Civil Aviation Act 1971

Constitution and functions

1 Constitution of the Authority

(1) There shall be a body corporate, to be called the Civil Aviation Authority (and hereafter in this Act referred to as " the Authority "), which shall be constituted in accordance with the following provisions of this section.

(2) The Authority shall consist of not less than six nor more than twelve persons appointed by the Secretary of State to be members of the Authority; and the Secretary of State—

(a) shall appoint one member to be the chairman of the Authority; and

(b) may appoint not more than two other members to be deputy chairmen of the Authority.

(3) The provisions of Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the Authority.

(4) It is hereby declared that the Authority is not to be regarded as the servant or agent of the Crown or as enjoying any status, privilege or immunity of the Crown or (subject to the provisions of this Act relating to stamp duty) as exempt from any tax, duty, rate, levy or other charge whatsoever, whether general or local, and that its property is not to be regarded as property of or held on behalf of the Crown.

(5) In Part II of Schedule 1 to the [1957 c. 20.] House of Commons Disqualification Act 1957, as it applies in relation to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, after the entry relating to the Channel Tunnel Planning Council there shall be inserted the words “The Civil Aviation Authority”; and in the Part substituted for the said Part II by Schedule 3 to that Act in relation to the Senate and House of Commons of Northern Ireland, after the entry relating to the Central Council for Agricultural and Horticultural Co-operation there shall be inserted the words aforesaid.

2 Functions of the Authority

The functions of the Authority shall be—

(a) the functions conferred on it by the following provisions of this Part of this Act;

(b) the functions conferred on it by or under Part II of this Act with respect to the licensing of air transport, the licensing of the provision of accommodation in aircraft, the provision of air navigation services, the operation of aerodromes and the provision of assistance and information;

(c) such functions as are for the time being conferred on it by or under Air Navigation Orders with respect to the registration of aircraft, the safety of air navigation and aircraft (including airworthiness), the control of air traffic, the certification of operators of aircraft and the licensing of air crews and aerodromes ;

(d) such other functions as are for the time being conferred on it by virtue of this Act or any other enactment.