About ACOG

ACOG’s role is to coordinate the delivery of key aspects of the UK Government’s Airspace Modernisation Strategy (PDF, 2MB) that will contribute to the Government’s vision for quicker, quieter and cleaner flights. These initiatives form the core of the Airspace Modernisation Strategy (AMS) and involve the redesign of airspace across the UK to make the most of the capabilities of modern aircraft and navigational technologies that have been developed in recent years.

ACOG was formed in 2019 as a fully independent organisation within NATS under the direction of the UK Government Department for Transport and Civil Aviation Authority, who are the co-sponsors of the Airspace Modernisation Strategy. ACOG operates independently of NATS and the airports that make up the programme, reporting into an ACOG Steering Committee governed by an independent Chair.

The cornerstone of ACOG’s work is to create and maintain the Airspace Masterplan. Produced in collaboration with aviation stakeholders involved in airspace modernisation, over time the Masterplan will provide detailed information on the airspace design options under development, the potential areas of overlap between individual changes and the compromises and trade-offs that may need to be made to integrate them effectively.

The airspace change programme is recognised by Government as a critical investment in the national transport infrastructure. There is also recognition within Government that to be truly transformative, the needs of other airspace users such as General Aviation, drone operators and the Military, will also need to be considered as the programme progresses.