The European Union Ramp Inspection Programme requires each participating State to perform inspections of third country's aircraft and community aircraft. It has two major components:
- Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft (SAFA) - aircraft used by third country operators
- Safety Assessment of Community Aircraft (SACA) - used by operators under the regulatory oversight of another EU Member State.
These safety services provide for the inspection of aircraft suspected of non-compliance with the applicable requirements (either international safety standards or EU standards). Ramp inspections may also be carried out in the absence of any suspicion.
In the framework of SAFA, the Safety list of aircraft prohibited to enter European airspace is established. In addition, a list for the prioritization of ramp inspections is compiled after SAFA data analysis. The Network Manager provides support by performing EC SAFA – Safety List Alarming Function.
At EUROCONTROL, as Network Manager, we supports the European Union’s ACC3 (Air Cargo or Mail Carrier operating into the Union from a Third Country Airport) programme with its NM ACC3 Alerting System. Under this programme, air carriers that fly air cargo or mail into the EU from a non-EU airport are required to comply with the EU ACC3 programme for inbound cargo and mail.