Easy Access Rules for Aerodromes (Regulation (EU) No 139/2014)

ED Decision 2024/004/R

INSTRUCTORS — ASSESSORS

(a)The aerodrome operator should nominate instructors and assessors to be used for the implementation of the training and proficiency check programmes. The personnel to be nominated may also include contracted instructors or organisations for individual subjects.

The aerodrome operator may also nominate personnel proposed by organisations operating or providing services at the aerodrome to be used as instructors and assessors for the implementation of the respective part of the training and proficiency check programmes of these organisations’ personnel. Irrespective of the solution chosen, the aerodrome operator remains responsible for the proper implementation of the training programme and the proficiency check programme in a consistent manner, and according to the relevant procedures and standards established by the aerodrome operator.

(b)A person may be qualified and nominated both as an instructor and as an assessor by the aerodrome operator. Such a person may provide assessment for own instruction, courses, or material, provided that the compliance monitoring function of the aerodrome operator ensures that assessments or tests are based on objective evidence and apply predefined criteria that need to be met by the trainee under assessment.

(c)Instructors

(1)Theoretical instruction should be given by appropriately qualified instructors. They should have:

(i)appropriate level and depth of knowledge in the field where instruction is to be given;

(ii)documented ability to use appropriate instructional techniques; and

(iii)adequate experience in the subject where instruction is to be given.

(2)Instruction on practical skills should be given by appropriately qualified instructors who:

(i)meet the theoretical knowledge, and the working experience requirements appropriate to the instruction being given;

(ii)have demonstrated the ability to instruct, and to use appropriate instructional techniques;

(iii)are proficient in instructional techniques in the areas in which it is intended to provide instruction; and

(iv)receive relevant training, in accordance with the training programme, to ensure that the instructional competencies are maintained.

(d)Assessors

The persons who are responsible for assessing the competence and skills of the personnel should:

(1)have demonstrated the ability to assess the performance of, and conduct tests and checks in the areas covered by the training;

(2)receive relevant training, in accordance with the training programme, to ensure that the assessment standards are maintained up to date; and

(3)meet the theoretical knowledge requirements appropriate to the instruction being given and have adequate working experience in the area of instruction.

ED Decision 2024/004/R

COMBINING THE ROLES OF INSTRUCTOR AND ASSESSOR — ASSESSMENTS

A method to ensure the objective evaluation of the trainee in case the instructor and the assessor is the same person, is the use of multiple-choice questionnaires to avoid any risk of interpretation of the answers given. For an assessment, which is done directly by the instructor, e.g. a practical test, the use of a standard checklist with clear evaluation criteria can support an objective evaluation.

ED Decision 2021/003/R

PERSONNEL RECORDS

(a)The aerodrome operator should use its record keeping system (see AMC1 ADR.OR.D.035) to record the following information for each person:

(1)starting date of employment/ending date of employment (if applicable);

(2)area of activity;

(3)previous working experience;

(4)qualifications;

(5)training (before entry and subsequent); and

(6)proficiency checks, including language proficiency as appropriate;

(b)Latest changes should be reflected into personnel records.

ED Decision 2021/003/R

TRAINING RECORDS

(a)Training programme — general

The records of the training sessions provided, should include as a minimum the following:

(1)type of training, area of training and subjects covered;

(2)names of participants/signed list of participants;

(3)date and duration of training; and

(4)names of the instructor and assessor.

(b)Training records of individuals

The training records maintained for each individual should include as a minimum:

(1)the name of the trainee;

(2)the date(s) and the duration of the training;

(3)the place where the training was received;

(4)the name of the organisation that provided the training;

(5)the subjects covered, and the methodology of the course;

(6)any comments made by the instructor, if applicable;

(7)the performance assessment of the trainee, as applicable; and

(8)the name and signature of the instructor.

ED Decision 2021/003/R

PROFFICIENCY CHECK RECORDS

The proficiency check records maintained for each individual should include as a minimum:

(a)the name of the person checked;

(b)the date(s) and the duration of the proficiency check;

(c)the methodology of the check conducted;

(d)any comments made by the assessor;

(e)the performance evaluation of the person checked; and

(f)the name and signature of the assessor.

Regulation (EU) 2025/21

(a)The aerodrome operator shall ensure that adequate and appropriate facilities are available to its personnel or personnel employed by parties with whom it has contracted for the provision of aerodrome operational and maintenance services.

(b)The aerodrome operator shall designate appropriate areas at the aerodrome to be used for the storage of dangerous goods transported through the aerodrome, in accordance with the Technical Instructions.

[applicable until 26 March 2028 — Regulation (EU) No 139/2014]

(a)The aerodrome operator shall ensure that adequate and appropriate facilities are available to its personnel or personnel employed by parties with whom it has contracted for the provision of aerodrome operational and maintenance services.

(b)The aerodrome operator shall designate appropriate areas at the aerodrome to be used for the storage of dangerous goods transported through the aerodrome. The storage conditions for dangerous goods shall ensure both the following:

(1)segregation of dangerous goods can be secured as per the international standards and recommended practices;

(2)the facility provides adequate conditions to prevent any damage to the dangerous goods items.

(c)When the aerodrome operator also designates appropriate areas at the aerodrome to be used for the storage of unit load devices, it shall ensure that these areas are adequate to prevent their damage, deterioration or storage on the ground and to ensure protection against adverse weather.

[applicable from 27 March 2028 — Regulation (EU) 2025/21]

ED Decision 2014/012/R

FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED

Facilities should be provided to allow the performance of all tasks and activities in accordance with the applicable requirements. This includes, but is not limited to:

(a)adequate offices, working space, and office equipment;

(b)personnel protective equipment;

(c)equipment necessary for inspecting the aerodrome and its facilities, such as clinometers, distance measurement devices, etc.; and

(d)access to data sources necessary for the development and effective functioning of the safety management system and compliance monitoring of the aerodrome.

ED Decision 2025/009/R

Designated areas may vary and include facilities such as cargo areas, or even open-air areas.

Aircraft stands should also be designated for aircrafts that carry dangerous goods.

[applicable until 26 March 2028 — ED Decision 2014/012/R]

STORAGE FACILITIES FOR DANGEROUS GOODS

Designated areas for the storage of dangerous goods may vary and may include facilities such as cargo areas.

[applicable from 27 March 2028 — ED Decision 2025/009/R]

ED Decision 2025/009/R

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON STORAGE FACILITIES FOR DANGEROUS GOODS

(a)When deciding on the construction and location of storage facilities for dangerous goods, it is recommended that the aerodrome operator considers applying safety measures to ensure adequate distance from personnel rooms and offices and consider the geographical positioning of the facilities relative to the following, for example:

(1)geographical relief, such as mountains, hills and flat areas, and the position of forests, rivers, lakes and sea;

(2)highly seismic areas;

(3)the prevailing direction of the wind;

(4)public or residential areas or buildings in the vicinity.

(b)Aerodrome operators should obtain in advance any necessary approvals of location and for building from the relevant state entities concerning environmental protection, structural safety, emergency response, public health, etc. If the building of a dangerous goods storage facility requires compliance with additional regulations including specific criteria for the storage of explosive or radioactive material, toxic or highly flammable gas, liquids or solids, etc., those regulations and criteria should also be met.

(c)More details on storage facilities for dangerous goods can be found in AMC1 ORGH.MGM.215 to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/20.

[applicable from 27 March 2028 — ED Decision 2025/009/R]

Regulation (EU) 2024/1400

The aerodrome operator shall ensure that:

(a)its management system addresses the coordination and interface with the safety procedures of other organisations operating or providing services at the aerodrome;

(b)such organisations have safety procedures in place to comply with the applicable requirements of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 and its delegated and implementing acts, as well as with the aerodrome manual established and maintained in accordance with point ADR.OR.E.005 of this Annex.

ED Decision 2014/012/R

COORDINATION OF SAFETY PROCEDURES

Coordination and interface with the safety procedures of other relevant organisations that are active at the aerodrome include, but is not limited to the following: aircraft operators, air navigation service providers, providers of apron management services, ground handling service providers, providers of services to persons with reduced mobility, aircraft maintenance organisations, flying training organisations, public authorities that operate on the movement area, as well as other organisations that perform activities independently at the aerodrome.

ED Decision 2014/012/R

COMPLIANCE OF OTHER ORGANISATIONS

In order to ensure compliance of the organisations operating or providing services at the aerodrome, with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 and its Implementing Rules that are applicable to aerodromes and their operators, as well as with the content of the aerodrome manual, the aerodrome operator should:

(a)conduct audits and inspections of such organisations through its compliance monitoring; and

(b)establish procedures for the monitoring of related activities at the aerodrome.

Regulation (EU) 2024/1400

(a)As part of its management system, the aerodrome operator shall establish, implement and lead safety programmes to promote and enhance safety, including runway safety, and the exchange of safety-relevant information with all relevant organisations that operate or provide services at the aerodrome. The aerodrome operator shall review, at least on an annual basis, the effectiveness of its safety programmes.

(b)As part of the safety programmes referred to in point (a), the aerodrome operator shall:

(1)establish, lead and be responsible for the functioning of the local runway safety team and other aerodrome safety committees;

(2)request all relevant organisations that operate or provide services at the aerodrome to participate in the local runway safety team and in other aerodrome safety committees through nominated representatives that have appropriate and suitable operational expertise, relevant to the subject of the local runway safety team or the aerodrome safety committee(s) respectively.

(c)The aerodrome operator shall ensure that:

(1)the local runway safety team and the other aerodrome safety committees regularly convene meetings, the frequency of which shall be determined based [at least] on:

(i)the aerodrome traffic density;

(ii)the complexity of the aerodrome layout;

(iii)the type of operations;

(iv)the safety occurrences at the aerodrome and the potential risks identified from their analysis;

(2)proposals and actions of the local runway safety team and the other aerodrome safety committees are recorded in an action plan and followed up to ensure their implementation in a timely manner.

(d)The local runway safety team and the other aerodrome safety committees shall:

(1)support the identification and multidisciplinary review of local safety issues, especially with regard to runway safety;

(2)propose possible mitigating measures and relevant action plans to be implemented by the organisations concerned to enhance safety;

(3)consider the need to develop regular local safety awareness campaigns and joint training programmes for the personnel of all relevant organisations.

(e)The aerodrome operator shall establish and implement a procedure or procedures to ensure the implementation of points (a) to (d).

ED Decision 2024/004/R

COMPOSITION OF THE LOCAL RUNWAY SAFETY TEAM

Participation should include representatives with direct involvement in runway operations at the aerodrome, including, but not limited to:

(a)aerodrome operations;

(b)aerodrome engineering and maintenance;

(c)air traffic services providers;

(d)aircraft operators that operate at the aerodrome;

(e)aerodrome rescue and firefighting services;

(f)aerodrome wildlife management;

(g)organisation(s) responsible for the provision of AMS, if established.

ED Decision 2024/004/R

COMPOSITION OF THE AERODROME SAFETY COMMITTEE(S)

(a)The aerodrome operator should establish (a) Manoeuvring area/Apron Safety Committee(s).

(b)Participation should include, but not limited to representatives of:

(1)aircraft operators that operate at the aerodrome;

(2)ground handling service providers;

(3)aerodrome rescue and firefighting services;

(4)aerodrome operations;

(5)aerodrome wildlife management;

(6)aerodrome maintenance;

(7)air traffic services provider(s); and

(8)organisation(s) responsible for the provision of AMS, if established.

