Safety Promotion
Second semester 2021
- WG1 SSP-State Operational Safety Program
- WG2 SMS-Operational Safety Management Systems
- WG3 SI-Operational Security Intelligence
- WG4 SPM-Safety Performance Management
- WG5 SRM-Operational Safety Risk Management
- The group of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) SM-TEB (Safety Management-Technical Body) met telematically on 23 November. Topics discussed included the presentation of the results of EASA’s survey to Member States on the impact of COVID-19 and the main conclusions of the consultation process of the draft European EPAS 2022-2026 plan.
- As part of the European Data4Safety programme, led by EASA, the Agency participated as a member in a Steering Board meeting on 2 July and a couple of meetings of the Technical Board on 8-9 September and 24-25 November. Progress was mainly made in the validation of the project’s “Proof of Concept”, which ended at the end of the year, and in the preparation of the operational phase of the project, with topics such as the incorporation of new participants into the programme and its funding.
- The Network of European Analysts (NoA) and its sub-working groups have held numerous telematics meetings and some joint meeting during this period. In particular, the plenary meeting took place on 19 and 20 October with a follow-up meeting on 1 December. In addition, the following sub-groups have continued to develop their work:
- physical security: dedicated to the integrated approach to event risk management with a safety and security component.
- data quality and taxonomy: dedicated to the evolution and standardisation of data in occurrence reporting systems.
- Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS): dedicated to the development of specific occurrence reporting aspects for UAS and its implementation in the ECCAIRS Event Reporting System.
- exposure data: search and proposals for the implementation of exposure factors for occurrence data at European level.
- safety indicators: development and implementation of safety indicators at European level based on occurrence reporting systems.
- The project of the European Commission and EASA ECCAIRS 2 is still advanced in its development and the ECCAIRS Steering Board (ESB) maintains a high pace of work to lead and guide the progress of the project from the point of view of the authorities. These changes are for the most part transparent for users, so their relationship with the AESA SNS has not been changed.
- The ECCAIRS Steering Committee met in a mixed manner on 8 December. This meeting focused on accountability for the current development of the ECCAIRS 2 project, a description of the current status and approval of the roadmap proposed by the ECCAIRS Steering Board for the continuation of the project in 2022.
- Members of the European Action Plan for Airspace Infringement Risk Reduction Working Group have continued to exchange views and provide input during this semester in order to finalise the new version of the European Action Plan for Airspace Infringement Risk Reduction.
Webinar COE operators LCI & SAR and industry associations
On December 15, the State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) organised a Webinar with Fire Fighting and Rescue and Rescue (LCI & SAR) and industry associations, to analyse the safety of air operations in the sector, its evolution and the involvement of Special Air Operator (COE) certificates.
The conference began with presentations related to the evolution of the accidents of the sector and its main contributing factors, and the reporting of occurrences, culture of reporting and analysis of relevant events (“follow-up”). The fact that LCI & SAR operators are actively involved in the reporting and tracking process (follow-up) of each event was used to recall the importance for safety.
Subsequently, a presentation was continued on the monitoring campaign carried out, focusing on the main non-conformities found, as well as on the appellants. Finally, a round table was held between staff of AESA, the Ministry of Transport, organisations and industry associations, which addressed the needs of the sector and the importance of safety in air operations.
Holding of the 5th meeting of ICAO Safe Management Panel
Last December, the 5th meeting of the Safe Management Panel of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) was held virtually from 29 November to 10 December.
Spain has a member on the Panel, who is the Director of Security Assessment and Internal Technical Audit, and several advisers (staff of AESA’s Security Assessment Coordination), who participate in the different working groups into which the Panel is divided:
The main objective of the meeting was to discuss the different proposals for changes to be made to the following amendment to Annex 19 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Safety Management).
New provisions concerning the common European risk classification system
Last November, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2082 of 26 November 2021 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Regulation (EU) No 376/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the reporting, analysis and monitoring of occurrences in civil aviation as regards the Common European Risk Classification System was published.
According to Regulation (EU) No 376/2014, occurrences should include a risk classification examined by the competent authority of the Member State or by EASA and should be transferred to the European Central Repository. In order to ensure that all occurrences contained in the European Central Repository are classified in a harmonised manner, the competent authorities of the Member States and EASA should ensure that the risk classification of events shared in the Central Repository is determined in accordance with the Common European Risk Classification System (ERCS) set out in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/2034.
This process rests entirely with the national authorities of Member States and therefore does not entail any additional requirements or changes in processes to notifying organisations. Optionally, the ERCS can also be used by the notifying organisations and is intended to boost its use due to the harmonisation advantages they would bring in the sector.
