Civil aviation safety oversight: Commission calls on ESTONIA to comply with EU rules on safety management and occurrence reporting

Civil aviation safety oversight: Commission calls on ESTONIA to comply with EU rules on safety management and occurrence reporting

The European Commission decided to open an infringement procedure by sending a letter of formal notice to Estonia (INFR(2022)2171), for failing to comply with EU rules on aviation safety management and occurrence reporting. According to EU rules contained in Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 and its implementing rules (Regulations (EU) 1178/2011, 965/2012, 139/2014 and 2015/340), Member States' competent authorities must ensure that an effective aviation safety risk management is put in place which guarantees among others that internal audits are conducted. The management system must have enough qualified staff, and allow for information exchange and assistance with other concerned competent authorities. An adequate safety management and occurrence reporting are key to the continuous improvement of the safety of passengers and aviation staff. However, investigations carried out by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have shown that the Estonian management system is not compliant with these requirements. Furthermore, Regulation (EU) 376/2014 obliges Member States to analyse the periodic occurrence reports and to identify appropriate remedial action. Estonia could not demonstrate that this obligation has been implemented. Not only does the Estonian State Safety Programme not foresee any report analysis, but Estonia's annual safety reviews also do not identify any actions that were taken as a result of the received occurrence reports. Estonia now has two months to reply to the letter of formal notice, otherwise the Commission may decide to send a reasoned opinion.

Viide: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/EN/inf_23_525