ED Decision 2024/004/R

TASKS OF THE LOCAL RUNWAY SAFETY TEAM

(a)The local runway safety team should support the aerodrome operator in reducing the safety risk of issues related to runway safety, including but not limited to the following:

(1)runway incursion;

(2)runway excursion;

(3)runway confusion;

(4)suspension or closure of runway operations; and

(5)infringements of the lower airspace inside the aerodrome or in the vicinity of the aerodrome perimeter by unauthorised UAS.

(b)The local runway safety team should support the aerodrome operator in assessing the need for the establishment of hot spots at the aerodrome and the review of the relevant entries of the aeronautical information publication (AIP) for accuracy.

(c)The local runway safety team should:

(1)monitor the number, type, and the severity of runway safety occurrences;

(2)support the aerodrome operator in disseminating safety recommendations delivered from accident and incident investigation authorities as well as other relevant lessons learnt e.g. from operational experience and best risk-mitigation practices; and

(3)ensure sharing of good practices to prevent runway safety events.

(d)The local runway safety team should assist the aerodrome operator:

(1)in verifying that the communications between air traffic controllers or other air traffic services personnel, pilots, and vehicle drivers are satisfactory, or if any improvements are required;

(2)in assessing on a regular basis in different weather and light conditions whether the visual aids at all runway entrances are adequate, correctly located, and understandable by all parties concerned, with no possible ambiguity of their meaning, or in identifying potential aerodrome design issues.

(e)The local runway team should provide advice to the aerodrome operator, prior to the implementation of changes to the aerodrome movement area, new practices, and procedures to identify any potential for runway safety events.

ED Decision 2024/004/R

TASKS OF THE AERODROME SAFETY COMMITTEES

The Manoeuvring area/Apron Safety Committee(s) should:

(a)receive and evaluate reports on operational safety issues;

(b)receive reports and statistical information on accidents and incidents, and propose solutions;

(c)advise on manoeuvring area/apron safety issues such as:

(1)promotion of apron safety discipline;

(2)FOD prevention;

(3)developing measures for safe operations;

(4)considering actions to resolve manoeuvring area/apron safety problems;

(5)apron equipment issues;

(6)adherence to airside driving rules;

(7)new and/or updated safety instructions;

(8)methods to develop and promote apron safety awareness initiatives;

(9)snow and ice control issues;

(10)proposed aerodrome works;

(11)proposed changes/developments to the movement area;

(12)standard operating procedures, etc.

ED Decision 2025/009/R

TASKS OF THE AERODROME SAFETY COMMITTEES

The aerodrome safety committee may consider implementing a safety stack or a similar collaborative safety programme with the aim of improving the safety of operations, reducing the number of accidents and incidents at the aerodrome, enhancing communication among aerodrome users and with the aerodrome operator, and improving the safety and reporting culture among aerodrome users.

[applicable from 27 March 2028 — ED Decision 2025/009/R]

Regulation (EU) 2024/1400

(a)The aerodrome operator shall establish and implement a safety reporting system for all personnel and organisations operating or providing services at the aerodrome, in order to promote safety at, and the safe use of, the aerodrome.

(ab)The aerodrome operator shall establish reporting arrangements with all organisations that operate or provide services at the aerodrome whose activities or products may have an effect on aircraft safety.

(b)The aerodrome operator, in accordance with ADR.OR.D.005(b)(3), shall:

(1)require that the personnel and organisations mentioned in point (a) use the safety reporting system for the mandatory reporting of any accident, serious incident and occurrence; and

(2)ensure that the safety reporting system may be used for the voluntary reporting of any defect, fault and safety hazard which could impact safety.

(c)The safety reporting system shall protect the identity of the reporter, encourage voluntary reporting and include the possibility that reports may be submitted anonymously.

(d)The aerodrome operator shall:

(1)record all reports submitted;

(2)analyse and assess the reports, as appropriate, in order to address safety deficiencies and identify trends;

(3)ensure that all organisations operating or providing services at the aerodrome which are relevant to the safety concern, participate in the analysis of such reports and that any corrective and/or preventive measures identified are implemented;

(4)conduct investigations of reports, as appropriate; and

(5)refrain from attribution of blame in line with the ‘just culture’ principles.

ED Decision 2024/004/R

SAFETY-REPORTING SYSTEM

(a)Safety-reporting system — General

(1)An effective safety-reporting system should, apart from aerodrome operator’s personnel, include aircraft operators, ground handling service providers, organisations responsible for the provision of AMS, air navigation service providers, and any other organisation operating on the aerodrome or providing services at the aerodrome, as well as organisations contracted in accordance with point ADR.OR.D.010.

(2)The safety-reporting system should include voluntary reporting possibilities intended for safety hazards identified by the reporter, and that may have potential safety consequences.

(3)The aerodrome operator should provide sufficient means for reporting, including forms that may be used for this purpose.

(4)The safety-reporting system should include an acknowledgement to the reporter for the submission of the report.

(5)The reporting process should be as simple as possible, and well documented, including details as to what, how, where, whom, and when to report.

(6)Regardless of the source or method of submission, once the information is received, it should be stored in a manner suitable for easy retrieval and analysis.

(7)Access to the submitted reports should be restricted to persons responsible for storing and analysing them.

(8)Protection of the identity of the reporter should be ensured, and the procedures established by the aerodrome operator to gather additional information for analyses, or investigations should respect this principle.

(9)The safety-reporting system should include a feedback system to the reporting person, on the outcome of the occurrence analysis.

ED Decision 2024/004/R

REPORTING OF ANY RELEVANT ACCIDENT, SERIOUS INCIDENT, AND OTHER OCCURRENCE UNDER THE SAFETY-REPORTING SYSTEM OF THE AERODROME OPERATOR

(a)The aerodrome operator should identify a list of occurrences to be reported to itself by the personnel of the organisations referred in point (a)(1) of AMC1 ADR.OR.D.030. The list should include, as a minimum, occurrences relevant to the aerodrome safety:

(1)mandatory occurrences reported in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 and Regulation (EU) No 376/2014;

(2)occurrences not captured by the mandatory reporting system of Regulation (EU) No 376/2014;

(3)other safety-related information which is perceived by the reporter as an actual or potential hazard to aviation safety.

(b)Wildlife hazard reporting

(1)The aerodrome operator should ensure that its safety-reporting system specifically addresses the requirement for all third parties (aircraft operators, aircraft mechanics, air traffic controllers, and other air traffic services personnel, etc.) and all aerodrome personnel, to report to the aerodrome operator wildlife strikes, and relevant identified hazards.

(2)The reporting of such third parties should be done irrespectively of any other requirements, laid down in Regulation (EU) 2018/1139, Regulation (EU) No 376/2014, the delegated and implementing acts adopted on the basis of those Regulations, as well as in Regulation (EU) No 996/2010, according to which they have to report to the competent authority of the aerodrome, the relevant safety investigation authority or the state of registry of the aircraft involved.

ED Decision 2014/012/R

NEED FOR SAFETY REPORTING

(a)The overall purpose of the safety reporting system is to use reported information to improve the level of safety performance of the aerodrome, and not to attribute blame.

(b)The objectives of the safety reporting system should be:

(1)to enable an assessment to be made of the safety implications of each relevant occurrence, serious incident and accident, including previous similar events, so that any necessary action can be initiated; and

(2)to ensure that knowledge of relevant occurrences, serious incidents and accidents is disseminated, so that other persons and organisations may learn from them.

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/2148

(a)The aerodrome operator shall establish an adequate system of record keeping, covering all its activities undertaken under Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 and its Implementing Rules.

(b)The format of the records shall be specified in the aerodrome manual.

(c)Records shall be stored in a manner that ensures protection from damage, alteration and theft.

(d)Records shall be kept for a minimum of five years, except that the below records shall be kept as follows:

(1)the aerodrome certification basis, the alternative means of compliance in use and the current aerodrome or aerodrome operator certificate(s), for the lifespan of the certificate;

(2)arrangements with other organisations, for as long as such arrangements are in effect;

(3)manuals of aerodrome equipment or systems employed at the aerodrome, for as long as they are used at the aerodrome;

(4)safety assessment reports for the lifetime of the system/procedure/activity;

(5)personnel training, qualifications, and medical records as well as their proficiency checks, as appropriate, for at least four years after the end of their employment, or until the area of their employment has been audited by the Competent Authority; and

(6)the current version of the hazard register;

(7)driving authorisations and, if appropriate, language proficiency certificates, for at least four years after the end of a person’s employment, or the revocation or cancelation of a driving authorisation, or until this area of activity has been audited by the competent authority;

(8)vehicle authorisations and aerodrome operator’s vehicle maintenance records, for at least four years after a vehicle is removed from operations, or until this area has been audited by the competent authority.

(e)All records shall be subject to applicable data protection law.

ED Decision 2014/012/R

DOCUMENTATION TO BE RETAINED

(a)The system employed by the aerodrome operator for record keeping should provide for adequate procedures, storage facilities, and reliable traceability, retrievability and accessibility of the records related to the activities of the aerodrome operator that are subject to the Basic Regulation and its Implementing Rules, throughout the required retention period.

(b)Records should be kept in paper form, or in electronic format, or a combination of both. Records stored on microfilm or optical disc format are also acceptable. The records should remain legible throughout the required retention period. The retention period starts when the record has been created or last amended.

(c)Paper systems should use robust material which can withstand normal handling and filing. Computer systems should have at least one backup system which should be updated within 24 hours of any new entry. Computer systems should include safeguards against the ability of unauthorised personnel to alter the data.

(d)All computer hardware used to ensure data backup should be stored in a different location from that containing the working data, and in an environment that ensures they remain in good condition. When hardware or software changes take place, special care should be taken that all necessary data continues to be accessible, at least, through the full retention period. In the absence of any indication, all records should be kept for a minimum period of five years.

ED Decision 2014/012/R

RECORDING OF AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS

(a)The aerodrome operator should employ a system to be used for recording the aircraft movements at the aerodrome.

(b)Such a system should allow the aerodrome operator to record:

(1)the number of movements of each aircraft type using the aerodrome;

(2)the type of each aircraft movement (commercial air transportation, cargo, etc.);

(3)the date of each movement; and

(4)the number of passengers.

(c)The system used should also satisfy the provisions of AMC1 ADR.OR.D.035.

ED Decision 2014/012/R

RECORDS

Microfilming or optical storage of records may be carried out at any time. The records should be as legible as the original record, and remain so for the required retention period.

SUBPART E — AERODROME MANUAL AND DOCUMENTATION (ADR.OR.E)

Regulation (EU) 2025/21

(a)The aerodrome operator shall establish and maintain an aerodrome manual.

(b)The content of the aerodrome manual shall reflect the certification basis and the requirements set out in this Part and Part-ADR.OPS, as applicable, and shall not contravene the terms of the certificate. The aerodrome manual shall contain or refer to all necessary information for the safe use, operation and maintenance of the aerodrome, its equipment, as well as its obstacle limitation and protection surfaces and other areas associated with the aerodrome.

(c)The aerodrome manual may be issued in separate parts.

(d)The aerodrome operator shall ensure that all aerodrome personnel and all other relevant organisation’s personnel have easy access to the portions of the aerodrome manual that are relevant to their duties and responsibilities.

(e)The aerodrome operator shall:

(1)supply the Competent Authority with the intended amendments and revisions of the aerodrome manual, for items requiring prior approval in accordance with ADR.OR.B.040, in advance of the effective date and ensure that they do not become effective before obtaining the Competent Authority’s approval; or

(2)supply the Competent Authority with the intended amendments and revisions of the aerodrome manual in advance of the effective date, if the proposed amendment or revision of the aerodrome manual requires only a notification to the Competent Authority in accordance with ADR.OR.B.040(d) and ADR.OR.B.015(b).

