Extended Diversion Time Operations (EDTO)

Overview

The CAA is proposing to amend provisions of Assimilated Regulation (EU) No. 965/2012 (the UK Air Ops Regulation) to introduce Extended Diversion Time Operations (EDTO) requirements. These amendments are intended to ensure alignment with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) introduced by Amendment 36 to Part 1 of Annex 6 to the Chicago Convention. They would replace the extended range twin operations (ETOPS) requirements currently in force.

ICAO’s Extended Diversion Time Operations (EDTO) Manual (Doc 10085) provides guidance on and interpretation of the EDTO elements introduced through this amendment.

Amendment 36 introduced new Standards for operations beyond 60 minutes for all aeroplanes with turbine engines and included aeroplanes with more than two engines within the scope of operations subject to extended diversion time requirements, with a recommendation to set the threshold time for these aeroplanes at 180 minutes.

We propose to adopt those Standards in full in the UK Air Ops Regulation. We have also prepared draft Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC) and Guidance Material (GM) to support implementation of these changes to the law. For more detail about our proposals, please see proposed amendments and rationale.   

Any changes to legislation would be by way of statutory instrument (SI) made by the Secretary of State using powers in Assimilated Regulation (EU) 2018/1139. We anticipate the SI to be laid before Parliament in May 2026.

We propose that there should be a transition period of 9 months from the date the SI is made to give operators enough time to implement the new requirements and allow for one simulator training cycle. After the end of the transition period, all operators would be required to comply fully with the new EDTO provisions.

We anticipate publishing the corresponding amendments to AMC and GM as soon as possible after the SI is made.

Why your views matter

It is important to the CAA that everyone has an opportunity to voice their opinion on matters that could affect them. There is also a legal requirement to consult when creating or amending regulations as well as AMC and GM. For these reasons, we are asking for comments on these proposed changes.

We welcome comments from every sector of the community. This includes the general public, government agencies and all sectors of the aviation industry, whether as an aviator, aviation consumer and/or provider of related products and services.