Extended Diversion Time Operations (EDTO)

Regulations contain requirements which must be complied with. The CAA’s statutory role is to consider the required content of regulations, consult on our proposed changes to the regulations, take consultation responses into account before forming a final view and then communicate that view to the Secretary of State (Department for Transport) in the form of an Opinion. Our Opinions are published. The Secretary of State makes the final decision whether to implement CAA’s proposed changes to the regulations, and the final wording of the regulations. The proposed wording of the regulations in this consultation may well change if and when the Secretary of State decides to amend the regulations.

AMC and GM

AMC are means by which the requirements in the Implementing Rule and the Essential Requirements of the Basic Regulation to which it relates can be met. However, entities may show compliance by other means.

An entity may choose to offer an alternative means of compliance (AltMOC) which must be reviewed and accepted by the CAA. However, it is important to note they will lose the presumption of compliance provided by the CAA AMC so it is essential for the operator to demonstrate that the AltMOC meets the intent of the Implementing Rule and the Essential Requirements of the Basic Regulation.

GM is non-binding and provides explanatory and interpretation material on how to achieve the requirements in the law and the AMC. It contains information, including examples, to assist the applicant with the interpretation of the legislative provisions.

Prior consultations

Prior to the launch of this public consultation, the CAA invited a small focus group of affected operators to comment informally on whether we should adopt amendments similar to those set out in  EASA’s NPA 2023-03, Extended diversion time operations (EDTO) and whether this would be consistent with ICAO’s EDTO Manual (Doc 10085). 

Their initial comments have informed the proposals we are consulting on here. In preparing our draft amendments, we have also taken into consideration comments received by EASA as part of their consultation on NPA 2023-03.

This consultation

The purpose of this consultation is to seek views on our proposals to update the current ETOPS legislation in the UK as set out in the UK Air Ops Regulation (UK Reg (EU) 965/2012). It also seeks views on the approach to be taken in corresponding AMC and GM. We welcome feedback from all interested stakeholders, and particularly from industry bodies directly affected by these proposals.

The proposed changes, which are set out in the accompanying EDTO proposal document, cover areas including:

• Aligning the UK legislative framework for ETOPS with ICAO SARPs for EDTO, in order to fully incorporate the EDTO Standards set out in Part 1 of Annex 6 to the Chicago Convention;
• Changing the acronym ‘ETOPS’, which explicitly refers to two-engined aeroplanes, to the new more generic term ‘EDTO’. which refers to extended diversion time operations;
• Applying EDTO requirements to all aeroplanes with two or more turbine engines; and
• Maintaining consistency and interoperability with EASA and the FAA