Safety issues/ concerns raised

Summary

A request was made for all public safety concerns and actions taken at the Isle of Man airport over the past five years, specifically regarding air traffic control. The Department of Infrastructure refused to disclose the information, citing an absolute exemption under aviation safety reporting laws.

Key Facts

• The request covered safety concerns at the airport for the past 5 years.
• The Department of Infrastructure refused the request on 27 June 2025.
• The refusal was based on Section 27(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015.
• The Civil Aviation (Occurrence Reporting) Order 2020 prohibits the disclosure of safety data.
• The requester has the right to an internal review or appeal to the Information Commissioner.

Data Disclosed

• 4753789
• 2025-06-25
• 2025-06-27
• 2025-09-09
• 5 years
• Section 27(1)(a)
• Article 12
• 2020
• 2 pages
• 1 document

Exemptions Cited

• Section 27(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015
• Civil Aviation (Occurrence Reporting) Order 2020 Article 12

Original Request

I am requesting and submitting a FOI request in relation to all public safety concerns that have been raised at the airport for the past 5 years and the outcomes and actions taken to address them. Specifically but not exclusively to any Air traffic control related issues.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Contact: FOI Response Team Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: dpo-doi@gov.im

Our ref: 4753789 27 June 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 25 June 2025, which states:

"I am requesting and submitting a FOI request in relation to all public safety concerns that have been raised at the airport for the past 5 years and the outcomes and actions taken to address them. Specifically, but not exclusively to any Air traffic control related issues."

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the information is absolutely exempt from disclosure on the basis that disclosure is prohibited under Section 27(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015, which states that the information is absolutely exempt information if its disclosure by the public authority holding it is prohibited by or under any statutory provisions.

The statutory provision in question is the Civil Aviation (Occurrence Reporting) Order 2020. Under Article 12 of this order, safety data and safety information is absolutely exempt information for the purpose of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (information the disclosure of which is restricted by law).

Please quote the reference number 4753789 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on;

1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or
2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
   In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.