(f)Notwithstanding point (e), when amendments or revisions are required in the interest of safety, they may be published and applied immediately, provided that any approval required has been applied for.

[applicable until 26 March 2028 — Regulation (EU) No 139/2014]

(f)Notwithstanding point (e), when amendments or revisions are required in the interest of safety, they may be published and applied immediately, provided that any approval required has been applied for. Amendments and revisions concerning the ground handling activities subject to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/20¹⁹ are not required to be submitted to the competent authority for approval.

[applicable from 27 March 2028 — Regulation (EU) 2025/21]

(g)The aerodrome operator shall:

(1)review the content of the aerodrome manual, ensure that it is kept up to date and amended whenever necessary;

(2)incorporate all amendments and revisions required by the Competent Authority; and

(3)make all aerodrome personnel and other relevant organisations aware of the changes that are relevant to their duties and responsibilities.

(h)The aerodrome operator shall ensure that any information taken from other approved documents, and any amendment thereof, is correctly reflected in the aerodrome manual. This does not prevent the aerodrome operator from publishing more conservative data and procedures in the aerodrome manual.

(i)The aerodrome operator shall ensure that:

(1)the aerodrome manual is written in a language acceptable to the Competent Authority; and

(2)all personnel are able to read and understand the language in which those parts of the aerodrome manual and other operational documents pertaining to their duties and responsibilities are written.

(j)The aerodrome operator shall ensure that the aerodrome manual:

(1)is signed by the accountable manager of the aerodrome;

(2)is printed or is in electronic format and is easy to revise;

(3)has a system for version control management which is applied and made visible in the aerodrome manual; and

(4)observes human factors principles and is organised in a manner that facilitates its preparation, use and review.

(k)The aerodrome operator shall keep at least one complete and current copy of the aerodrome manual at the aerodrome and make it available for inspection by the Competent Authority.

(l)The content of the aerodrome manual shall be as follows:

(1)General;

(2)Aerodrome management system, qualification and training requirements;

(3)Particulars of the aerodrome site;

(4)Particulars of the aerodrome required to be reported to the Aeronautical Information Service; and

(5)Particulars of the operating procedures of the aerodrome, its equipment and safety measures.

ED Decision 2014/012/R

GENERAL

(a)The aerodrome manual may vary in detail according to the complexity of the operation, and the type of the aerodrome.

(b)The aerodrome manual or parts of it may be presented in any form, including electronic form. In all cases, the accessibility, usability, and reliability should be assured.

(c)The aerodrome manual should be such that:

(1)all parts of the manual are consistent and compatible in form and content;

(2)the manual can be readily amended; and

(3)the content and amendment status of the manual is controlled and clearly indicated.

(d)The aerodrome manual should include a description of its amendment and revision process specifying:

(1)the person(s) who may approve amendments or revisions;

(2)the conditions for temporary revisions and/or immediate amendments, or revision required in the interest of safety; and

(3)the methods by which all personnel and organisations are advised of changes to the aerodrome manual.

(e)The aerodrome manual may contain parts of, or refer to other controlled documents, such as aerodrome equipment manual, which are available at the aerodrome for use by the personnel.

ED Decision 2014/012/R

AERODROME MANUAL

(a)Form of the aerodrome manual

The aerodrome manual is a key document both for the aerodrome operator and the Competent Authority. The manual is the source document describing how the aerodrome infrastructure, facilities, and operational procedures will operate safely.

As well as the operational procedures, the Competent Authority will expect the aerodrome manual to be an accurate reflection of the day-to-day functioning of the aerodrome's safety management system, and its safety culture. It will need to show how the aerodrome intends to measure its performance against safety targets and objectives. The reader of an aerodrome manual should be given a clear statement of how safety is developed, managed, and maintained on the aerodrome. All safety policies, operational procedures and instructions should be contained in detail when relevant or cross-referenced to other controlled, formally accepted or recognised, publications.

At larger aerodromes, the size and complexity of operations, and related procedures may dictate that these procedures could not easily be included in a single document. In such circumstances, it is acceptable to identify and reference within the aerodrome manual the procedures which are not included within it. If this system is to be successful, it is essential that any referenced information, documentation, and procedures are made available as necessary to all operational staff in a similar way as the aerodrome manual itself. For that purpose, a computerised database containing the referenced procedures and information could be suitable. For many small aerodromes, the aerodrome manual can be both simple and brief as long as it covers procedures essential for satisfactory day-to-day operations. Nevertheless, it is possible to adopt a common format embracing the essential elements that define a safety management system.

(b)Purpose of the aerodrome manual

An efficient management structure and a systematic approach to aerodrome operation is essential. The aerodrome manual should contain all the relevant information to describe this structure satisfactorily. It is one of the means by which all relevant operating staff can be informed as to their duties and responsibilities with regard to safety. It should describe the aerodrome infrastructure, services and facilities, all operating procedures, and any restrictions on aerodrome availability.

Accountability for safety must start at the very top of any organisation. One of the key elements in establishing safe working practices is the ‘top down’ approach where all staff should understand the safety aims of the organisation, the chain of command, and their own responsibilities and accountabilities. As safety management principles are applied, the aerodrome manual should be expanded to describe clearly how the safety of operations is to be managed. To a reader or user of the aerodrome manual, there should never be any doubt in terms of ‘safety accountability’ for each domain or activity described. Each section should define who is accountable, who is responsible, who has the authority, who has the expertise, and who actually carries out the tasks described in any section.

The principle objective of an aerodrome manual should be to show how management will accomplish its safety responsibilities. The aerodrome manual will set out the policy and expected standards of performance, and the procedures by which they will be achieved.

The aerodrome operator should ensure that:

(1)the responsibilities of the aerodrome operator are clearly described;

(2)the tasks and activities that are to be performed by the aerodrome operator or its subcontractors are listed; and

(3)the means and procedures in order to complete these tasks and activities are described or appended, together with the necessary details on their frequencies and operating modes.

Where responsibilities are attributed to other stakeholders, the aerodrome manual should clearly identify them.

ED Decision 2014/012/R

LANGUAGE OF THE AERODROME MANUAL

A translated version of the relevant parts of the aerodrome manual is an acceptable means to comply with the relevant requirement. In any case, the persons who are going to use the manual should be able to read and understand it.

ED Decision 2024/004/R

AERODROME MANUAL

(a)The aerodrome manual should have the following structure, and include, at least, the following information; if an item is not applicable, the indication ‘Not applicable’ or ‘Intentionally blank’ should be inserted, along with the relevant reason:

A.PART A — GENERAL

0.Administration and control of the aerodrome manual including the following:

0.1.Introduction:

0.1.1a statement signed by the accountable manager that the aerodrome manual complies with all applicable requirements, and with the terms of the certificate;

0.1.2a statement signed by the accountable manager that the aerodrome manual contains operational instructions that are to be complied with by the relevant personnel;

0.1.3a list and brief description of the various parts, their contents, applicability, and use;

0.1.4explanations, abbreviations, and definitions of terms needed for the use of the manual;

0.2System of amendment and revision:

0.2.1details of the person(s) responsible for the issuance and insertion of amendments and revisions;

0.2.2a record of amendments and revisions with insertion dates, and effective dates;

0.2.3a statement that handwritten amendments and revisions are not permitted, except in situations requiring immediate amendment, or revision in the interest of safety;

0.2.4a description of the system for the annotation of pages, or paragraphs and their effective dates;

0.2.5a list of effective pages or paragraphs;

0.2.6annotation of changes (in the text and, as far as practicable, on charts and diagrams);

0.2.7temporary revisions; and

0.2.8description of the distribution system and a distribution list for the aerodrome manual, its amendments, and revisions.

1.General information

General information including the following:

1.1purpose and scope of the aerodrome manual;

1.2legal requirements for an aerodrome certificate and the aerodrome manual as prescribed in Part-ADR.OR;

1.3conditions for use of the aerodrome by its users;

1.4the obligations of the aerodrome operator; rights of the Competent Authority and guidance to staff on how to facilitate audits/inspections by Competent Authority personnel.

B.PART B — AERODROME MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, QUALIFICATION AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

2.A description of the management system, including the following:

2.1Aerodrome organisation and responsibilities including the following: a description of the organisational structure, including the general organigram and other departments’ organigrams. The organigram should depict the relationship between the departments. Subordination and reporting lines of all levels of organisational structure (departments, sections, etc.) related to safety should be shown.

Names, authority, responsibilities and duties of management and nominated persons; responsibilities and duties of other operational, maintenance personnel, as well as of the aerodrome safety committees and the Local Runway Safety Team and their functioning, should also be included.

2.2.A description of the safety management system, including:

2.2.1the scope of the safety management system;

2.2.2the safety policy and objectives;

2.2.3the safety responsibilities of key safety personnel;

2.2.4the documentation control procedures;

2.2.5the safety risk management process, including hazard identification and risk assessment schemes;

2.2.6monitoring of implementation and effectiveness of safety actions, and risk mitigation measures;

2.2.7safety performance monitoring;

2.2.8safety reporting (including mandatory and voluntary reporting/reporting of safety hazards), related arrangements with organisations operating or providing services at the aerodrome, and safety investigation;

2.2.9emergency response planning;

2.2.10 management of change (including organisational changes with regard to safety responsibilities);

2.2.11 safety promotion; and

2.2.12 safety management system outputs.

2.3A description of compliance monitoring and related procedures.

2.4A description of the quality management system for aeronautical data and aeronautical information provision activities and related procedures, including those for meeting the relevant safety and security management objectives.

2.5Procedures for reporting to the Competent Authority including handling, notifying and reporting accidents, serious incidents, and other occurrences. This section should include, at least, the following:

(a)definition of accident, serious incident and occurrence and of the relevant responsibilities of all persons involved;

(b)illustrations of forms to be used (or copies of the forms themselves), instructions on how they are to be completed, the addresses to which they should be sent and the time allowed for this to be done;

(c)procedures and arrangements for the preservation of evidence, including recordings, following a reportable event;

2.6Procedures related to the use of alcohol, psychoactive substances and medicines.

2.7Procedures for:

2.7.1complying with safety directives;

2.7.2reaction to safety problems; and

2.7.3handling of safety recommendations issued by Safety Investigation Authorities.

2.8A description of the method and procedures for recording aircraft movements, including movement and aircraft type, dates, and number of passengers.

3.Required aerodrome personnel qualifications (see GM1 ADR.OR.D.015(d)). Moreover, procedures related to:

3.1the training programme, including the following:

3.1.1responsibilities, frequencies, syllabi, duration of each type of training, method for delivery of training and competency assessment, minimum performance to be achieved by the trainees, and the identified training standards for all personnel involved in the operation, rescue and firefighting maintenance and management of the aerodrome, and those persons operating unescorted on the movement area and other operational areas of the aerodrome.

3.1.2procedures:

3.1.2.1for training and competency assessment of the trainees;

3.1.2.2to be applied in the event that personnel do not achieve the required standards.

3.1.3description of documentation to be stored and storage periods.

3.2the proficiency check programme, including responsibilities and frequencies of proficiency checks;

3.2.1checking methods and procedures.

3.2.2procedures to be applied in the event that personnel do not achieve the required standards.

3.2.3the validation process to measure the effectiveness of the programme.

3.2.4description of documentation to be stored and storage periods.

