Compliance Tips

The following are some recent changes or additions to legislation which may affect Operators in the near future. We can track these for your own organisation, or, for more information on any of these issues, contact us.

Safety Management Systems:

From 1 January 2009, all:

Air Operators Certificate holders;
Part-M subpart G organisations; and
Maintenance Organisations

will be required to have a Safety Management System (SMS) implementation plan that will provide for a fully functional SMS in two to three years. The EASA Implementing Rules for Management Systems and Authority Requirements will contain a requirement for an ICAO-compliant SMS.

All those in an organisation with responsibility for Operational Safety should have a vested interest in ensuring that an SMS is created with buy-in throughout the organisation, with the focus being on how the SMS can bring real safety benefits to the business, and create a safety-oriented culture.

Let's not forget the old saying; "You think safety is expensive? Try having an accident!"

Winter Operations 09 December

We may already be in the depths of Winter but it's always worth refreshing ourselves on the requirements of operating in these often difficult conditions.

Investigation into the procedures laid down by many operators for Winter operations found a lot of misunderstanding in some areas of operation; for example a lack of suitable guidance material for flight crews on Company policies for the winter season; misunderstanding on the type of anti/de-icing procedures to be used; an unawareness of the need for recurrent/refresher training for flight crews on de-/anti-ice procedures.

Safety during the winter months is absolutely centred around the need to recognise icing conditions in the early stages, and to take considered, approved and practical measures to eradicate the risks inherant in icing conditions before and during flight.