On Thursday 10 November, the European Parliament’s transport and tourism committee backed by a wide majority (32 to 11 with 1 abstention) a report by Marian-Jean Marinescu (EPP, Romania) on the draft regulation on airline safety, validating the European Commission’s proposal in its aviation strategy to establish an air safety system based on risk and performance.
The rapporteur told EUROPE that this is a particularly good approach for industry as it will not be too damaging to it but will provide optimal safety for people in Europe. How does it work? The approach introduced by the European Commission has allowed a more proportionate regulatory framework to be introduced that takes better account of the different types of airline activity and inherent risks, and also introduces performance elements into the management of air safety in line with indicators and set targets.
In this connection, the report foresees measures for safety management systems at European and national level in order to identify potential risks as early as possible. Moreover, a European Aviation Safety Programme is planned. Each member states should draw up its own safety programme and a plan listing major risks and how to reduce them. Social and economic factors, such as working conditions, will be taken into account if the report is not amended after inter-institutional talks, in reference to the Germanwings disaster (see EUROPE 11281).
The other main section of the report covers drones. According to the text adopted by the MEPs, the European Commission will be asked to draw up a detailed regulatory framework on safety vis-à-vis the drones and their usage (limiting their altitude and avoiding flight-banned zones). The Commission is asked to lay down criteria and procedures for compulsory drone registration, marking and identification. The registration, marking and identification of drones only covers those weighing more than 250 grammes.
Controversy surrounding drone registration and the powers of EASA. The weight of drones to be registered was a subject of discord, explained Marinescu, the amendment’s author, particularly with the ALDE Group, which he said decided not to support the report over this.
Another subject of discord is Article 55, which gives the European Commission the possibility to adopt implementing acts, when it feels the situation is dangerous for aviation safety, that temporarily designate the European Air Safety Agency (EASA) as the competent authority rather than the national body that is felt to be failing. Some MEPs opposed this, particularly those from Germany, Spain and Portugal.
Marinescu has been granted a negotiating mandate so that he can enter interinstitutional talks at the start of December at the earliest, shortly after the Transport Council. He predicted tough negotiations, expecting resistance to the roles planned for the European Commission and EASA. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)