This new Implementing Regulation sets out provisions for a harmonised and consistent application of the ERCS by EASA and the Member States.
The obligation to classify occurrences in accordance with the ERCS shall enter into force on 1 January 2023.
First Coordination Meeting of the Air Army and AESA General Staff
As reported in the PESO newsletter for the first half of 2021, the Air Force and AESA General Staff signed a protocol, in compliance with the fourth additional provision of Royal Decree 1088/2020 of 9 December 2020 supplementing the regime applicable to the reporting of civil aviation occurrences.
The purpose of the protocol is to establish cooperation procedures between the two organisations for the analysis of civil aviation events involving military aircraft, airport and air navigation systems and national defence services, activities and facilities, as well as their personnel.
The first coordination meeting was held on 18 November. During the meeting, the contact points of the two organisations were designated, the channels of communication were defined and the proposal for collaborative analysis of events to be carried out was revised.
ANSMET launches web
The National Authority for the Supervision of Meteorological Services for Aviation (ANSMET), one of the public bodies that is part of the PESO, opens its own space on the website of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO), in which information on the various activities carried out will be published.
The link is as follows:
https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/ministerio/funciones-estructura/organigrama/ANSMET.aspx
Celebration of the 5th Fair Culture Workshop: Judicial and Aviation World.
The 5th Fair Culture Workshop was held on 11 and 12 November: “Judicial World and Aviation. Learning from operations to improve safety", organised by the Professional Association of Air Traffic Controllers in Spain (APROCTA) together with ENAIRE, the Official College of Commercial Aviation Pilots (COPAC) and Eurocontrol.
In these days it is about bringing the legal and judicial approach to the world of aviation at those meeting points, both accidents or incidents and legal novelties.
On this occasion, the Director of Safety Assessment and Internal Technical Audit of AESA, as rapporteur, presented the creation of the new working group of experts for cooperation in the analysis of occurrences, replacing the Commission for the Study and Analysis of Air Transit Incident Reports (CEANITA) following the adoption of Royal Decree 1088/2020 of 9 December 2020 and its role in the analysis of events (this newsletter includes a piece of news in relation to this new working group of experts).
Participation in key international safety management forums
In the second half of 2021, Spain, in addition to the 5th meeting of the ICAO Safety Management Panel, to which reference has already been made, has participated in other fora dedicated to safety management. Thus, among others:
In addition, the Analyst Network has detected the need to update both the guidance material of Regulation (EU) No 376/2014 on the reporting, analysis and follow-up of occurrences, as well as the lists of mandatory fields and occurrences of mandatory reporting. To this end, the aim is to create a new sub-working group in this line led by the European Commission.
AESA and the Directorate-General for Armament sign a protocol for the coordination of the supervision of aircraft production with civil type and civil/military use certificate
In November, AESA and the Directorate-General for Armament and Materials (DGAM) of the Ministry of Defence signed a Protocol for the coordination of both entities in the field of supervision of aircraft production with civil type and civil/military use, once the two bodies share common obligations, interests and objectives in the field of aviation security.
The purpose of this Protocol is to facilitate and improve coordination to ensure that the process of manufacturing aircraft with type-certificates issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), intended for military customers, or for the manufacture of components intended for modifications to such aircraft approved by EASA, is carried out in accordance with the terms of the production organisation approvals granted by AESA or the Directorate-General for Armament and Material.
It also seeks to ensure the correct maintenance of the airworthiness of the prototype aircraft of the production organisations, which are used, alternatively, in research and development in the civil and military fields.
AESA Establishes Compulsory Use Areas for Transponder (TMZ)
The State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) adopted, on 14 October, the Resolution establishing airspace areas in which it is mandatory to carry on board and use Transponder (TMZ) of barometric altitude information as expressed in the SERA provision. 6005.b of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 923/2012.
The ENAIRE air navigation manager, as originator of the information, should send to the Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) for publication information relating to mandatory areas of transponder use, which shall have effect for airspace users from the entry into force of its content in the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)
The SERA provides that ‘compulsory transponder area (TMZ) means the airspace of defined dimensions within which it is mandatory to carry on board and use barometric altitude information transponder’.
With regard to the mandatory use of SSR transponders, provision SERA.6005 provides in paragraph (b)(1) that ‘All flights operating in an airspace designated by the competent authority as a mandatory transponder area (TMZ) shall carry on board and use SSR transponders capable of operating in Modes A and C or in Mode S, unless they have to comply with alternative provisions laid down by the air navigation service provider for that particular airspace’.