C.PART C — PARTICULARS OF THE AERODROME SITE

4.A description of the aerodrome site including in particular, the following information:

4.1a plan showing the distance of the aerodrome from the nearest city, town, or other populous area;

4.2detailed maps and charts of the aerodrome showing the aerodrome’s location (longitude and latitude) and boundaries, major facilities, aerodrome reference point, layout of runways, taxiways and aprons, aerodrome visual and non-visual aids, and wind direction indicators;

4.3a plan showing the location of any aerodrome facilities and equipment outside the boundaries of the aerodrome;

4.4description of the physical characteristics of the aerodrome, elevations, visual and non-visual aids, as well as the information regarding the aerodrome reference temperature, strength of pavements, rescue and firefighting level of protection, ground aids and main obstacles;

4.5description of any cases of exemptions or derogations, equivalent level of safety, special conditions, and operating limitations; and

4.6description of the types of operations that the aerodrome is approved to conduct.

D.PART D — PARTICULARS OF THE AERODROME REQUIRED TO BE REPORTED TO THE AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION SERVICE

5.The aeronautical information services available and the procedures for the promulgation of general information, including the following:

5.1the name of the aerodrome;

5.2the location of the aerodrome;

5.3the geographical coordinates of the aerodrome reference point determined in terms of the World Geodetic System — 1984 (WGS-84) reference datum;

5.4the aerodrome elevation and geoid undulation;

5.5the elevation of each threshold and geoid undulation, the elevation of the runway end, and any significant high and low points along the runway, and the highest elevation of the touchdown zone of a precision approach runway;

5.6the aerodrome reference temperature;

5.7details of the aerodrome beacon; and

5.8the name of the aerodrome operator and contact details (including telephone numbers) of the aerodrome operator at which may be contacted at all times.

6.Aerodrome dimensions and related information, inducing the following:

6.1runway — true bearing, designation number, length, width, displaced threshold location, slope, surface type, type of runway and, for a precision approach runway, the existence of an obstacle free zone;

6.2length, width and surface type of strip, runway end safety areas, stopways; width and surface type of taxiways; apron surface type and aircraft stands; clearway length and ground profile;

6.3visual aids for approach procedures, approach lighting type and visual approach slope indicator system; marking and lighting of runways, taxiways, and aprons; other visual guidance and control aids on taxiways and aprons, location and type of visual docking guidance system; availability of standby power for lighting;

6.4the location and radio frequency of VOR aerodrome checkpoints;

6.5the location and designation of standard taxi routes;

6.6the geographical coordinates of each threshold, appropriate taxiway centre line points, and aircraft stands;

6.7the geographical coordinates, and the top elevation of significant obstacles in the approach and take-off areas, in the circling area and in the surroundings of the aerodrome (in the form of charts);

6.8pavement surface type and bearing strength using the Aircraft Classification Number — Pavement Classification Number (ACN-PCN) method;

6.9pre-flight altimeter check locations established and their elevation;

6.10declared distances;

6.11contact details (telephone/telex/fax numbers and e-mail address) of the aerodrome coordinator for the removal of disabled aircraft, and information on the capability to remove disabled aircraft, expressed in terms of the largest aircraft type;

6.12rescue and firefighting level of protection; types and amounts of extinguishing agents normally available at the aerodrome; and

6.13exemptions or derogations from the applicable requirements, cases of equivalent level of safety, special conditions, and limitations.

E.PART E — PARTICULARS OF OPERATING PROCEDURES OF THE AERODROME, ITS EQUIPMENT, AND SAFETY MEASURES

7.Aerodrome reporting, including:

7.1arrangements and procedures for reporting changes to the aerodrome information set out in the AIP and requesting the issue of NOTAM, including reporting changes to the Competent Authority and recording of the reporting of changes;

7.2procedures and frequencies for aeronautical data surveying, including areas to be surveyed.

8.Procedures for accessing the aerodrome movement area, including:

8.1coordination with the security agencies;

8.2prevention of unauthorised entry into the movement area;

9.Procedures for the inspection, assessment and reporting of the condition of the aerodrome movement area and other operational areas and facilities, (including runway surface friction characteristics assessments and water-depth measurements), including:

9.1arrangements and means of communicating with the air traffic services unit during inspections;

9.2inspection checklists, logbook, and record-keeping; and

9.3inspection intervals and times; reporting results and follow-up actions.

10.Procedures for the inspection, and routine and emergency maintenance of visual and non-visual aids, as appropriate, and the aerodrome electrical systems, including:

10.1inspection checklists, logbook, and record keeping; and

10.2inspection intervals and times; reporting results and follow-up actions.

11.Operating, maintenance and repair instructions, servicing information, troubleshooting and inspection procedures of aerodrome equipment.

12.Procedures for:

12.1maintenance of the movement area, including paved areas; unpaved runways and taxiways; runways and runway strips and aerodrome drainage;

12.2overload operations.

13.Procedures for aerodrome works, including:

13.1coordinating, planning, and carrying out construction and maintenance work; and

13.2arrangements and means of communicating with air traffic services unit during the progress of such work.

14.Procedures for apron management, including:

14.1transfer of the aircraft between air traffic services unit, and the apron management unit;

14.2allocation of aircraft parking positions;

14.3engine start and aircraft push-back; and

14.4marshalling and ‘follow-me’ service.

15.Procedures for apron safety management, including:

15.1protection from jet blasts and downwash;

15.2enforcement of safety precautions during aircraft refuelling operations;

15.3FOD prevention, including apron cleaning/sweeping;

15.4monitoring compliance of personnel on the apron with safety procedures; and

15.5escorting, controlling and protecting passengers on the apron, from vehicular traffic and operating aircraft, use of predetermined routes, and avoiding interference with stationary aircraft ground servicing activities.

16.Procedures for the control and limitation of the number of vehicles operating on the movement area, issuance of authorisations and temporary permits of vehicles operating on or in the vicinity of the movement area, including driver’s obligations, traffic rules, right of way, speed limits, and procedures for issuing driving authorisations and permits, and enforcement procedures. Procedures for escorting vehicles occasionally used in areas where radio and transponder or equivalent is required, as well as for vehicles temporarily permitted to operate on the movement area. Procedures and responsibilities for establishing and monitoring the implementation of the maintenance programme for vehicles operating on the movement area and other operating areas.

17.Procedures for wildlife hazard management, including assessing wildlife hazards and arrangements for implementation of the wildlife control programme, and promulgation of the relevant information to the AIS; wildlife strike form.

18.Procedures for:

18.1obstacle control and monitoring within and outside of the aerodrome boundaries, and notification to the Competent Authority, of the nature and location of obstacles, and any subsequent addition, or removal of obstacles for action as necessary, including amendment of the AIS publications; and

18.2monitoring and mitigating hazards related to human activities and land use, on the aerodrome and its surroundings.

Relevant inspection checklists, logbook, and record keeping; inspection intervals and times; reporting results and follow-up actions.

19.Aerodrome emergency plan including:

19.1dealing with emergencies at the aerodrome or in its surroundings;

19.2tests for aerodrome facilities and equipment to be used in emergencies, including their frequency; and

19.3exercises to test emergency plans, including their frequency.

20.Rescue and firefighting, including description of facilities, equipment, personnel and procedures for meeting the firefighting requirements.

21.Removal plan of disabled aircraft, including relevant arrangements, equipment, and procedures for its implementation.

22.Procedures for ensuring the safe handling and storage of fuel and dangerous goods in the aerodrome, including:

22.1equipment, storage areas, delivery, dispensing, handling, and safety measures;

22.2quality and correct specification of aviation fuel; audit and inspection intervals, checklists, sampling and record keeping.

23.Low visibility operations: description of operational procedures, including coordination with air traffic services unit and apron management unit, standard taxiing routes, control of activities, and measurement and reporting of runway visual range.

24.Procedures for winter operations, including snow removal plan and procedures for its implementation as well as description of the available means and relevant arrangements.

25.Procedures for operations in adverse weather conditions.

26.Procedures for night operations.

27.Procedures for the protection of radar and other navigational aids, control of activities, and ground maintenance in the vicinity of these installations.

28.Procedures for the operation of aircraft that exceed the certified design characteristics of the aerodrome, including taxiing routes in accordance with point ADR.OPS.B.090.

29.Procedures and measures for the prevention of fire at the aerodrome.

30.Communication procedures, including: frequencies; language and phraseology to be used when communicating with the air traffic services; vehicle call signs; communication signals to be used in case of radio communication failure; communication via the air traffic services provider; and dissemination of significant information.

31.Aircraft towing procedures, including: designated routes to be used; lights to be displayed by aircraft; communication procedures; guidance to be provided; measures for ensuring safety of towing operation in adverse weather conditions, including visibility and weather phenomena in which towing is limited or not permitted.

32.Procedures for the handover of activities between aerodrome personnel, including description of the system for the provision of operational information to other organisations operating at the aerodrome.

(b)All procedures contained in the aerodrome manual should include and clearly define the roles, responsibilities, and contact details of responsible aerodrome personnel, other persons or organisations, including the contracted ones, including the Competent Authority and other state agencies involved, as appropriate, and take into account the need for establishing direct communication during non-working hours.

ED Decision 2014/012/R

CONTENTS

The numbering system described in AMC3 ADR.OR.E.005 should be maintained even if there are sections that, because of the nature of the aerodrome or the types of operation, are not applicable.

ED Decision 2014/012/R

HUMAN FACTORS PRINCIPLES

Guidance material on the application of human factors principles may be found in the ICAO Human Factors Training Manual (Doc 9683).

Regulation (EU) No 139/2014

(a)The aerodrome operator shall ensure the availability of any other documentation required and associated amendments.

(b)The aerodrome operator shall be capable of distributing operational instructions and other information without delay.

SUBPART F — APRON MANAGEMENT SERVICE (ADR.OR.F)

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1234

The organisation responsible for the provision of AMS shall provide the apron management service in accordance with:

(a)the requirements set out in Annex VII to Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 and in Annex III (PartADR.OR) and Annex IV (Part-ADR.OPS) to this Regulation;

(b)its declaration;

(c)the operating procedures included in the aerodrome manual;

(d)its management system manual in accordance with ADR.OR.F.095;

(e)any other manuals used for the provision of apron management service.

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1234

(a)When an organisation responsible for the provision of AMS intends to provide guidance to aircraft as laid down in points a(1) and a(2) of point ADR.OPS.D.001 as a minimum, it shall submit a declaration to the Competent Authority at least 2 months before the date of the intended start of the provision of the service. The declaration shall contain the following information:

(1)the name of the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS;

(2)contact details of the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS;

(3)name and contact details of the accountable manager;

(4)the name(s) of the aerodrome(s) in the Member State where the service will be provided;

(5)a list of aerodromes located in other Member States where the service is provided;

(6)the date of the intended start of the provision of the apron management service;

(7)a statement that confirms that it has established formal arrangements with the aerodrome operator and the air traffic service provider at the aerodrome where it intends to provide the apron management service;

(8)a statement that confirms that the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS has developed a safety policy and will apply that policy during the provision of the service covered by the declaration, in accordance with point ADR.OR.F.045(b)(2);

(9)a statement that confirms that the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS complies and will, during the provision of the service covered by the declaration, continue to comply with the applicable requirements of Annex VII to Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 and Annex III (Part-ADR.OR) and Annex IV (Part-ADR.OPS) to this Regulation;

(b)By derogation from point (a), when a certified aerodrome operator or an approved air traffic services provider intends to provide apron management service, it shall:

(1)notify its Competent Authority;

(2)revise its safety policy to include the provision of apron management service;

(3)submit to the Competent Authority the training programme of the personnel intended to be used for the provision of the service.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ORGANISATION RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROVISION OF AMS AS REGARDS THE SUCCESSFUL SUBMISSION OF THE DECLARATION

It is the responsibility of the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS to successfully submit the declaration to the Competent Authority. If the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS does not receive an acknowledgement of receipt of the declaration by the Competent Authority under point ADR.AR.C.050 within a reasonable period of time following the submission of the declaration, it contacts the Competent Authority to investigate whether or not the submission of the declaration has been successful.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

DECLARATION OF COMPLIANCE MODEL FORM FOR ORGANISATIONS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROVISION OF AMS

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1234

A declaration made by an organisation responsible for the provision of AMS in accordance with point ADR.OR.F.005 shall remain valid subject to the following conditions:

(a)the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS is compliant with the requirements set out in Annex VII to Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 and in Annex III (Part-ADR.OR) and Annex IV (Part-ADR.OPS) to this Regulation, taking into account the provisions related to the handling of findings as specified under point ADR.OR.F.035 of this Annex;

(b)the Competent Authority is granted access to the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS in accordance with point ADR.OR.F.030 of this Annex to determine continued compliance with the requirements set out in Annex VII to Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 and in Annex III (PartADR.OR) and Annex IV (Part-ADR.OPS) to this Regulation;

(c)the declaration has not been withdrawn by the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS or been notified by the Competent Authority to cease some or all services covered by the declaration.

