Managing deviations within the EASA Aerodrome Certification

One of the specificities – and a real safety benefit – of this regulation is that it formalises the process for managing deviations to applicable specifications. All deviations have to be systematically addressed to identify suitable mitigation measures, using instruments foreseen by EASA for this purpose: application for an Equivalent Level of Safety (ELoS), imposition of Special Conditions (SC), or the use of a Deviations Acceptance and Action Document (DAAD).

For historical reasons, almost all aerodromes have deviations – and very few deviations were managed in detail within the previous certification procedures in accordance to ICAO (or its national implementation). The new EASA certification scheme therefore represents a real challenge to aerodrome operators – but also an opportunity for a clean fresh start to address their safety issues.

In 2017, airsight assisted numerous aerodrome operators, e.g. in Germany, Luxembourg, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania and Estonia, in managing their deviations to EASA Certification Specifications (CS), by selecting the most suitable instrument and notably by conducting the necessary safety assessments (or aeronautical studies) required to demonstrate that safety criteria can be met.

In 2017, a very large variety of deviations were analysed by airsight within over 10 airport certification related projects. It included for instance the review of non-compliant elements associated to longitudinal or transversal runway / taxiway / apron slopes, signs and markings, dimensions of runway end safety area / runway strip, obstacles infringements, approach lighting systems, etc.

Airports having selected airsight as a partner within their certification procedure could rely on the experience of its consultants in the field of aviation safety and aerodrome design, as well as benefit from the implementation of very cost-efficient solutions to tackle deviations and get acceptance by the responsible national civil aviation authority (CAA) in the foreseen certification timeframe.