Support to Safety Oversight (SAF)
The SAF Unit provides technical expertise and gives appropriate inputs to various European entities, working on the implementation of the safety regulatory framework applicable at both EU and pan-European levels. This includes EUROCONTROL’s Safety Regulation Commission (SRC) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
This work relates to the current obligations that the Agency has with regard to the SRC and the support it provides to EASA. In essence, there are two main activity streams:
- Support to the SRC and facilitation of its advisory role to the Provisional Council/Permanent Commission (PC/CN), helping it evolve within a new scenario, and operating a number of SRC-related processes;
- Providing technical support and expertise to EASA according to an agreed Work Programme endorsed by the European Commission (EC).
SAF operates as a pool of safety experts which provide the necessary input, both technical and managerial, to implement a number of activities and programmes related to ATM safety and the regulatory framework.
SAF manages and facilitates the implementation of the Peer Review Programme organised by the EC to support the improvement of National Supervisory Authority (NSA) arrangements within the Single European Sky (SES).
The Peer Reviews are carried out by national experts nominated by NSAs, assisted and supported by SAF experts. Currently, the reviews of one Functional Airspace Block (FAB) are done by experts from another. This approach enables the experts to take advantage of the synergies needed to implement FABs and facilitates the cross-fertilisation of ideas and pools experience across the NSA community.
The scope of the Peer Reviews covers the principal tasks of the NSAs with regard to Regulation (EC) N°. 552/2004 – Interoperability – and Commission Implementing Regulations (EU) N°. 1034/2011 – ATM Safety Oversight and N°. 1035/2011 – Common Requirements for the provision of ANS. The Reviews focus on the oversight of changes, safety regulatory oversight, interoperability, NSA human resources and ongoing compliance with certification renewal regulations. Conceptually, the Peer Reviews will take into consideration lessons learned from safety audits and outline corrective actions intended to address audit findings.
To support the EC’s efforts in strengthening the Peer Reviews scheme and to enhance their value for all the experts participating in them, SAF undertakes the following tasks:
- Developing and maintaining the Peer Review methodology, guidelines and other supporting material;
- Establishing a timetable for the conduct of Peer Reviews;
- Maintaining a database of NSA experts with the capability of running reviews;
- Organising and delivering training to Peer Reviewers, including methods for discussing review results;
- Operating a database to collect, follow-up on, and disseminate results from the reviews;
- Appointing EUROCONTROL experts, generally based in the SAF Unit, as facilitators for safety and other areas of expertise as needed;
- Planning and provision of secretarial and logistical support.
The provision of technical support and expertise to EASA features in specific work programmes agreed by EASA and EUROCONTROL and endorsed by the EC in order to support EASA’s responsibilities in the domain of ATM/ANS safety regulation.
At present, SAF provides technical assistance for, and inputs to:
- The drafting of new EC ATM safety-related legislation;
- The implementation of the EASA standardisation inspections in ATM/ANS;
- The provision and analysis of ATM-related safety data, including the safety aspects of the SES Performance Scheme;
SAF provides effort and input to a number of projects and activities managed by other DSS Divisions. These include:
- Assisting EIPR (European Implementation Planning and Reporting) with safety regulation and oversight aspects;
- Providing expertise and inputs to various Support-to-States activities within Europe;
- The activities of the NSA Coordination Platform.
Tel: +32 2 729 46 78
Fax: +32 2 729 47 87
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Single Sky documentation
Single Sky contacts
For questions on our Single Sky support services, please contact:
Marie Josée FERNANDES BOUCA
Tel: +32 2 729 3551