Catalogue description Records created or inherited by the Civil Aviation Authority

Following dissatisfaction with the operation of arrangements for licensing independent air services, the government mounted enquiries between 1967 and 1969, and the resulting act of 1971 established a Civil Aviation Authority, which began work in April 1972. This body took over the functions of the Air Transport Licensing Board and those of the Air Registration Board, together with duties previously exercised by the Department of Trade and Industry's civil aviation divisions.

The duties so transferred pertained to the economic and technological supervision of British civil aviation, some training and safety functions, responsibilities for the control of environmental nuisance, the operation of navigation services, the management of certain aerodromes, (including the Board of Trade's Scottish aerodromes, ownership of which was transferred to the CAA), and the Aeronautical Information Service.

The overall aims of the CAA were, in general, to promote the prosperous conduct and best interests of the British aviation industry and, in particular, to ensure the continuing operation of at least one large British independent airline. Between six and twelve members were appointed by, and advised and reported to, the trade and industry secretary (later the transport secretary), who had some supervisory control over the CAA's finances. The authority was otherwise independent of the department, and was expected to conduct its affairs on a commercial basis.

The Civil Aviation Act 1980 increased the authority's discretionary powers, and lessened the degree of control exercised by the secretary of state. The Civil Aviation Act 1982 further defined the authority's powers and objectives.