Publication of AESA safety assessment report
In October, AESA published its 2020 Safety Assessment Report, which is one of the tools to promote and disseminate activities carried out by AESA together with the aviation sector related to civil aviation safety over the past year.
The aim of the memory is to provide a comprehensive and detailed overview of the level of safety present at the state level, in an objective way, to all persons who are somehow related to the world of aviation. During 2020 the health crisis impacted the sector, forcing all the actors involved in a new scenario with emerging risks that needed to be identified and evaluated while continuing to work on the usual activities.
The report is structured into five main sections, a first that serves as an introduction to the concepts of operational safety, the State Operational Safety Program (PESO), the Event Notification System (SNS) and the Priority Risk Areas.
The following three axes are dedicated to the Culture of Reporting, to the statistical summary of the notifications registered in the SNS in 2020 and to the analysis and monitoring by areas of the SNS (Airports, External Factors, Air Navigation, Drones, Flight Operation, Aircraft, Safety and Medicine).
Finally, priority risk areas identified in the Operational Safety Action Plan (PASO) are addressed, such as flight separation losses, aircraft systems, Flight Control Losses (LOC-I) or pilot/ATCO procedural deviations, among others and the main actions taken.
Start-up of the expert working group for cooperation in the analysis of occurrences
The first meeting of the Working Group of Experts on Cooperation in Success Analysis was held on 8 July 2021.
The group has been established in order to comply with the provisions of Royal Decree 1088/2020 of 9 December 2020 supplementing the regime applicable to the reporting of civil aviation occurrences. The aim is to coordinate effectively the cooperation of aeronautical organisations and professionals in the analysis of civil aviation occurrences or groups of occurrences concerning them and of any measures that may contribute to the prevention or mitigation of risks, where the State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) considers it necessary to have such cooperation.
At the end of the year, on 3 December, the group held its second meeting.
AESA publishes support guides for commercial balloon operators
In July, AESA published two support guides for commercial balloon operators with the aim of facilitating the presentation of the responsible declaration they must make before each operation and another on how to implement the Management System required by European regulations.
The “User Guide to the Balloon Operations Statement” sets out the guidelines for the responsible declaration that balloon operators must submit, prior to the start of their operations, as well as the subsequent management thereof, in order to facilitate the completion, presentation and subsequent modifications of their declaration.
The “Guide to the Management System for Balloon Operators” sets out the guidelines and additional guidance material that can be used by balloon operators to document, develop and implement their Management System, taking particular account of the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2018/395.
The goal is to be a useful tool for the preparation and continued maintenance of the documentation required by this system and its associated processes.
You can download the guides at the following link:
Balloon Operations Statement User Guide
Guide to the Management System for Balloon Operators
Adoption of the Operational Safety Action Plan (OSAP) 2021
The State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA), in collaboration with the other public bodies linked to the PESO, approved in July the Operational Safety Action Plan (PASO) 2021.
The Operational Safety Action Plan adopted by a Resolution of the Director of the Agency on 2 July 2021 shall apply only for the year 2021 and incorporates the new objectives approved in the agreement of the Council of Ministers of 15 December 2020.
The PASO is the Plan of Action of the State Operational Safety Programme (PESO), which provides an integrated vision of the entire Spanish civil aviation sector, allows the identification and assessment of risks related to operational safety, as well as taking decisions to keep the risks under control. In addition, it networks all actors in the civil aviation system, taking advantage of synergies between them.
The PASO includes the specific tasks to be developed, its targets and indicators, and AESA is already finalising the next edition for a 5-year period that will cover all the new priority areas and objectives with new indicators for monitoring the Programme.
Operational Security Action
Plan 2021
AESA signs with AENA and MITECO a collaboration agreement to carry out a study of vulture behavior
In July, the collaboration agreement signed by AESA with Aena and the Directorate-General for Biodiversity, Forests and Desertification of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO -formerly MITERD) was published in the Official State Gazette to carry out a study on vulture behaviour, which will allow measures to be taken to avoid the confluence of these birds with aviation.
For the study of the behaviour of these birds, several individuals of various species of vultures in certain airport environments (A.S. Madrid-Barajas and Bilbao) will be marked with GPS, hoping that it will provide a more accurate knowledge of the movements of these species
Fruit of this knowledge may consider in the medium term the most effective measures possible to reduce the presence of vultures in areas sensitive to aviation, ensuring safe air transport.
This study is carried out in compliance with the agreement reached at the 1st National Aviation and Fauna Forum, organised by AESA, after which the Working Group of Large Planners was created, with the participation of AENA, AESA and MITECO, representatives of local and regional administrations.
The agreement can be accessed at the following link:
Download Convention
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