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1234

An organisation responsible for the provision of AMS shall start the provision of apron management service at an aerodrome, when:

(a)the declaration has been received by the Competent Authority;

(b)it has established formal arrangements with the certified aerodrome operator and the approved air traffic service provider at the aerodrome where the service will be provided in accordance with points ADR.OR.F.085 and ADR.OR.F.090 respectively;

(c)it provides evidence that its personnel have completed the required initial and unit training.

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1234

An organisation responsible for the provision of AMS that intends to terminate permanently the provision of the service at an aerodrome shall:

(a)notify the aerodrome operator and the Competent Authority, as soon as possible, so as to enable appropriate measures to be taken for the safe continuation of the service;

(b)submit to the Competent Authority an amended declaration or request de-registration of the declaration, upon the date of termination of the provision of the service.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

NOTIFICATION

When the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS intends to terminate the provision of such services, it should notify in writing the Competent Authority and the aerodrome operator. The prior notice for the notification should be such so as to enable appropriate measures to be taken for the continuation of the service, if necessary, and to allow for the timely publication of the changes and their notification by the Aeronautical Information Regulation and Control (AIRAC) system in accordance with the required time frame.

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1234

(a)The organisation responsible for the provision of AMS shall coordinate with the aerodrome operator any changes to the information contained in the declaration specified in point ADR.OR.F.005(a) and to the training programme or the management system manual respectively referred to in point ADR.OR.F.005(b) and point ADR.OR.F.095.

(b)The organisation responsible for the provision of AMS shall notify without undue delay the Competent Authority of any changes specified in point (a) and, if necessary, submit an amended declaration.

(c)The organisation responsible for the provision of AMS shall provide the Competent Authority with the relevant documentation in accordance with point (d).

(d)As part of its management system referred to in point ADR.OR.F.045, the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS that proposes a change to its organisation, its management system or its training programme shall:

(1)determine the interdependences with any affected parties, and plan and conduct a safety assessment in coordination with these organisations;

(2)align assumptions and mitigations with any affected parties in a systematic way;

(3)ensure a comprehensive assessment of the change including any necessary interactions;

(4)ensure that complete and valid arguments, evidence and safety criteria are established and documented to support the safety assessment, and that the change supports the improvement of safety whenever reasonably practicable.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

ASSESSMENT OF CHANGES

(a)Safety (risk) assessment of a change

A safety (risk) assessment of a change includes:

(1)the identification of the scope of the change;

(2)the identification of hazards;

(3)the determination of the safety criteria applicable to the change;

(4)the risk assessment in relation to the harmful effects or improvements in safety related to the change and, if required, risk mitigation for the change to meet the applicable safety criteria;

(5)the verification that the change conforms to the scope that was subject to the safety assessment, and that it meets the safety criteria, before the change is put into operation; and

(6)the specification of the monitoring requirements necessary to ensure that the aerodrome and its operation will continue to meet the safety criteria after the change has been put into operation.

(b)Scope of the safety assessment

The scope of the safety assessment includes the following elements and their interaction:

(1)the aerodrome, its operation, management, and human resources being changed;

(2)the interfaces and interactions between the elements being changed and the rest of the system;

(3)the interfaces and interactions between the elements being changed and the environment in which they are intended to operate; and

(4)the full lifecycle of the change from conception to operations.

(c)Safety criteria

The safety criteria used for the safety assessment of a change:

(1)are compatible or the same with the safety criteria of the aerodrome operator and the air traffic services (ATS) provider;

(2)are defined in accordance with the procedures for the management of the change contained in the management system manual; and

(3)depending on the availability of data, are specified with reference to explicit quantitative acceptable safety risk levels, recognised standards and/or codes of practice, the safety performance of the existing or a similar system.

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1234

For the purpose of determining whether an organisation responsible for the provision of AMS is acting in accordance with its declaration, the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS shall ensure that any person duly authorised by the Competent Authority, at any time:

(a)is granted access to any facility, document, records, data, procedures or any other material relevant to its activity;

(b)is allowed to perform or witness any action, inspection, test, assessment or exercise the Competent Authority finds necessary.

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1234

(a)After the Competent Authority has communicated a finding to an organisation responsible for the provision of AMS in accordance with point ADR.AR.C.055 of Annex II, the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS shall take the following steps within the time period determined by the Competent Authority:

(1)identify the root cause of the non-compliance;

(2)define a corrective action plan;

(3)demonstrate the corrective action implementation to the satisfaction of the Competent Authority within the time period agreed with that authority in accordance with point ADR.AR.C.055(d) of Annex II.

(b)The organisation responsible for the provision of AMS shall inform the aerodrome operator of the actions detailed in point (a) and, where appropriate, coordinate such actions with the aerodrome operator.

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1234

An organisation responsible for the provision of AMS shall:

(a)implement any safety measures, including safety directives, taken by the Competent Authority in accordance with points ADR.AR.A.030(c) and ADR.AR.A.040 of Annex II;

(b)when implementing the measures referred to in point (a), coordinate with the aerodrome operator and the air traffic service provider, where necessary.

Regulation (EU) 2025/21

(a)The organisation responsible for the provision of AMS, the aerodrome operator or the air traffic service provider, when the latter is partially or exclusively providing apron management services, shall implement and maintain a management system that integrates a safety management system that also covers those activities.

(b)The management system shall include:

(1)clearly defined lines of responsibility and accountability throughout the organisation, including a direct accountability for safety on the part of the senior management;

(2)a description of the overall philosophies and principles of the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS with regard to safety, referred to as the safety policy, signed by the accountable manager;

(3)a formal process that ensures that hazards in operations are identified;

(4)a formal process that ensures analysis, assessment and mitigation of the safety risks in the provision of apron management service;

(5)the means to verify the safety performance of the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS in reference to the safety performance indicators and safety performance targets of the safety management system, and to validate the effectiveness of safety risk controls;

(6)a formal process to:

(i)identify changes within the organisation, its management system, or the provision of apron management service which may affect established processes, procedures and services;

(ii)describe the arrangements to ensure safety performance before implementing changes;

(iii)eliminate or modify safety risk controls that are no longer needed or effective due to changes in the operational environment;

(7)a formal process to review the management system referred to in point (a), identify the cause(s) of substandard performance of the safety management system, determine the implications of such substandard performance in operations, and eliminate or mitigate such cause(s);

(8)a safety training programme that ensures that personnel involved in the provision of apron management service are trained and competent to perform the safety management duties;

(9)formal means for safety communication that ensures that personnel are fully aware of the safety management system, conveys safety-critical information, and explains why particular safety actions are taken and why safety procedures are introduced or changed;

(10)a formal process to monitor the compliance of the organisation with the relevant requirements.

(c)The organisation responsible for the provision of AMS shall document all management system key processes in a manual.

(d)Notwithstanding points (a) to (c), if the provider of AMS is part of a legal entity that declares its responsibility for the provision of ground handling services in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/20, the provider of AMS may integrate its management system with the management system required under that Regulation.

[applicable from 27 March 2028 — Regulation (EU) 2025/21]

ED Decision 2020/021/R

SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

The management system of the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS should encompass safety by establishing an organisational structure for the management of safety which is proportionate and appropriate to the size of the organisation and the complexity and type of its operations.

Depending on the size of the organisation and the type and complexity of its operations, the safety management system should include the establishment of internal safety committees.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

INTERNAL SAFETY COMMITTEES

Organisations responsible for the provision of AMS may find it beneficial to establish a Safety Review Board and Safety Action Groups, and depending on their organisational complexity and structure, Safety Services Office to support Safety Manager in the execution of the assigned tasks, especially in cases where the organisation provides AMS in multiple aerodromes.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

SAFETY SERVICES OFFICE

(a)The Safety Services Office is managed by the Safety Manager and is independent and neutral in terms of the processes and decisions made regarding the provision of services by the operational unit(s).

(b)The functions of the Safety Services Office normally support the Safety Manager in the following:

(1)the management and oversight of the hazard identification system;

(2)the monitoring of the safety performance of the operational unit(s) that is (are) directly involved in the provision of apron management services (AMS);

(3)the provision of advice to the senior management on safety management matters; and

(4)the provision of assistance to line managers on safety management matters.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

SAFETY REVIEW BOARD AND SAFETY ACTION GROUP

(a)The Safety Review Board:

(1)is a high-level safety committee that considers matters of strategic safety in support of the accountable manager’s safety accountability; and

(2)is chaired by the accountable manager and composed of heads of functional areas.

(b)The Safety Review Board monitors:

(1)the organisation’s safety performance against the safety policy and safety objectives;

(2)that any safety action is taken in a timely manner; and

(3)the effectiveness of the organisation’s safety management processes.

(c)The Safety Review Board ensures that appropriate resources are allocated for the organisation to achieve the safety objectives.

(d)The safety manager or any other relevant person, as appropriate, may attend the Safety Review Board meetings. They may communicate to the accountable manager all the relevant information, as necessary, to allow decision-making based on safety data.

(e)Depending on the size of the organisation and the type and complexity of its operations, the responsibilities of the Safety Review Board may be transferred in other high-level committees of the organisation.

(f)The Safety Action Group

(1)The Safety Action Group may be established as a standing group, or as an ad hoc group, to assist or act on behalf of the Safety Review Board;

(2)More than one Safety Action Group may be established, depending on the scope of the task and the specific expertise required;

(3)The Safety Action Group reports to, and takes strategic direction from, the Safety Review Board, and is comprised of managers, supervisors, and personnel from operational areas.

(4)The Safety Action Group:

(i)monitors operational safety;

(ii)resolves identified risks;

(iii)assesses the impact of operational services on safety;

(iv)ensures that safety actions are implemented within the agreed timescales.

(5)The Safety Action Group reviews the effectiveness of previous safety recommendations and safety promotion activities.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

SAFETY SERVICES OFFICE, SAFETY REVIEW BOARD AND SAFETY ACTION GROUP

Different terms may also be used for the Safety Services Office, the Safety Review Board and the Safety Actions Group.

ED Decision 2024/004/R

SAFETY POLICY

(a)The safety policy should:

(1)be endorsed by the accountable manager;

(2)clearly identify safety as the highest organisational priority;

(3)reflect organisational commitments regarding safety and its proactive and systematic management;

(4)be communicated, with visible endorsement, throughout the organisation;

(5)include safety-reporting principles; and

(6)be periodically reviewed to ensure that it remains relevant and appropriate to the organisation.

