UK extends halon 1211 for defence and Loganair aircraft

The UK government has approved a narrow, time‑limited exception to ozone rules so certain aircraft can keep using halon 1211 in portable fire extinguishers a little longer. The Statutory Instrument, SI 2025/1276, was made on 4 December, laid on 8 December, and takes effect on 30 December 2025. We’ll walk you through what halon is, why exceptions exist, and how the dates work.

First, the science in plain English. Halon 1211 (also called bromochlorodifluoromethane) is a very effective clean‑agent for putting out fires without leaving residue, which is why it has been common in aircraft cabins. The problem is that halons destroy stratospheric ozone, the shield that filters harmful ultraviolet radiation. That’s why the Montreal Protocol put the world on a phase‑out path decades ago, and why modern laws all but ban new halon use.

Aviation has had extra time because safety comes first and hardware changes need careful certification. Under the UK’s assimilated version of EU Regulation 1005/2009, portable halon extinguishers in cabins and crew compartments were due to be removed by 31 December 2025 for most aircraft. That date is the baseline you should keep in mind when reading about any exceptions.

So what has changed? Using the legal route for ‘critical uses’ in Article 13, ministers have granted a derogation-an exception to the rule-for specific aircraft only. Three new end dates apply: 31 December 2026 for a list of Loganair aircraft; 30 June 2027 for several Defence types; and 31 December 2040 for one Defence type with unique needs. The department says it is satisfied that no technically and economically feasible alternative is available yet for these cases.

Which aircraft are covered? The Defence list includes A400M Atlas C Mk1; Chinook HC Mk5, HC Mk6 and HC Mk6A; Dakota Mk3F; Merlin HM Mk2, HC Mk4 and HC Mk4A; P‑8A Poseidon MRA Mk1; Shadow R1; and Wildcat AH Mk1 and HMA Mk2. A separate entry covers the Globemaster III (C‑17) to the longer 2040 date. Loganair’s schedule covers specified ATR 72‑212A and ATR 42‑500 aircraft by registration as set out in the instrument. If you’re revising for an exam, this is a good moment to note how schedules list the exact scope.

How do the rules define these deadlines? Annex VI of Regulation 1005/2009 sets ‘critical uses of halons’ and defines an ‘end date’ as the point after which halon must not be used for the application and systems must be decommissioned. The UK has adopted this framework in domestic law and is using it here to manage a short transition while alternatives are finalised and certified.

You might be wondering how this fits with European rules. The EU updated its ozone law in 2024 and is pushing for halon‑free portable extinguishers in service across EU‑registered fleets from 31 December 2025, with EASA providing technical guidance. A UK derogation does not change EU obligations, so EU‑registered operators still have to meet the EU date. That’s an important distinction for aviation students comparing jurisdictions.

For most UK operators nothing changes: the 31 December 2025 removal date for halon 1211 in cabin and crew compartments still stands unless your aircraft is named in the schedules. The UK Civil Aviation Authority reminds owners that it doesn’t issue exemptions under the environmental rules, but it has published guidance to help you install halon‑free handheld extinguishers on applicable aircraft without heavy paperwork.

Why allow any exceptions at all? This is a classic risk trade‑off we teach: reduce environmental harm while keeping people safe in the air. The legal test-‘technically and economically feasible’-recognises that some platforms need more time to qualify equipment that works in tight spaces, under vibration and extreme temperatures. Meanwhile, the ozone story remains a global success: controls on CFCs and halons are why the ozone layer is slowly recovering.

Dates to keep handy. In force from 30 December 2025. Standard UK end date for portable halon in cabins: 31 December 2025. Loganair aircraft listed in Schedule 2: 31 December 2026. Defence aircraft in Schedule 1 Table 1: 30 June 2027. C‑17 in Schedule 1 Table 2: 31 December 2040. Signed by Emma Hardy for Defra with consent from Scottish and Welsh Ministers. If you remember just one thing, remember that these are exceptions, not the new norm.