Aviation Anthology Vol 1 2026 - Digital Version - Flipbook - Page 25
Implications for insurers and claims practitioners
Although CAP 790 constitutes guidance rather than
legislation, it carries significant weight as an expression
of regulatory expectation. It is likely to inform how claims
handlers, lawyers, courts, tribunals, and insurers assess
reasonableness in the context of ramp incidents.
For aviation underwriters, alignment by insureds with the
revised CAA guidance may serve as a useful indicator
when assessing exposure to ramp risk, particularly where
there is a history of ground damage claims. For claims
handlers, the updated framework is likely to sharpen
scrutiny of competence management, supervision and
record keeping when evaluating liability and recovery
prospects.
What next?
The consultation closed on 8 May 2026. The output of
the consultation will be taken into consideration by the
CAA and a Comment Response Document (‘CRD’) will
be published. The consultation materials do not specify
a fixed implementation date for a revised CAP 790. The
process may take several months, with final publication
likely to be later in 2026.
Conclusion
The proposed updates to CAP 790 reflect a recognition
that ramp incidents constitute a controllable risk. For
legal and insurance practitioners, the consultation
signals a re-setting of expectations rather than a
wholesale change of approach. In its revised form, CAP
790 is likely to play an increasingly prominent role in
shaping both safety outcomes on the ramp and the
legal analysis of airport ground damage claims when
incidents arise.
[1] International Air Transport Association, IATA Annual Safety Report –
2025.
[2] IATA, Incident Data Exchange (IDX) Summary Data 2024–2025 (IATA).
[3] Civil Aviation Authority, CAP 790: Requirement for an Airside Driving
Permit (ADP) Scheme (CAA, 2012).
[4] Ibid.
[5] Civil Aviation Authority, Consultation on Proposed Amendments to
CAP 790 (CAA, 27 March 2026).
[6] Ibid.
[7] Civil Aviation Authority, Update to CAP 790 (Citizen Space, 2026) and
Civil Aviation Authority, SkyWise Alert SW2026/090 (2 April 2026).
[8] International Civil Aviation Organization, Global Action Plan for the
Prevention of Runway Incursions: Part I and II (ICAO, August 2024).
Aviation Anthology 2026 - Volume I
DAC Beachcroft
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