(b)The safety policy should:

(1)include a commitment to:

(i)improve towards the highest safety standards;

(ii)comply with all applicable legal requirements, meet all applicable standards, and consider best practices;

(iii)provide appropriate resources;

(iv)enforce safety as the primary responsibility of all managers and personnel; and

(v)apply ‘just culture’ principles in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 376/2014, and, in particular, not to make available or use the information on occurrences:

(A)to attribute blame or liability to front line personnel or other persons for actions, omissions or decisions taken by them that are commensurate with their experience and training; or

(B)for any purpose other than the maintenance or improvement of aviation safety;

(2)include safety-reporting procedures;

(3)with reference to ‘just culture’, clearly indicate which types of operational behaviours are unacceptable, and include the conditions under which disciplinary action would not apply; and

(4)be periodically reviewed to ensure that it remains relevant and appropriate to the organisation.

(c)Senior management should:

(1)continually promote the safety policy to all personnel, and demonstrate their commitment to it;

(2)provide the necessary human and financial resources for its implementation; and

(3)establish safety objectives and performance standards.

ED Decision 2024/004/R

SAFETY POLICY

Safety policy — General

The safety policy is the means whereby the organisation states its intention to maintain and, where practicable, improve the level of safety in all its activities, and to minimise the risk of an aircraft accident as far as reasonably practicable. It reflects the management’s commitment to safety, demonstrates the organisation’s philosophy of safety management, and becomes the foundation on which the organisation’s management system is built. It serves as a reminder of ‘how we do business here’. The creation of a positive safety culture begins with the issuance of a clear and unequivocal direction.

The commitment to apply ‘just culture’ principles forms the basis for the organisation’s internal rules describing how ‘just culture’ principles are guaranteed and implemented, as required by Article 16(11) of Regulation (EU) No 376/2014.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

HAZARD IDENTIFICATION PROCESS

(a)The organisation responsible for the provision of AMS should coordinate the hazard identification process with the aerodrome operator and, where necessary, the air traffic services (ATS) provider.

(b)Hazard identification should be based on a combination of reactive, proactive, and predictive methods of safety data collection. Reactive, proactive, and predictive schemes for hazard identification should be the formal means of collecting, recording, analysing, acting on, and generating feedback about hazards and the associated risks that affect safety.

(c)All reporting systems, including confidential reporting schemes, should include an effective feedback process.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

HAZARD IDENTIFICATION

(a)Hazard identification — General

(1)Hazard identification may include the following factors and processes:

(i)design factors, including equipment and task design;

(ii)procedures and operating practices, including the related documentation and checklists, and their validation under actual operating conditions;

(iii)communications, including the means, terminology and language;

(iv)personnel factors, such as company policies for recruitment, training, remuneration, and allocation of resources;

(v)organisational factors, such as the compatibility of production and safety goals, the allocation of resources, operating pressure, and the corporate safety culture;

(vi)work environment factors, such as ambient noise and vibration, temperature, lighting, and the availability of protective equipment and clothing;

(vii)regulatory oversight factors, including the applicability and enforceability of regulations, the certification of equipment, personnel, and procedures, and the adequacy of oversight;

(viii)defences, including factors such as the provision of adequate detection and warning systems, the error tolerance of equipment, and the resilience of equipment to errors and failures; and

(ix)human performance, restricted to medical conditions and physical limitations.

(2)For hazard identification, internal and external sources may be used.

(i)Internal sources:

(A)voluntary occurrence-reporting schemes;

(B)safety surveys;

(C)safety audits;

(D)normal operations monitoring schemes;

(E)trend analysis;

(F)feedback from training; and

(G)investigation of incidents and follow-up.

(ii)External sources:

(A)accident reports;

(B)State mandatory occurrence-reporting system; and

(C)State voluntary occurrence-reporting system.

(3)The methods used for hazard identification depend on the resources and constraints of each particular organisation, and on the size and complexity of its operations. Nevertheless, hazard identification, regardless of implementation, complexity and size, is part of the organisation’s safety documentation. In the context of mature safety management practices, hazard identification is a continuous, daily activity. It is an integral part of the organisation’s processes. There are three specific conditions under which special attention to hazard identification should be paid. These three conditions should trigger more in-depth and far-reaching hazard identification activities, and include:

(i)any time the organisation experiences an unexplained increase in safety-related events or regulatory infractions;

(ii)any time major operational changes are foreseen, including changes to key personnel or other major equipment or systems; and

(iii)before and during periods of significant organisational changes, including rapid growth or contraction, corporate mergers, acquisitions, or downsizing.

(4)For hazard identification, the following tools and techniques may be used:

(i)brainstorming, which is an unbounded but facilitated discussion with a group of experts;

(ii)the hazard and operability (HAZOP) study, which is a systematic and structured approach using parameter and deviation guidewords. This technique relies on a very detailed system description being available for study, and usually involves breaking down the system into well-defined subsystems and functional or process flows between subsystems. Each element of the system is then subject to discussion within a multidisciplinary group of experts against the various combinations of the guidewords and deviations;

(iii)checklists, which are lists of known hazards or hazard causes that have been derived from past experience. Past experience could be previous risk assessments, or similar systems, or operations, or from actual incidents that have occurred in the past. This technique involves the systematic use of an appropriate checklist, and the consideration of each item on the checklist for possible applicability to a particular system. Checklists are always validated for applicability prior to use;

(iv)the failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA), which is a ‘bottom-up’ technique used to consider ways in which the basic components of a system can fail to perform their design intent. This technique relies on a detailed system description, and considers the ways in which each subcomponent of the system could fail to meet its design intent, and what the consequences could be for the overall system. For each subcomponent of a system, the FMEA considers:

(A)all the potential ways that the component could fail;

(B)the effects that each of these failures would have on the system behaviour;

(C)the possible causes of the various failure modes; and

(D)how the failures might be mitigated within the system or its environment.

The system level at which the analysis is applied can vary, and is determined by the level of detail of the system description used to support the analysis. Depending on the nature and complexity of the system, the analysis could be undertaken by an individual system expert, or by a team of system experts that act in group sessions.

(v)the structured what-if technique (SWIFT) is a simple and effective technique, alternative to the HAZOP study, and involves a multidisciplinary team of experts. It is a facilitated brainstorming group activity, but is typically carried out on a higherlevel system description, having fewer sub-elements than the HAZOP study and with a reduced set of prompts.

(5)Identified hazards are registered in a hazard log (hazard register). The nature and format of such a hazard log may vary from a simple list of hazards to a more sophisticated relational database linking hazards to mitigations, responsibilities, and actions. The following information is included in the hazard log:

(i)unique hazard reference number against each hazard;

(ii)hazard description;

(iii)indication of the potential causes of the hazard;

(iv)qualitative assessment of the possible outcomes and severities of the consequences arising from the hazard;

(v)qualitative assessment of the risk associated with the possible consequences of the hazard;

(vi)description of the existing risk controls for the hazard; description of additional actions that are required to reduce safety risks, as well as target date of their completion; and

(vii)indication of responsibilities in relation to the management of risk controls.

(6)Additionally, the following information may also be included in the hazard log:

(i)a quantitative assessment of the risk associated with the possible consequences of the hazard;

(ii)record of actual incidents or events related to the hazard, or its causes;

(iii)risk-tolerability statement;

(iv)statement of formal system-monitoring requirements;

(v)indication of how the hazard was identified;

(vi)hazard owner;

(vii)assumptions; and

(viii)third-party stakeholders.

(b)Hazard identification — Indicators

(1)Reactive (lagging) indicators:

Metrics that measure events which have already occurred and that impact on safety performance.

As reactive (lagging) indicators only reflect system failures, their use can only result in determining a reactive response. Although they do measure failure to control hazards, they do not normally reveal why the system failed, or if there are any latent hazards.

(2)Proactive (leading) indicators:

Metrics that measure inputs to the safety system (either within an organisation, a sector, or across the total aviation system) to manage and improve safety performance.

Proactive (leading) indicators indicate good safety practices being introduced, developed and adapted, which, by their inclusion, seek to establish a proactive safety environment that engenders continuous improvement. They provide useful information when accident and incident rates are low to identify latent hazards and potential threats, and consequent opportunities for improvement.

There should always be a connection between a proactive indicator and the unwanted outcomes (or reactive indicators) that their monitoring is intended to warn against.

(3)Predictive indicators (precursor events):

These metrics can be considered as indicators that do not manifest themselves in accidents or serious incidents. They indicate less severe system failures or ‘near misses’ which, when combined with other events, may lead to an accident or a serious incident.

In a large organisation, a mature safety management system includes all these measures. Risk-management efforts, however, are targeted at proactive (leading) indicators and predictive indicators (precursor events).

ED Decision 2020/021/R

SAFETY RISK ASSESSMENT AND RISK MITIGATION

(a)A formal safety risk assessment and risk-mitigation process should be developed and maintained that ensures risk analysis (in terms of probability and severity of occurrence), risk assessment (in terms of tolerability), and risk control (in terms of mitigation).

(b)The levels of management that have the authority to make decisions regarding the tolerability of safety risks, in accordance with (a) above, should be specified in the management manual. The decisions should be coordinated with the aerodrome operator and, where necessary, the air traffic services (ATS) provider.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

SAFETY RISK ASSESSMENT AND RISK MITIGATION

Safety risk assessment is the analysis of the safety risks of the consequences of the hazards that have been determined.

The safety risk analysis breaks down the risks into two components:

—the probability of occurrence of a damaging event or condition, and

—the severity of the damaging event or condition, should it occur.

Safety risk decision-making and acceptance should be specified through a risk-tolerability matrix. The definition and final construction of the matrix is left to the aerodrome operator to design, is documented in the aerodrome manual, and is subject to approval by the Competent Authority.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

SAFETY PERFORMANCE MONITORING AND MEASUREMENT

(a)Safety performance monitoring and measurement should be the process by which the safety performance of the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS is verified in comparison to the established safety policy and objectives, identified safety risks and the risk-mitigation measures.

(b)This process should include the setting of safety performance indicators and safety performance targets, and measuring the organisation’s safety performance against them.

(c)The safety performance indicators and targets should be agreed with the aerodrome operator and should not contravene the safety performance indicators and targets of the aerodrome operator and, where applicable, the air traffic services (ATS) provider.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

SAFETY PERFORMANCE MONITORING AND MEASUREMENT

(a)The performance monitoring and measurement process includes:

(1)safety reporting, addressing also the status of the organisation’s compliance with the applicable requirements;

(2)safety studies which are rather large analyses encompassing broad safety concerns;

(3)safety reviews, including trends reviews which are conducted during the introduction and deployment of new technologies, change or implementation of procedures, or in situations of structural changes in operations, or to explore the increase in incidents or safety reports;

(4)safety audits which focus on the integrity of the organisation’s management system, and periodically assess the status of safety risk controls;

(5)safety surveys which examine particular elements or procedures of a specific operation, such as problem areas or bottlenecks in daily operations, perception and opinions of operational personnel, and areas of dissent or confusion; and

(6)internal safety investigations of occurrences.

(b)The following generic aspects/areas may be considered:

(1)accountability for the management of the operational activities and their ultimate accomplishment;

(2)authority to direct, control or change the procedures, as well as to make key decisions such as safety risk acceptance decisions;

(3)procedures for operational activities;

(4)controls, including hardware, software, special procedures or procedural steps, and supervisory practices designed to keep operational activities on track;

(5)interfaces, including lines of authority between departments, lines of communication between employees, consistency of procedures, and clear delineation of responsibility between organisations, work units, and employees; and

(6)process measures to provide feedback to parties in charge that required actions are taking place, required outputs are being produced, and expected outcomes are being achieved.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

CHANGE MANAGEMENT

The organisation responsible for the provision of AMS should manage the safety risks related to a change. The management of a change should be a documented process to identify external and internal changes that may have an adverse effect on safety.

