The move gives airlines and other aviation stakeholders their first formal opportunity to shape how operational data will be exchanged across UK airspace.
SWIM sets the standards, infrastructure and governance for secure, interoperable exchange of aviation information. It is intended to support data-driven air traffic management as crewed and uncrewed aircraft increasingly share the same airspace.
The regulator is asking industry which components are needed and what SWIM guidance it should provide to support the transition to a digital, information-centric operating environment.
The CAA plans to publish a SWIM Technical Architecture and Operational Scenarios for crewed users in 2027. A final Implementation Framework is due in 2028. Responses to the CAA SWIM consultation will feed into future airspace policy under the UK's Airspace Modernisation Strategy.
The CAA has not yet set out compliance obligations, implementation deadlines or cost estimates for aircraft operators. It has also not said whether airlines will need to fund system or avionics upgrades to connect to SWIM.
The CAA SWIM consultation launched on October 6 and closes on January 6, 2027.
