Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council. The European Aviation Safety Programme

The Commission Communication on "Setting up a Safety Management System for Europe" published in 2011 described the safety challenges faced by the Union and its Member States and concluded on the necessity to develop a more proactive and evidence-based approach. It detailed a number of practical actions to meet these challenges. A number of those actions have been implemented over the recent years, notably with the adoption of Regulation (EU) No 376/2014 on the reporting, analysis and follow-up of occurrences in civil aviation.

The Communication was accompanied by a document describing the European Aviation Safety Programme. This document explains how safety is managed in the EU and its Member States, including through Union legislation as well as other policies, practices and actions. While it might include some prospective elements (as some of the activities or rules might be in place but not fully implemented) its main purpose is not to set a roadmap for the future. The document presents a 'snapshot' of all the rules and processes which are contributing, in an integrated manner, to the prevention of accidents and to the safety of aviation activities in the Union.

Since the publication of the 1st version of the European Aviation Safety Programme document in 2011 several legislative changes have occurred in the EU. The new rules on Flight Time Limitations, on Third-Country Operators, for Flight operations, in the area of ATM/ANS, for aerodromes, on the reporting, analysis and follow-up of occurrences are some illustrations of the European legislative changes since 2011. The 2nd edition of the European Aviation Safety Programme document, which reflects these changes and describes the way aviation safety is currently managed in the European Union and its Member States, is adopted as an Annex to this Report.

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