Airport Safety [EU]

Table of Contents

Safety regulation of aerodromes

Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 — requirements and administrative procedures related to aerodromes

It introduces EU-wide requirements for managing, certifying and operating aerodromes*, which replace the existing national rules on aerodrome safety.

Oversight of aerodromes

Each EU country must designate a competent authority (or authorities):

with powers and responsibilities to certify and oversee aerodromes, as well as their staff and organisations involved;
which is (are) independent from aerodrome operators and providers of apron management services*.
Staff authorised by the competent authority must have powers to perform at least the following tasks:

check records, data, procedures and any other material relevant to the execution of the certification and/or oversight task;
take away copies of or extracts from those materials;
ask for an oral explanation on-site;
enter aerodromes, relevant premises, operating sites or other relevant areas and means of transport;
perform audits, investigations, tests, exercises, assessments and inspections;
take or initiate enforcement measures as appropriate.

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)

Under Regulation (EC) No 1108/2009, the responsibilities of EASA were extended to cover aerodromes.

Within 3 months of the entry into force of Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 (the subject of this summary), EU countries must inform EASA of:

the names;
locations;
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) airport codes;
the names of the operators; and
the number of passengers and cargo movements;
of the aerodromes to which the rules laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1108/2009 and in this regulation apply.

Exemptions

EU countries may exempt from the rules of Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 an aerodrome which handles no more than:

10,000 passengers per year; and
850 movements related to cargo operations per year.
However, they must examine the traffic figures of an exempted aerodrome on a yearly basis.

Certificates

The regulation contains rules regarding the conversion of certificates issued before 31 December 2014, under national rules, for a transitional period up until 31 December 2017.

Until 31 December 2024, competent authorities may accept applications for a certificate including deviations from the certification specifications issued by EASA, if certain technical conditions cited in the regulation’s annexes are met. In such cases, the competent authorities must compile the evidence that those conditions are met in a Deviation Acceptance and Action Document (DAAD) which must be attached to the certificate. The competent authority must specify the period of validity of the DAAD and can amend, suspend or withdraw the DAAD in the event that the conditions are no longer met.

Aerodrome surroundings

EU countries must ensure that consultations take place on safety impacts of proposed constructions:

within the limits of the obstacle limitation* and obstacle protection* surfaces, as well as other surfaces associated with the aerodrome;
beyond the limits of the obstacle limitation and obstacle protection surfaces, as well as other surfaces associated with the aerodrome and which exceed the height set by EU countries.

They must also ensure they coordinate the safeguarding of aerodromes located near borders with other EU countries.

EU countries must also ensure that consultations are conducted with regard to human activities and land use such as:

developments which may create obstacle-induced turbulence that could be hazardous to aircraft operations;
the use of hazardous, confusing and misleading lights;
the use of highly reflective surfaces which may cause dazzling;
activities that may interfere with the performance of aeronautical communications, navigation and surveillance systems.

Wildlife hazard management

EU countries must:

have procedures for recording and reporting wildlife strikes to aircraft;
collect information from aircraft operators, aerodrome personnel and other sources on the presence of wildlife constituting a potential hazard to aircraft operations;
ensure wildlife hazards are evaluated on an ongoing basis by competent personnel.
They must also collect and forward wildlife strike reports to ICAO for inclusion in the ICAO Bird Strike Information System.

Amendment of the regulation

Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 was amended in 2018 by Regulation (EU) 2018/401 regarding the classification of runways.

Application & Background

It has applied since 6 March 2014.

For more information, see:

Aerodromes (European Commission).

KEY TERMS

Aerodrome: a defined area (including any buildings, installations and equipment) on land or water or on a fixed, fixed offshore or floating structure intended to be used either wholly or in part for the arrival, departure and surface movement of aircraft.

Apron management services: the body overseen by a competent authority which provides services managing the activities and the movement of aircraft and vehicles on an apron — a defined area intended to accommodate aircraft for purposes of loading or unloading passengers, mail or cargo; fuelling; parking; or maintenance.

Obstacle limitation surface: a surface that defines the limits to which objects may project into the airspace.
Obstacle protection surface: a surface established for visual approach slope indicator system above which objects or extensions of existing objects shall not be permitted except when, in the opinion of the appropriate authority, the new object or extension would be shielded by an existing immovable object.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Commission Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 of 12 February 2014 laying down requirements and administrative procedures related to aerodromes pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 44, 14.2.2014, pp. 1-34)

Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 have been incorporated in the original document. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.