable insights and recommendations to airports, the government, and the CAA, which may influence policies and decisions.

  1. How do ACCs help to ensure transparency?
    ACCs promote transparency by publishing meeting minutes, agendas, annual reviews, work programmes, and reports on their websites or the airport’s website. They also encourage open communication with stakeholders.
  2. How do ACCs handle complaints?
    ACCs monitor trends and patterns in complaints, such as noise or passenger service issues, and provide advice to airports on addressing these concerns. However, ACCs are not dispute resolution forums and do not handle individual complaints.
  3. How can I contact my local ACC?
    You can typically find contact information for your local ACC on this website, the airport’s website or the ACC’s dedicated website, if available.

  1. Contact your local ACC representative
  2. Some ACCs have meetings that are open to the public to attend and observe
  3. Some ACCs set aside time in their meeting for public questions
  4. Most ACCs publish agendas, papers and/or minutes of their meetings

More information about how to get involved is given on our What is an ACC? page.