ED Decision 2021/002/R

Update of the AMC & GM to Subpart FC of Part-ORO (evidence-based training (EBT))
  • Acceptable means of compliance and guidance material to Annex I (Definitions) — Issue 1, Amendment 12
  • AMC and GM to Part-ARO — Issue 3, Amendment 11
  • AMC and GM to Part-ORO — Issue 2, Amendment 17
  • AMC and GM to Part-FCL — Issue 1, Amendment 11
  • AMC and GM to Part-ARA — Issue 1, Amendment 11

Evidence-based training (EBT)

Following the adoption of:

  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2036 of 9 December 2020 amending Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 as regards the requirements for flight crew competence and training methods and postponing dates of application of certain measures in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic; and
  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2193 of 16 December 2020 amending Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 as regards the requirements for flight crew competence and training methods, and as regards the reporting, analysis and follow-up of occurrences in civil aviation,

the objective of this Decision is to facilitate the implementation of the newly introduced or amended flight crew training requirements that are intended to improve pilot competencies by updating the associated acceptable means of compliance (AMC) and guidance material (GM).

The present Decision and the adoption of the above-mentioned Regulations are parts of a global safety initiative endorsed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), whose objective is to determine the relevance of the existing pilot training according to aircraft generation. In particular, they constitute a second step in the context of European Union rulemaking actions to implement EBT. The first step was completed in 2015 with the publication of ED Decision 2015/027/R that provided guidance material to allow the implementation of a ‘mixed EBT’ which maintains the current operator proficiency check (OPC) and licence proficiency check (LPC). This Decision completes the second step initiated by the above-mentioned Regulations that amended Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 (Air OPS Regulation) and Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 (Aircrew Regulation) to allow authorities to approve the baseline EBT, which replaces OPC and LPC. This will allow a single philosophy of recurrent training within the airline. EBT is intended to improve safety by enhancing the capability of flight crews to operate the aircraft in all flight regimes by recognising and managing unexpected situations. The EBT concept is designed to maximise learning and minimise formal checking. Further work is foreseen in the context of the activities of RMT.0599 to allow expansion of EBT to the operator conversion course and initial type rating, as well as to other types of aircraft (e.g. helicopters and business jets).

The impact assessment (IA) detailed in NPA 2018-07 and Opinion No 08/2019 showed that the implementation of EBT by the operator on a voluntary basis is the preferred option in regulating recurrent training and checking of flight crew. The IA illustrates that the adopted rules in combination with the AMC & GM issued with this Decision contribute to significant improvement in safety by strengthening the competencies of flight crews while providing a cost-efficient and socially acceptable framework.