Opinion 06/2016

Embodiment of safety management system (SMS) requirements into Commission Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 - SMS in Part-M

This Opinion introduces safety management in continuing airworthiness management through the creation of a new Annex Vc ‘Part-CAMO’ to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 dedicated to continuing airworthiness management organisations (CAMOs), which are managing aircraft operated by licensed air carriers and/or complex motor-powered aircraft (CMPA), representing an estimated 65 % of all currently approved CAMOs. Only Part-CAMO-approved continuing airworthiness management organisations will be required to implement SMS based on a set of proportional management system requirements.

Part-CAMO-approved organisations may also manage the continuing airworthiness of other than CMPA and aircraft not used by licensed air carriers.

The new Annex Vc ‘Part-CAMO’ will supersede the current Subpart G of Annex I (Part-M) to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014. The changes introduced to the Part-M Subpart G requirements are largely aligned with the general authority and organisation requirements adopted in the other domains (Aircrew, Air Operations, ADR, ATM/ANS).

The proposed changes are expected to:

  • increase the level of safety in continuing airworthiness management and maintenance of aircraft operated by licensed air carriers and of CMPA; and
  • facilitate the implementation of single management systems by multiple-approved organisations and streamline the related oversight.

This Opinion also proposes consequential amendments to the following Parts resulting from the changes proposed with Opinion No 05/2016 ‘Task force for the review of Part-M for General Aviation Phase II’ (RMT.0547) and from the new Part-CAMO:

  • Annex I (Part-M), Annex II (Part-145) and Annex Va (Part-T) to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014; and
  • Annex I (Part-21) to Commission Regulation (EU) No 748/2012.

The Opinion prepares the ground for allowing licensed air carriers to contract a CAMO, which is the objective of rulemaking task RMT.0209 (M.014).