Regulatory Policy Adviser

Regulatory Policy Adviser - Robert Toal

There are many different ways to safeguard the interests of everyone who uses civil aviation. One is to look at costs incurred, prices charged and profits made – an area which can influence the overall efficiency and safety of the industry.

Robert Toal is a Regulatory Policy Adviser within the CAA’s Economic Regulation Group. He joined us two years ago from the Office of Rail Regulation. “Aviation was a new learning curve for me,” he says. “But I knew from the start that the CAA was a great place to work and somewhere where my abilities would be understood and valued.”

His responsibilities include contributing to the review of price caps for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted – through managing sub-projects, such as the assessment of BAA’s operating and capital costs projections.

What he is doing, he explains, is enabling the development of economic policy. “It means understanding the evidence base - including the difference of opinion between BAA and the airlines – gathering evidence from both sides, understanding what they both wish to achieve, and then making a judgement on price caps. It’s fascinating work, but the outcome has to be based on evidence as opposed to opinions.”

With 50 people working together in the Economic Regulation Group and 9 in Robert’s area, it is essential to be a team-player, he says. “You also need to be highly professional and conscientious. And a sense of humour helps!”