The Military Aviation Authority (MAA) is an organisation within the United Kingdom (UK) Ministry of Defence (MOD), and is the single regulatory authority responsible for regulating all aspects of air safety across all service branches of the British Armed Forces. The MAA has full oversight of all defence aviation activity within the United Kingdom, and overseas locations where British military aircraft and / or military unmanned air systems (UAS; unmanned aerial vehicle along with its ground-based controller system, collectively known as 'drones' in common parlance) are permanently based, or deployed on a temporary basis. The MAA is also responsible for the allocation and assignment of the United Kingdom military aircraft registration mark to all British military aircraft on the United Kingdom Military Aircraft Register (UK MAR). Its stated aim or 'vision' is to be "a world class air safety regulator".
Organisational structure The Military Aviation Authority is part of the Ministry of Defence, but operates independently, via a Charter signed by the Secretary of State for Defence. The MAA is headed by its Director, currently Air Vice Marshal Peter J. M. Squires, ; assisted by its Technical director, Rear Admiral Thomas Manson.
History The Military Aviation Authority was established on , in response to the recommendations made by Mr Justice Haddon-Cave in his Nimrod Review, which called for a radical overhaul of military airworthiness regulation.
The MAA incorporates the former Directorate of Aviation Regulation & Safety (DARS), previously known as the Defence Aviation Safety Centre (DASC) which had been located at RAF Bentley Priory in Greater London until the station closed in 2008 and the organisation subsequently moved to RAF Northolt. The MAA is currently located within the North building of MOD Abbey Wood at Filton in Bristol, south-west England.
On 1 April 2015, the MAA became part of the Defence Safety Authority (DSA).
Principal personnel
The Military Aviation Authority is led by: Director – Air Vice Marshal Peter J. M. Squires Technical director – Rear Admiral Thomas Manson
Previous personnel Director general Air Marshal Tim Anderson (2010–2013) Air Marshal Richard Garwood (2013–2015)
Director Rear Admiral Paul Chivers (2015–2018) Air Vice-Marshal Stephen Shell (2018–2021) Air Vice Marshal Alan Gillespie (2021–2025) Air Vice Marshal Peter J. M. Squires (2025–present)
References
External links Military Aviation Authority — official website on GOV.UK