Part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the MAA is an independent and autonomous organization responsible for the regulation, surveillance, inspection and assurance of the Defence Air operating and technical domains. It ensures the safe design and use of military air systems.
As the single regulatory authority responsible for regulating all aspects of Air Safety across Defence, the MAA has full oversight of all Defence aviation activity. Through independent audit and continuous surveillance of military aviation, the MAA aims to provide the Secretary of State for Defence (SofS), through the 2nd Permanent Under Secretary of State for Defence (2nd PUS), the necessary assurance that appropriate standards of Air Safety are maintained in delivering operational capability.
The MAA draws the authority to discharge its regulatory role from a Charter signed by SofS. The Charter also specifies the MAA's high level governance arrangements and broad responsibilities.
The MAA, which is located at MOD Abbey Wood (North), Bristol, is led by a 3* Director General (DG). He is supported by two 2*s, Director (Operations) and Director (Technical), who collectively form the MAA Executive. The organization consists of a number of key areas:
- A Strategy and Policy Group develops and sets MAA policy and conducts strategic planning with a 5 year horizon.
- A centralized Analysis and Planning Group uses evidence to develop and resource a risk-based, operational delivery plan, which is informed by a number of activities such as audits and inspections.
- Regulatory Services Delivery Groups deliver end-to-end Regulations, Certification, Oversight and Approvals across the Defence Air Environment.
- The Enabling Services function provides a range of support services to the MAA. It comprises a number of smaller, interlinked teams – Business Plans and Finance; Secretariat and Communications; Legal Services; and Skills, Training and Talent Sustainment – who support the governance and outputs of the MAA
The Military Air Accident Investigation Branch (MAAIB), based in Farnborough, undertakes military air accident investigations in support of Service Inquiries convened by the DG.