The UK Civil Aviation Authority has updated its guidance for aerodrome operators, reducing the maximum interval at which a modular exercise programme can conclude with a full-scale aerodrome emergency exercise.
What the CAA has changed
Where operators previously had up to four years to close out a modular cycle, the cycle must now end with a full-scale exercise at intervals not exceeding three years. The default requirement for biennial full-scale exercises under the standard pathway is unchanged. The change applies to both certificated aerodromes (UK(EU)139/2014 AMC3 ADR.OR.E.005(a), paragraph 19.3) and licensed aerodromes (CAP168 Chapter 9, paragraph 9.70), and it brings UK practice into a tighter rhythm of readiness testing across the sector.
What this means in practice
Operators retain the option to test their plans through a modular programme rather than running a full-scale exercise every two years. A series of modular exercises beginning in the first year and concluding in a full-scale aerodrome emergency exercise may now run at intervals not exceeding three years, with a review thereafter. If you choose this route, the approach must be clearly documented in your Aerodrome Manual. Where a four-year modular cycle is already under way at the time of the alert, that cycle can be completed before transitioning to the new three-year cadence. If you are unsure where your programme sits in the transition, your allocated Aerodrome Inspector is the right first port of call.
For airfields running lean compliance programmes, this is a meaningful shift. A three-year cycle compresses planning, scheduling, scenario development, mutual-aid coordination, and post-exercise lesson capture into a tighter window. It also raises the bar on what "ready" looks like between full-scale events, because the modular work in years one and two now carries more weight in demonstrating ongoing competence.
Three questions worth revisiting now
The change is a useful prompt to revisit three connected questions. First, is your Aerodrome Emergency Plan structured so that modular exercises stress-test distinct capabilities (command and control, casualty management, family assistance, mutual aid, recovery) rather than rehearsing the same scenario at smaller scale?
Second, are lessons from each modular event flowing into a single, auditable plan record so the inspector can trace continuous improvement?
Third, is your training cycle for the people who would actually run the response (airfield duty managers, fire and rescue, ops, communications) aligned to the same cadence so capability is genuinely refreshed alongside the paperwork?
How we can help
This is the space where the TrustFlight capabilities work together. Kenyon supports aerodrome operators with crisis management and response design, exercise scripting, and full-scale and modular delivery, drawing on decades of real incident experience. Centrik 5 gives aerodrome teams a single place to manage the Aerodrome Emergency Plan, run modular exercises, log findings, and demonstrate the audit trail an inspector will want to see. Baines Simmons brings the human performance and competence training that makes the difference when a plan is activated for real.
If you are mapping out how to transition from a four-year to a three-year cycle, or if this is a good moment to reassess the depth of your emergency programme, please get in touch. We would be glad to discuss how we can support your organisation.
CAA bulletin reference: SW2026/185