Implementation takes centre stage for aviation in 2026

After prolonged uncertainty that left many organisations hesitant to invest, UK aviation is moving out of the holding pattern and into delivery. Sagentia Aviation’s Tom Rasmussen highlights key trends for the coming year.

UK aviation is entering a period of transition. The UK’s airspace – much of it designed in the 1950s – is renowned for being among the most congested in the world, but the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Airspace Modernisation Strategy is starting to gather momentum. At the same time, airports and aerodromes face growing pressure to accommodate new technologies, sustainability goals, and competing ground environment demands. Regulatory processes are evolving too.

So, what lies ahead for aviation in 2026? The below trends highlight how this complex, safety-critical sector is likely to move from planning to implementation across five priority areas.

1. Airspace modernisation moves from planning to delivery

For much of the past decade, UK airspace modernisation has been hindered by lengthy consultations and ongoing uncertainty. While the underlying need for reform has been well understood, progress has been slow due to regulatory complexity, interdependencies between stakeholders, and a lack of clarity over funding. For many airports and aerodromes, the upshot of this has been a cautious approach to investment.

That picture is now starting to change. With the CAA’s Airspace Modernisation Strategy providing greater clarity on how airspace improvements can be developed, assessed, and approved, organisations have more confidence to move from planning into action.

Today, the focus is shifting from whether airspace modernisation should happen, to how it can be delivered safely and effectively. This brings new challenges. Implementing change will require careful coordination, robust safety assurance, and a clear understanding of how local modifications impact wider airspace. The emphasis is on managing risk, maintaining operational resilience, and delivering tangible benefits without unintended consequences.

2. Ground infrastructure steps into the spotlight

Ground-based infrastructure has always been fundamental to safe aviation, but it is now playing a more tangible role in other areas too.

Communications, navigation, surveillance, lighting, and other safety-critical systems must operate in an environment that is becoming increasingly complex. Higher air traffic volumes are just one aspect of this. Systems also need to adapt to a greater variety of airspace users and new operational concepts.

At the same time, physical developments – such as windfarms – alter the environments in which ground assets operate. Many systems, particularly those used in military aviation, are very sensitive to interference or disruption.

As a result, ground infrastructure is no longer a background consideration. Its performance and tolerance to change are increasingly central to airspace decisions and operational approvals. Seemingly small adaptations can have far-reaching implications across interconnected aviation systems.

Early assessment and rigorous safety assurance are becoming core enablers of progress. Understanding how ground assets interact with airspace, regulation, and the surrounding environment is essential so that changes can be implemented with confidence.

3. Wind energy and aviation recognise the need for coexistence

Wind energy, with its tall and dynamic structures often located in coastal regions used for aircraft ingress and egress, has often been framed in terms of conflict with aviation. However, as renewable energy development accelerates, interaction with aviation systems is becoming inevitable. The focus is shifting towards how the two sectors can coexist safely.

Enabling this coexistence requires robust assessment of how wind turbines interact with airspace, ground-based infrastructure, and safety-critical systems. This includes understanding potential effects on communication, navigation, and surveillance assets, as well as the cumulative impact of multiple developments within a region.

Carrying out these assessments early and collaboratively allows renewable projects to move forward without compromising aviation safety or operational resilience. Managing interactions in a joined-up way will be key to enable progress across both sectors.

4. Uncrewed aircraft enters controlled airspace

Uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) are moving beyond trials and demonstrations into operational use. This is most evident in targeted applications, such as medical logistics, where uncrewed systems are starting to be used to transport critical assets to remote areas or meet time-sensitive requirements.

As activity increases, primary challenges centre less on UAVs’ capabilities and more on their integration with existing traffic in controlled airspace. This involves airspace management, interaction with ground-based systems, and the development of robust safety cases that account for mixed operations involving crewed and uncrewed craft.

Progress will depend on the ability to handle these interactions safely and consistently. While regulatory frameworks to govern this are still evolving, robust procedures, effective coordination, and effective supporting infrastructure will clearly play a critical role. Organisations that can demonstrate safe integration as well as technical innovation will be best placed to move from isolated use cases to scalable operations.

5. Sustainability extends to systems as well as aircraft

Measures to reduce the environmental impacts of aviation have historically focused on aircraft emissions and fuel efficiency. Increasingly, sustainable aviation strategies also cover wider airport and aerodrome systems.

The adoption of sustainable aviation fuel and electrification of ground operations place new demands on existing infrastructure. Power supply, distribution, and compatibility with legacy systems need to be considered alongside the operational and safety implications of introducing new technologies into live environments. Finding ways to deliver on sustainability goals while maintaining standards is set to be a sector priority for 2026. Achieving this will require a clear understanding of how new systems interact with established assets. Taking a coordinated, system-wide approach, rather than focusing on individual technologies, will help deliver more meaningful progress.

Modern aviation calls for expert integration

As uncertainty around UK airspace modernisation eases, the aviation sector is poised for an era of change. Wider factors – from renewable energy growth to sustainability-driven infrastructure development and increased deployment of uncrewed systems – also bring new demands.

One thread connecting all these trends is the importance of integration. Everything needs to come together as part of a coherent aviation ecosystem. Understanding and managing the interactions between different assets and initiatives requires sound judgement and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Why Sagentia Aviation

With experience spanning both civil and military aviation environments, Sagentia Aviation supports organisations navigating complex, safety-critical change. Our independent, agile team helps clients progress with speed and confidence, improving the likelihood of successful outcomes. Projects we’ve supported include the Sheringham Shoal and Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm Extension Projects’ Development Consent Order (DCO) application. And our expertise encompasses everything from balancing wind energy development with aviation safety to the use of hydrogen as a fuel in aviation.

If you’re looking for support for the next phase of aviation modernisation, contact us here.