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Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)

The CAA is the UK's aviation regulator. Its work ensures the aviation industry meets the highest safety standards and manages risks effectively. NPAS works closely with the Civil Aviation Authority in the delivery of its air operations. 

National Air Traffic Control Service (NATS)

The NATS is the UK's leading provider of air traffic control services. Its purpose is advancing aviation and keeping the skies safe. 

As part of our trials, we will seek feedback from stakeholders within the aviation industry, and other interested parties, such as airspace users and environmental groups. 

A period of engagement opened on Friday 23 November 2024, when stakeholders were invited to share their views on the proposals, in relation to the change of airspace.

Civil Aviation Authority - Airspace Change public engagement 

Friday 28 February 2025

What is the purpose of the uncrewed aircraft trials?

As technology advances, so too do the opportunities for police air support. This trial will be operating uncrewed aircraft capable of staying airborne for up to six hours and fitted with mission equipment comparable to those on the existing NPAS fleet. If trials are successful, this will enable delivery of a highly capable and sustainable blended fleet of police helicopters, aeroplanes and uncrewed aircraft in future years.

What do you plan to test in the trials?

The National Police Air Service (NPAS) is leading one of the UK’s most ambitious trials of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) in support of policing - working in partnership with the National Air Traffic Control Service (NATS) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

To view a PDF version of the NPAS 2022/23 Annual Report, please click on the link below. 

We hope this Annual Report 2022/23 provides a flavour of the role of the National Police Air Service in the policing of England and Wales.

The performance outcomes included in this report demonstrate how our crews help save lives and disrupt crime on a daily basis.

Our ability to track and search from the air is a valuable resource.

But the benefits of air support don’t end there.

We provide real-time downlink footage to assist emergency service incident commanders in the command and control of major incidents and events.

How we are funded

Most of our income comes from contributions made by police forces in England and Wales. In 2022/23, this amounted to £43,872,438.

Under the current funding model, forces determine the number of annual hours they require air support for and contribute according to those hours.

In 2022/23, we recorded a £5.467m underspend on our revenue budget.

The bulk of our annual budget is spent on staffing costs (£18.6million) and keeping our aircraft in the air (£15.6million).

With opportunities offered by the advancement of technology, the future of police aviation is exciting.

Drones are becoming an increasingly deployed tool for police forces. In fact, nationally, in 2022/23, drones were deployed 18,794 times by police forces.

We are currently exploring how Beyond the Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) un-crewed aircraft can be used to enhance the value we bring and increase the capabilities of NPAS and forces to police from the skies.