Not an arse covering exercsie but a pragmatic move as part of the ASI (if you don't know what that is then I suggest it might be you who is behind the times, not CAA) to help improve safety outside controlled airspace.
CAT, ATC and Airport operators all have to play their part in asessing and mitigating the risk of such operations.
Peatair you say;
If the CAA really wants to build greater safety for these operations then it should be working to build better services for the operators.
Surely that's what the current review of ATSOCAS is aiming to achieve? It will be interesting to see what the industry wide technical workshop on 8th May makes of the new draft procedures.
It's not all very ex ATCOS doing this work. There are a huge number of current operational staff involved in this work. I think the FODCOM is a good start, but I'm very much in favour of the CAA taking a stronger line if the operators don't come up to scratch. Regulatory initiatives and changes to the rules of the air are definite options.
Mind you, it looks like someone is taking it seriously with Daniel on the case!