Ok sent the CAA another FOI
How many CA 1282 forms were completed and returned in relation to bird strikes at Belfast City Airport in 2006 and 2007 also the the first 5 months of 2008 ?
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"Could you provide me with the following information.
Could you tell me the total number of bird strikes at Belfast harbour airport ( bhd ) in 2006 and 2007 ?
Also if possible the number of bird strikes in the first 4 months in 2008".
The CAA, are limited both by policy and by statute in the extent to which we are able to provide information of this nature.
Section 31(1)(g) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 provides that information is exempt information if its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the exercise by any public authority of its functions for any of the purposes specified in sub-section (2), (This exemption is reproduced below for your reference). Sub-section (2)(d) specifies the ‘purpose of ascertaining a person’s fitness or competence in relation to the management of bodies corporate or in relation to any profession or other activity which he is, or seeks to become, authorised to carry on’. The granting of an Aerodrome Licence, and the CAA being satisfied that such a Licence should remain in force, depend to a large extent on the CAA being satisfied as to the fitness and competence of the applicant or Licence holder, having regard to internationally laid down standards and requirements. It is vital that there should be the fullest and most open discussions of all relevant matters between the CAA and the organisations it regulates. This is so that any safety issues can be exposed and addressed. Such a relationship would likely be prejudiced if the CAA were willing to disclose information about its oversight of an organisation that arises out of its regulatory relationship. Accordingly, the information you requested is exempt information by reason of Section 31(1)(g).
This is a qualified exemption, which means that the information must nevertheless be disclosed unless "in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information." I have, therefore, also considered whether the public interest is served by disclosing information that relates to the CAA’s function of maintaining aviation safety.
The public interest in disclosure of the information in the reports of CAA audits includes: enabling the wider public to make informed decisions about the safety of aerodromes in the UK; transparency and open government; the public right of access to official information held; promoting the accountability of the CAA for its decisions; and improving public confidence in the safety of aerodromes.
However, disclosure of reports of safety audits of regulated organisations, including aerodromes, is likely to prejudice the CAA’s open relationship with those it regulates and the CAA’s ability to ensure that the UK’s aviation safety standards are maintained or improved. In the circumstances of this case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information that you requested.
The CAA does publish statistics on the total number of birdstrikes across the UK and these may be found on the CAA’s website at the following link:
http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=375&pagetype=90&pageid=3404
Yours sincerely
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FoIA & EIR Case Manager
