Carbon Monoxide in Piston Engine Aircraft – Comment Response Document

In February 2024 the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) launched a 4-week public consultation on carbon monoxide (CO) in piston engine aircraft, seeking stakeholder views on the barriers facing pilots in obtaining an active CO detector, the role that maintenance plays in combatting CO, the importance of protecting passengers from CO, and whether active CO detectors ought to be mandatory for some operations.

The CAA has now published the Comment Response Document for this consultation, which includes a summary of the responses received, the decisions made, as well as the next steps being taken.

The CAA will be issuing a Safety Directive requiring an active CO detector to be present in specified piston engine aircraft when operating with passengers on board who do not possess a recognised pilot qualification. The directive will be published later this month and will come into effect from 1 January 2025.

SW2024/221