Safety regulation of…
Safety regulation of aerodromes Safety regulation of aerodromes SUMMARY OF: Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 — requirements and administrative procedures related to aerodromes WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION? It introduces requirements for managing, certifying and operating aerodromes * throughout the European Union (EU), which replace the existing national rules on aerodrome safety. KEY POINTS Oversight of aerodromes Each EU Member State must designate a competent authority (or authorities) which: has (have) powers and responsibilities to certify and oversee aerodromes, their staff and the organisations involved; is (are) independent from aerodrome operators and providers of apron management services (AMS) * . Staff authorised by the competent authority must have powers to perform at least the following tasks: check records, data, procedures and any other material relevant to the execution of the certification and/or oversight task; take away copies of or extracts from those materials; ask for an oral explanation on-site; enter aerodromes, relevant premises, operating sites or other relevant areas and means of transport; perform audits, investigations, tests, exercises, assessments and inspections; take or initiate enforcement measures as appropriate. European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Under Regulation (EC) No 1108/2009 , the responsibilities of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) were extended to cover aerodromes. Within 3 months of the entry into force of Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 (the subject of this summary), Member States were required to inform EASA, for the aerodromes to which the rules laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1108/2009 and in this regulation apply, of: the names; the locations; the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) airport codes; the names of the operators; the number of passengers and cargo movements. Exemptions Member States may exempt from the rules of Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 an aerodrome which handles no more than: 10,000 passengers per year; 850 movements related to cargo operations per year. However, they must examine the traffic figures of an exempted aerodrome on a yearly basis . Certificates The regulation contains rules regarding the conversion of certificates issued before 31 December 2014, under national rules, for a transitional period up until 31 December 2017. Until 31 December 2024 , competent authorities may accept applications for a certificate, including deviations from the certification specifications issued by EASA, if certain technical conditions cited in the regulation’s annexes are met. In such cases, the competent authorities must compile the evidence that those conditions are met in a deviation acceptance and action document (DAAD) which must be attached to the certificate. The competent authority must specify the period of validity of the DAAD and can amend, suspend or withdraw the DAAD in the event that the conditions are no longer met. Aerodrome surroundings Member States must ensure: that consultations take place on safety impacts of proposed constructions : within the limits of the obstacle limitation * and obstacle protection * surfaces, as well as other surfaces associated with the aerodrome, beyond the limits of the obstacle limitation and obstacle protection surfaces, as well as other surfaces associated with the aerodrome and which exceed the height set by Member States; that they coordinate the safeguarding of aerodromes located near borders with other Member States; that consultations are conducted with regard to human activities and land use such as: developments which may create obstacle-induced turbulence that could be hazardous to aircraft operations, the use of hazardous, confusing and misleading lights, the use of highly reflective surfaces which may cause dazzling, activities that may interfere with the performance of aeronautical communications, navigation and surveillance systems. Wildlife hazard management Member States must: have procedures for recording and reporting wildlife strikes to aircraft; collect information from aircraft operators, aerodrome personnel and other sources on the presence of wildlife constituting a potential hazard to aircraft operations; ensure wildlife hazards are evaluated on an ongoing basis by competent personnel. They must also collect and forward wildlife strike reports to the ICAO for inclusion in the ICAO Bird Strike Information System . Amendments to Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 Regulation (EU) 2018/401 amends Annex I to the regulation with regard to the classification of runways . A delegated act , Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1234 , amends the regulation setting out a dedicated set of additional requirements related to aerodromes and to providing AMS, as a subpart of aerodrome operations. It amends Annex II to the regulation to give to the competent authority of the Member State where the AMS is provided, the powers to receive and register the declarations of capability submitted by organisations responsible for providing AMS. It aligns the requirements for organisations responsible for providing AMS with those that apply to aerodrome operators — in particular with the requirements for safety management , operational procedures and personnel . It sets out requirements for managing safety-related interfaces between the aerodrome operator, the organisations responsible for providing AMS and the air traffic service provider with regard to operations on the apron. To ensure the safety of operations on an apron, the aerodrome operator is given responsibility for allocating responsibilities to other organisations. Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/2148 amends Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 as regards runway safety and aeronautical data . To ensure the safety levels of aerodrome operations , it introduces data quality requirements similar to those applicable to air traffic management (ATM)/air navigation service (ANS) providers, to be completed at the operations level. FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY? Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 has applied since 6 March 2014. Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1234 applies from 20 March 2022. BACKGROUND For more information, see: Aerodromes (European Commission) Aerodromes (EASA). KEY TERMS Aerodrome. A defined area (including any buildings, installations and equipment) on land or water or on a fixed offshore or floating structure intended to be used either wholly or in part for the arrival, departure and surface movement of aircraft. Apron management services. The body overseen by a competent authority which provides services managing the activities and the movement of aircraft and vehicles on an apron — a defined area intended to accommodate aircraft for purposes of loading or unloading passengers, mail or cargo; fuelling; parking; or maintenance. Obstacle limitation surface. A surface that defines the limits to which objects may project into the airspace. Obstacle protection surface. A surface established for visual approach slope indicator system above which objects or extensions of existing objects shall not be permitted except when, in the opinion of the appropriate authority, the new object or extension would be shielded by an existing immovable object. MAIN DOCUMENT Commission Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 of 12 February 2014 laying down requirements and administrative procedures related to aerodromes pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 44, 14.2.2014, pp. 1–34). Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 have been incorporated in the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only. RELATED DOCUMENTS Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1234 of 9 June 2020 amending Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 as regards the conditions and procedures for the declaration by organisations responsible for the provision of apron management services (OJ L 282, 31.8.2020, pp. 1–16). Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2018 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and amending Regulations (EC) No 2111/2005, (EC) No 1008/2008, (EU) No 996/2010, (EU) No 376/2014 and Directives 2014/30/EU and 2014/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 552/2004 and (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91 (OJ L 212, 22.8.2018, pp. 1–122). See consolidated version . Regulation (EC) No 1108/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 in the field of aerodromes, air traffic management and air navigation services and repealing Directive 2006/23/EC (OJ L 309, 24.11.2009, pp. 51–70). last update 02.12.2021