Originally Posted by
LookingForAJob
Shanwick is jointly operated by UK and Ireland - since the mid-60s. The Oceanic area is not over any UK territory or waters (technically it's over the High Seas as I recall). It was available to all aircraft before the UK joined the EEC, it has survived, in some ways unchanged, throughout Europe's evolution into today's EU, and will continue to be available whatever comes out of the pig's ear of negotiations between the UK and EU. Because it's broadly outside the EU's grasp, the way that Shanwick Oceanic works is generally aligned with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (without the additional rules applied to ATM within the EU).
That seems to confirm the gist of what my uncle said, many thanks for responding. I might have seriously misheard this news somewhere down the line, but what of the take that the UK doesn't meet EU standards regarding airspace once it leaves the EU? It sounds to me like the UK is world leading (give or take) in terms of quality and safety in that regard.