Aviation safety: EU Regulation on occurrence reporting enters into force

Since 15 Nov. 2015 the EU Regulation No 376/2014 on the reporting, analysis and follow-up of occurrences in civil aviation has entered into force. The new Regulation’s objective is to ensure that  aviation safety-related information is reported, collected, stored, protected, exchanged, disseminated and analysed. The Regulation enhances EU-wide cooperation and data exchange, while strengthening “just culture”.

This Regulation lays down rules on:

(a) the reporting of occurrences that (could)  jeopardise aviation safety, i.e. safety of aircraft and any persons related thereto or affected therefrom;

(b) analysis and follow-up action in respect of reported occurrences and other safety-related information;

(c) the protection of aviation professionals;

(d) appropriate use of collected safety information;

(e) the integration of information into the European Central Repository; and

(f) the dissemination of anonymised information to interested parties for the purpose of providing such parties with the information they need in order to improve aviation safety (Art. 3).

Mandatory and voluntary occurrence reporting systems are established at both national and EU-wide level, depending on whether the pertinent actors (natural persons and organizations) are certified or approved by national aviation authorities or the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Mandatory reporting systems regard information on the aircraft operation; maintenance and repair of aircraft; air navigation services and facilities; and airdromes and ground services. Other safety-related information is reported through voluntary systems.

All occurrence reports collected in the EU are stored, within 30 days from the date of their collection, in the European Central Repository (ECR), which is managed by the European Commission. The ECR aims at facilitating the dissemination of the information among all EU Member States upon strict access rules, in order to ensure confidentiality and appropriate use of the information as well as protection of the reporters. 

The latter refers to the “just culture” concept of aviation reporting, the core of which is that occurrence reporting aims exclusively to improving aviation safety and not apportioning blame or liability. In this regard, the European Corporate Just Declaration contains the key principles of the concept.

You can find more information and comments on the Regulation here, on just culture there and on mandatory reporting systems one click further.