The management of a change should make use of the organisation’s existing hazard identification, safety risk assessment, and mitigation processes.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

CHANGE MANAGEMENT

(a)A change can introduce new hazards and impact on the appropriateness and/or effectiveness of existing safety risk mitigation strategies. A change may be external to the organisation, or internal.

(b)A formal process for the management of change considers the following:

(1)the criticality of systems and activities;

(2)the stability of systems and operational environments; and

(3)the organisation’s past performance.

(c)System description is one of the fundamental preliminary activities in the planning of the safety management system to determine a baseline hazard analysis for the system.

As part of the formal process of the management of change, the system description and the baseline hazard analysis are reviewed periodically, even if circumstances of change are not present, to determine their continued validity.

When changes to the system are made, and periodically thereafter, the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS goes over its system and its actual operational environment in order to make sure it continues to be fully aware of the circumstances under which the provision of AMS takes place.

With regard to the management of change and safety (risk) assessments related to changes, see also ADR.OR.F.025 and GM1 ADR.OR.F.025(d).

ED Decision 2020/021/R

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT OF THE SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

The organisation responsible for the provision of AMS should continuously seek to improve its safety performance. The organisation should develop and maintain a relevant formal process in this regard. Continuous improvement should be achieved through:

(a)the proactive and reactive evaluation of facilities, equipment, documentation and procedures;

(b)the proactive evaluation of an individual’s performance to verify they fulfil their safety responsibilities; and

(c)reactive evaluations to verify the effectiveness of the system as regards the control and mitigation of safety risks.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT OF THE SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

The continuous improvement of the safety management system, as part of the safety assurance, is achieved through the following:

(a)internal evaluations;

(b)independent audits, both internal and external;

(c)strict document controls; and

(d)continuous monitoring of safety controls and mitigation actions.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TRAINING

(a)The organisation responsible for the provision of AMS should establish a safety management system training programme for all personnel involved in the provision of AMS, including all management staff (e.g. supervisors, managers, senior managers, and the accountable manager), regardless of their position in the hierarchy of the organisation.

(b)The amount and level of detail of the safety management system training should be proportionate and appropriate to the individual’s responsibilities and involvement in the safety management system of the organisation.

(c)The safety management system training programme should be developed in accordance with AMC1 ADR.OR.D.017(a);(b) and be incorporated in the training programme foreseen therein.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TRAINING — PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS

(a)Operations and maintenance personnel

(1)The safety management system training addresses all safety-related responsibilities, including adherence to all operational and safety procedures, and identifying and reporting hazards.

(2)The training objectives include the organisation’s safety policy and safety management system fundamentals and overview.

(3)The training contents include the following:

(i)the definition of hazards;

(ii)the consequences of hazards and risks;

(iii)the safety risk management process, including roles and responsibilities; and

(iv)safety reporting and the organisation’s safety reporting system(s).

(b)Managers and supervisors

(1)The safety management system training addresses safety-related responsibilities, including the promotion of the safety management system (SMS) and engaging operational personnel in hazard reporting.

(2)In addition to the training objectives established for operational personnel, the training objectives for managers and supervisors include a detailed knowledge of the safety process, hazard identification and safety risk management and mitigation, and change management.

(3)In addition to the contents specified for operational personnel, the training contents for supervisors and managers include safety data analysis.

(c)Senior managers

(1)The safety management system training would include safety-related responsibilities, including compliance with European Union, national and the organisation’s own safety requirements, allocation of resources, ensuring effective inter-departmental safety communication, and active promotion of the safety management system.

(2)In addition to the objectives for the two previous employee groups, the safety management system training includes also safety assurance and safety promotion, safety roles and responsibilities, and the establishment of an acceptable level of safety.

(d)Accountable manager

The training would provide the accountable manager with a general awareness of the organisation’s safety management system, including safety management system roles and responsibilities, safety policy and objectives, safety risk management, and safety assurance.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

SAFETY COMMUNICATION

(a)The organisation responsible for the provision of AMS should communicate the safety management system objectives and procedures to all operational personnel, and the safety management system and its application should be evident in all aspects of the organisation’s operations.

(b)There should be a communication flow between the safety manager and the operational personnel throughout the organisation. The safety manager should communicate the performance of the organisation’s safety management system via suitable means. The safety manager should also ensure that lessons learned from investigations, safety-related events or other safety-related experience, both internally and from other organisations, are distributed widely within the organisation.

(c)Safety communication should aim to:

(1)ensure that all staff are fully aware of the organisation’s safety management system;

(2)convey safety-critical information;

(3)explain why particular actions are taken; and

(4)explain why safety procedures are introduced or changed.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

SAFETY COMMUNICATION

(a)The following means may be used to communicate safety information:

(1)the safety management system (SMS) manual;

(2)safety processes and procedures;

(3)safety newsletters, notices, and bulletins; and

(4)websites or emails.

(b)Regular meetings with staff, where information, actions and procedures are discussed, may also be used to communicate safety information.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

COMPLIANCE MONITORING

(a)Compliance monitoring

(1)The implementation and use of a compliance-monitoring process should enable the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS to monitor the organisation’s compliance with the relevant requirements of this Part, of Part-ADR.OPS, as well as with any other applicable regulatory requirements, or requirements established by the aerodrome operator or the air traffic services (ATS) provider.

(2)The compliance-monitoring process should be properly implemented, maintained and continually reviewed and improved, as necessary.

(3)Compliance monitoring should include a system to feed findings back to the accountable manager to ensure the effective implementation of corrective actions, as necessary.

(4)The organisation responsible for the provision of AMS should monitor the consistent application of its procedures, and compliance with the applicable procedures of the aerodrome operator and of the ATS provider to ensure that the activities are performed safely. In doing so, the AMS provider should, as a minimum, and where appropriate, monitor compliance with:

(i)its privileges;

(ii)the manuals, logs, and records;

(iii)the training standards;

(iv)the required resources;

(v)the management system procedures and manuals; and

(vi)the activities of the organisation carried out under the supervision of the person nominated in accordance with point ADR.OR.F.065(a)(2).

(b)Organisational set-up

(1)To ensure that the organisation continues to meet the requirements of this Part and of other applicable parts, the accountable manager should designate a person responsible for compliance monitoring.

(2)Compliance monitoring should be an independent function. If the person responsible for compliance monitoring has also another function, that person’s independence should be established by ensuring that audits and inspections are carried out by personnel that are not responsible for the function, procedure, etc., being audited.

(3)Staff involved in compliance monitoring should have access to any part of the organisation and, as necessary, to any contracted organisation.

(c)Compliance-monitoring documentation

(1)Relevant documentation should include the relevant part(s) of the organisation’s management system documentation.

(2)In addition, relevant documentation should also include the following:

(i)terminology;

(ii)specified activity standards;

(iii)a description of the organisation;

(iv)the allocation of duties and responsibilities;

(v)procedures to ensure regulatory compliance;

(vi)the compliance-monitoring programme which reflects:

(A)the schedule of the monitoring programme;

(B)audit procedures, including an audit plan that is implemented, maintained and continually reviewed and improved;

(C)reporting procedures;

(D)follow-up and corrective action procedures; and

(E)the recording system;

(vii)the training syllabus referred to in point (d)(2) below; and

(viii)document control.

(d)Training

(1)Proper and thorough training is essential to optimise compliance. In order to achieve optimum outcome of such training, the AMS provider should ensure that all personnel understand the objectives as laid down in the AMS provider’s management system documentation.

(2)The staff member responsible for managing compliance monitoring should receive training in this task. Such training should cover the compliance-monitoring requirements, the manuals and procedures related to the task, audit techniques, reporting, and recording.

(3)The time should be provided to train the staff involved in compliance management, and for briefing the rest of the staff.

(4)The allocation of time and resources should be based on the volume and complexity of the activities concerned.

(e)Compliance monitoring — audit scheduling

(1)Defined audit schedules to be completed during a specified period as well as a periodic review cycle for each audited area should be established. The compliance monitoring itself should also be audited according to a defined audit schedule. The schedule should allow for unscheduled audits when non-compliance data shows an increasing trend. Follow-up audits should be scheduled to verify that corrective action has been carried out, and that it has been effective and completed, in accordance with the policies and procedures specified in the aerodrome manual.

(2)The management system’s key processes, procedures and the operation of the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS should be audited within the first 12 months from the date on which the declaration was first registered.

(3)Following that, the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS should consider the results of its safety (risk) assessments and of its past compliance-monitoring activities in order to adapt the period within which an audit or a series of audits should be conducted, to cover its management system’s key processes, procedures and operations in a manner and at intervals set out in the management system manual. This period should be consistent with the relevant Competent Authority’s oversight planning cycle and may be extended up to 36 months, in coordination with the Competent Authority, provided that there are no level 1 findings, and subject to the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS having a good record of addressing findings in a timely manner.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

COMPLIANCE MONITORING — GENERAL

(a)The person responsible for compliance monitoring may perform all audits and inspections themselves or may appoint one or more auditors by choosing staff, either from within or outside the organisation, which have the related competence as defined in point (d) of AMC2 ADR.OR.F.045(b)(10).

(b)Regardless of the option chosen in point (a) above, the organisation ensures that the independence of the audit function is not affected, particularly in cases where staff that perform the audit or the inspection are also responsible for other functions within the organisation.

(c)If external staff are used to perform compliance audits or inspections:

(1)such audits or inspections would be performed under the responsibility of the person responsible for compliance monitoring; and

(2)the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS remains responsible for ensuring that external staff have the appropriate knowledge, background and experience with regard to the activities being audited or inspected, including knowledge of and experience in compliance monitoring.

(d)The organisation responsible for the provision of AMS has the ultimate responsibility for the effectiveness of compliance monitoring, particularly for the effective implementation and follow-up of all corrective actions.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

RESPONSIBILITY FOR COMPLIANCE MONITORING

(a)The responsibility for compliance monitoring should:

(1)lie with a person that has direct access and is responsible to the accountable manager;

(2)not lie with a person that is nominated in accordance with point ADR.OR.F.065(a)(2).

(b)Depending on the size of the organisation and the type and complexity of its operations, the task of compliance monitoring may be performed by the accountable manager provided they have demonstrated they have the related competence as defined in point (d) below.

(c)If the same person acts both as compliance-monitoring manager and as safety manager, the accountable manager, with regard to their direct accountability as regards safety, should ensure that sufficient resources are allocated to both functions, taking into account the size of the organisation and the type and complexity of its operations.

(d)Persons that are allocated the responsibility for compliance monitoring should have:

(1)adequate experience and expertise in aerodrome operations or in the provision of apron management services (AMS) or air traffic services (ATS);

(2)adequate knowledge of and experience in safety management and quality assurance;

(3)knowledge of the aerodrome manual and as regards the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS, of its management manual; and

(4)comprehensive knowledge of the applicable requirements in the area of aerodromes, AMS or ATS.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION

The organisation responsible for the provision of AMS should ensure that the key processes of its documented management system include a process for making personnel aware of their responsibilities, as well as its amendment procedure.

The documented management system of the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS should include at least the following information:

(a)a statement signed by the accountable manager confirming that the organisation will continuously work in accordance with the applicable requirements, with the requirements of the aerodrome operator and of the air traffic services (ATS) provider, and with the organisation’s documented management system;

(b)the organisation’s scope of activities;

(c)the titles and names of the persons referred to in point ADR.OR.F.065 and in AMC2 ADR.OR.F.045(b)(10);

(d)an organisation chart showing the lines of responsibility between the nominated persons;

(e)the procedures specifying how the organisation ensures compliance with the applicable requirements;

(f)the amendment procedure for the organisation’s management system documentation; and

(g)the safety management system outputs.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

SAFETY MANAGEMENT MANUAL

(a)For cases where safety management is set out in a safety management manual, it should be the key instrument for communicating the approach of the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS to safety. The safety management manual should document all aspects of safety management, including the safety policy, its objectives, procedures, and the safety responsibilities of individuals.

