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Last updated on April 18, 2024

Government

According to Britannica, the islands are dependencies of the British crown (and not strictly part of the United Kingdom), having been so attached since the Norman Conquest of 1066, when they formed part of the duchy of Normandy. They comprise four main islands, Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark, with lesser islets and a labyrinth of rocks and reefs. They are administered according to local laws and customs, being grouped into two distinct bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey, with differing constitutions. Alderney, Sark, Herm, Jethou, Lihou, and Brecqhou are Guernsey’s dependencies, and the Ecrehous rocks and Les Minquiers are Jersey’s. The last two were the source of long-standing dispute between England and France until 1953, when the International Court of Justice confirmed British sovereignty. In the late 20th century the dispute revived, as sovereignty of these islands determines allocation of rights to economic development (specifically, petroleum) of the continental shelf.

The islands were the only British territory to endure German occupation during World War II. Anticipating invasion, some 30,000 of the islands’ then 104,000 residents evacuated before the arrival of German forces at the end of June and beginning of July 1940. The islands’ occupiers surrendered in May 1945.

Jersey is now governed under the British monarch in council by the States Assembly, in which the royally appointed bailiff presides over 8 senators, 12 constables (connétables), and 29 deputies, all popularly elected. The lieutenant governor and crown officers have seats and may speak but not vote. The Royal Court has three full-time judges: the bailiff (principal judge or president), the deputy bailiff, and the master. The bailiff and deputy bailiff are the trial judges and, together with two jurats, sit as the inferior number of the Royal Court to try civil cases and criminal matters that are not tried before a jury. The master is responsible for interlocutory matters in civil cases only. Judicial and legislative functions of jurats were not separated until 1948, when other reforms excluded from the States Assembly the jurats and the rectors of the 12 parishes. Most of the proceedings are conducted in English, though French is also an official language.

Civil / National Aviation Authority (CAA/NAA)

Island of Jersey Director of Civil Aviation – The Director of Civil Aviation (DCA) has overall responsibility to ensure the safety of civil aviation in Jersey and its airspace. The director is responsible for:

• ensuring the safety of aerodromes and air traffic
• licensing aerodromes
• approving air traffic controllers

The director is also responsible for regulating from Jersey:

• the operation of the Channel Islands Control Zone and the safety of air traffic in that zone
• the operation of meteorological services for the purposes of international air navigation in Jersey and the Channel Islands Control Zone

Airspace

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ICAO countries publish an Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP). This document is divided into three parts: General (GEN), En Route (ENR) and Aerodromes (AD). ENR 1.4 details the types of airspace classes they chose to adopt from classes A through G. Channel Islands Airspace

On 6th March 2014 Channel Islands Airspace went through a major re-classification process.

Basically, the lateral boundaries of the airspace remain untouched, airspace from the surface up to FL80 was reclassified as class D and identified as the Channel Islands CTR (Channel Island Control Zone). The lower levels of the Control Areas CTA(1) and CTA(2) from their respective base levels up to FL80 were also reclassified as Class D Airspace. From FL80 up to FL195 has been established as a Terminal Control Area (TMA) and will remain Class A Airspace.

The old CTRs around each of the Islands have been de-established.

The Channel Island TMA (Class A), CTR and CTA (Class D) been designed to protect the terminal approach and departure routes of Commercial Air Transport flights operating to and from each of the islands.

Jersey Air Traffic Control is the controlling Authority for the majority of Channel Island Airspace.

Drone Regulations

ASSI

Legal requirements for the operation of small unmanned aircraft in the UK Overseas Territories

The requirements for the use of Small Unmanned Aircraft (SUA) in the UK Overseas Territories are laid down in the Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order. The main rules for their use are laid down in Article 73, however, Article 191 highlights the other articles that also apply to the use of small unmanned aircraft.

The following ASSI SUA Information Leaflets give details of the legal requirements for the use of SUAs, as well as guidance on various activities using SUAs.

ASSI SUA Information Leaflet No 1: Legal Requirements for SUAs (Issue 1, dated August 2022)

ASSI SUA Information Leaflet No 2: Operational Guidance for SUAs (Issue 1, dated August 2022)

ASSI SUA Information Leaflet No 3: Definitions and Glossary for SUAs (Issue 1, dated August 2022)

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)

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