EASA is preparing the rules for the safety certification of aerodromes and their safety-oversight by the national aviation authorities (NAAs). Furthermore, EASA will provide rules and guidelines regarding aerodrome Safety Management Systems (SMS).
What is going to happen?
From autumn this year, EASA is preparing the rules for the safety certification of aerodromes and their safety-oversight by the national aviation authorities (NAAs). Furthermore, EASA will provide rules and guidelines regarding aerodrome Safety Management Systems (SMS).
EASA will base its rules on ICAO’s Annex 14, but will also fill in details in areas where that document remains silent, for example the appropriate resourcing and competences of authorities. The result will be harmonised yet proportionate Community safety rules for aerodromes.
What will be the benefits?
While many EASA Member States have or are in the process of certifying their airports to comply with their ICAO obligation, a few others have not yet put a national legal basis or an implementation plan into place. Most countries still have to develop fully functioning aerodrome SMS. Clearer guidelines on SMS, change management and safety assessments will help define the responsibilities of aerodrome operators and the regulatory side.
Europe-wide rules will result in a high, uniform level of safety. Common rules on SMS will help maintain and improve safety while traffic volumes are growing.
The goal of more standardised and clear airport design and operations is the prevention of accidents and ground collisions that are still happening too frequently. Runway incursions represent a challenge to the entire aviation community and need to be reduced further.
At the beginning of 2012 EASA will make a well-argued case for its choice of rules in its formal Opinion to the European Commission. This Opinion is the basis for a legislative proposal by the Commission for the so-called “comitology” adoption process.
Who will be affected?
Future Community rules will apply to aerodromes that fulfil all following criteria: being open to public use; serving commercial air transport; providing instrument approach or departure procedures; having at least one paved runway of 800 metres or above; or exclusively serving helicopters. EASA estimates that these are between 400 and 500 aerodromes throughout Europe.
When is it coming?
While the future rules have to be adopted by 2013, the work has already started: by the end of 2009 the terms of reference will be defined for the so-called “rulemaking tasks”. The EASA consultative bodies will then have a chance to comment and nominate persons for the respective rulemaking groups. A full public consultation on the draft rules should begin by summer 2011. At the beginning of 2012 EASA will make a well-argued case for its choice of rules in its formal Opinion to the European Commission. This Opinion is the basis for a legislative proposal by the Commission for the so-called “comitology” adoption process.
The next issue will feature a presentation of the ATM and Aerodromes department of EASA’s Rulemaking Directorate.