(b)The safety management manual should include the following:

(1)the scope of the safety management system;

(2)the safety policy and its objectives;

(3)the safety responsibilities of key safety personnel;

(4)the documentation control procedures;

(5)the safety assessment process, including hazard identification and risk management schemes;

(6)the monitoring of implementation and the effectiveness of the safety actions and riskmitigation measures;

(7)safety performance monitoring;

(8)safety reporting (including hazard reporting) and investigation;

(9)the change management (including organisational changes with regard to safety responsibilities);

(10)safety promotion; and

(11)safety management system outputs.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION

It is not required to duplicate information in several manuals. The safety management manual is considered part of the management manual of the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS.

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/1645

The organisation responsible for the provision of AMS shall establish, implement and maintain an information security management system in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/1645 in order to ensure the proper management of information security risks which may have an impact on aviation safety.

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1234

Without prejudice to Regulation (EU) No 376/2014, the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS shall report to the Competent Authority of the State where the aerodrome is located, to the aerodrome operator and to the organisation responsible for the design of any aerodrome equipment used for the provision of apron management service, any malfunction, technical defect, exceeding of technical limitations, occurrence or other irregular circumstance that has or may have endangered safety and that has not resulted in an accident or a serious incident.

Regulation (EU) 2024/1400

(a)The organisation responsible for the provision of AMS shall establish and implement a safety reporting system for its personnel.

(b)As part of the process referred to in point ADR.OR.F.045(b)(3), the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS shall ensure that:

(1)its personnel use the safety reporting system for the mandatory reporting of any accident, serious incident and occurrence;

(2)the safety reporting system may be used for the voluntary reporting of any defect, fault and safety hazard which could impact safety.

(c)The safety reporting system shall protect the identity of the reporter, encourage voluntary reporting and include the possibility that reports may be submitted anonymously.

(d)The organisation responsible for the provision of AMS shall:

(1)record all reports submitted;

(2)transmit the reports to the aerodrome operator, and, if relevant, to the air traffic service provider;

(3)in cooperation with the aerodrome operator or the air traffic service provider, or both, analyse and assess the reports, in order to address safety deficiencies and identify trends;

(4)participate in the investigation of the reports conducted by the aerodrome operator, as appropriate;

(5)refrain from attribution of blame in line with the “just culture” principles.

(e)The organisation responsible for the provision of AMS shall ensure that any occurrences are reported to the person who performs a function connected to the safety management of the aerodrome operator, in accordance with Article 4(6), point (e), of Regulation (EU) No 376/2014.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

SAFETY REPORTING SYSTEM

(a)The safety reporting system should include the personnel of the organisation which are responsible for the provision of AMS.

(b)The safety reporting system should include the possibility for voluntary reporting intended for safety hazards identified by the reporter which may have potential negative consequences on safety.

(c)The organisation responsible for the provision of AMS should identify which events are mandatory to be reported.

(d)The organisation responsible for the provision of AMS should provide the means and the format for reporting, which should be such that they meet the existing reporting requirements established in the applicable legislation in terms of time, format, and required information to be reported.

(e)The safety reporting system should include the acknowledgement to the reporter of the successful submission of the report.

(f)The reporting process should be as simple as possible, and well documented, including details on what, how, where, whom, and when to report.

(g)Regardless of the means or method of submission of the report, once the information is received, it should be stored in a manner suitable for easy retrieval and analysis.

(h)Access to the submitted reports should be restricted to personnel responsible for storing and analysing them.

(i)The reporter’s identity should be protected, and this principle should be included in the procedures established by the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS for gathering additional information for further analyses or investigations.

(j)The safety reporting system should include a feedback process to inform the reporter on the outcome of the occurrence analysis.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

THE NEED FOR SAFETY REPORTING

(a)The overall objective of the safety reporting system is to use reported information to improve the safety performance of the organisation, and not to attribute blame to individuals.

(b)The specific objectives of the safety reporting system are to:

(1)enable an assessment to be made of the safety implications of each relevant occurrence, serious incident and accident, including similar past events, so that any necessary action can be initiated; and

(2)ensure that knowledge about such relevant occurrences, serious incidents and accidents is disseminated so that other persons and organisations may learn from them.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

GENERAL

The organisation responsible for the provision of AMS should establish procedures to be used for reporting to the Competent Authority and to any other organisation required, which should include the following:

(a)the description of the applicable requirements for reporting;

(b)the description of the reporting mechanism, including reporting forms, means, and deadlines;

(c)the personnel responsible for reporting; and

(d)the description of the mechanism and of personnel responsibilities for identifying root causes, and the actions that may be needed to be taken to prevent similar occurrences from happening in the future, as appropriate.

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1234

The organisation responsible for the provision of AMS shall participate in the safety programmes established by the aerodrome operator.

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1234

(a)The organisation responsible for the provision of AMS shall:

(1)appoint an accountable manager, who has the authority to ensure that all activities can be financed and carried out in accordance with the applicable requirements. The accountable manager shall be responsible for establishing and maintaining an effective management system;

(2)nominate a person responsible for the management and supervision of operational services related to apron management;

(3)nominate a person responsible for the development, maintenance and day-to-day management of the safety management system. That person shall act independently of other managers within the organisation, shall have direct access to the accountable manager and to appropriate management for safety matters, and shall be responsible to the accountable manager;

(4)have sufficient and qualified personnel for the planned tasks and activities to be performed in accordance with the applicable requirements;

(5)assign a sufficient number of personnel supervisors to defined duties and responsibilities, taking into account the structure of the organisation and the number of personnel employed;

(6)ensure that personnel involved in the provision of apron management service are adequately trained in accordance with the training programme.

(b)In the case that the aerodrome operator or the air traffic service provider are partially or exclusively providing apron management service, they shall ensure that the requirements of point (a) are included in their established allocation of responsibilities within their management systems.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

ACCOUNTABLE MANAGER

(a)Accountable manager — General

(1)The accountable manager should:

(i)ensure that all necessary resources are available to deliver the services in accordance with the applicable requirements and the aerodrome manual;

(ii)ensure that if there is a reduction in the level of resources or if there are abnormal circumstances which may affect safety, the required reduction in the level of operations at the aerodrome is implemented in cooperation with the aerodrome operator and the air traffic services (ATS) provider;

(iii)establish, implement and promote the safety policy; and

(iv)ensure compliance with the relevant applicable requirements and the organisation’s safety management system.

(2)The accountable manager should have:

(i)an appropriate level of authority within the organisation to ensure that its activities are financed and carried out to the standard required;

(ii)knowledge and an understanding of the documents that prescribe aerodrome and ATS safety standards;

(iii)an understanding of the requirements as regards the competencies of management personnel so as to ensure that competent persons occupy key management functions;

(iv)knowledge and an understanding of safety and quality management systems related principles and practices and how these are applied within the organisation;

(v)knowledge of the role of the accountable manager; and

(vi)knowledge and an understanding of the key risk management issues as regards aerodrome operations.

(b)Accountable manager — Delegation of responsibilities

(1)A high level of technical knowledge and understanding is expected from an accountable manager, and in particular with reference to their own role in ensuring that standards are maintained.

(2)During periods of absence, the responsibilities of the accountable manager for the dayto-day operations may be delegated; however, the accountability ultimately remains with the accountable manager.

(3)Depending on the size and the complexity of the organisation’s operations, the accountable manager may delegate their responsibilities in the area of training by nominating a training manager whose responsibilities should be the establishment, coordination, implementation of training programmes, and relevant record keeping of personnel training as well as of the proficiency check programmes.

In any case, the accountability ultimately remains with the accountable manager.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

ACCOUNTABLE MANAGER

Depending on the size, structure and complexity of the organisation, the accountable manager may be:

(a)the chief executive officer (CEO);

(b)the chief operating officer (COO);

(c)the chair of the board of directors;

(d)a partner; or

(e)the proprietor.

The appointment of an accountable manager, who is given the necessary authority and responsibilities, requires that the individual has the necessary competences to fulfil the role. The accountable manager may have more than one function in the organisation. Nonetheless, the accountable manager’s role is to instil safety to personnel as a core organisational value, and to ensure that the safety management system is properly implemented and maintained through the allocation of resources and tasks.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

NOMINATED PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISION OF OPERATIONAL SERVICES RELATED TO APRON MANAGEMENT — OPERATIONS MANAGER

(a)General

(1)A description of the functions of the operations manager, i.e. the person responsible for the management and supervision of operational services related to apron management, should be contained in the management manual. This person should be given the necessary and adequate resources to perform their duties.

(2)The organisation responsible for the provision of AMS should make arrangements to ensure adequate supervision continuity in the absence of the operations manager.

(3)The operations manager should be foreseen to work sufficient hours to fulfil the management functions, considering the scale and complexity of the operation.

(4)The operations manager may hold more than one post if such an arrangement is considered suitable and it properly matches the structure of the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS and the complexity of its operations.

(b)Competence

The operations manager should have:

(1)good practical experience and the appropriate expertise in aerodrome operations, apron management and/or air traffic services (ATS);

(2)comprehensive knowledge of the applicable requirements in the area of aerodromes, apron management and/or ATS;

(3)appropriate knowledge about safety and quality management; and

(4)knowledge of the aerodrome manual and the organisation’s management system manual.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

SAFETY MANAGER

(a)The safety manager should be the focal point and responsible for the effective development, coordination, administration and maintenance of a safety management system.

(b)The role of the safety manager should be to:

(1)facilitate hazard identification, risk analysis and risk management;

(2)monitor the implementation and functioning of the safety management system, including the necessary safety actions;

(3)manage the safety reporting system of the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS;

(4)coordinate with the aerodrome operator and the air traffic services (ATS) provider as regards their safety management systems;

(5)produce periodic reports on the safety performance of the organisation;

(6)ensure the maintenance of the safety management documentation;

(7)ensure the availability of a safety management training and that it meets established standards;

(8)provide advice on safety matters; and

(9)initiate and participate in internal occurrence/incident/accident investigations.

(c)The safety manager should have:

(1)relevant practical experience and the appropriate expertise in aerodrome operations, apron management and/or ATS;

(2)appropriate knowledge about safety and quality management;

(3)knowledge of the aerodrome manual and the organisation’s management system manual; and

(4)comprehensive knowledge of the applicable requirements in the area of aerodromes, apron management and/or ATS.

(d)The safety manager should not be the person referred to in point ADR.OR.F.065(a)(2). However, depending on the size of the organisation and the type and complexity of its operations, the safety manager may be the accountable manager, or any other person with an operational role within the organisation, provided that they can act independently of other managers within the organisation, and have direct access to the accountable manager and to the appropriate management level for safety matters.

ED Decision 2020/021/R

COMBINED RESPONSIBILITIES

(a)As regards the acceptability for a single person to hold more than one post, possibly in combination with the capacity as accountable manager, it depends upon the size of the organisation and the type and complexity of its operations. The two main areas of concern are the allocation of sufficient resources as well as the individual’s capacity and competence to fulfil their responsibilities.

(b)The competence in different areas of responsibility is not different from the competence requirements applicable to persons that hold only one post.

(c)The complexity of the organisation or of its operations may prevent or limit the combination of posts.