The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published the 10th edition of the European Plan for Aviation Safety (EPAS) covering 2021 – 2025.
EPAS sets out the strategic priorities and enablers, and the main risks affecting the European aviation system, while also defining the necessary actions to mitigate the risks, with the paramount objective of further improving aviation safety.
The Plan provides a coherent and transparent framework for safety management, both at the State and the regional level.
EPAS is a key component of the Commission’s European Aviation Safety Programme (EASP), supporting the goals and objectives of the ICAO Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP) for the benefit of all 55 in the ICAO EUR Region.
The new edition includes 170 actions, among which the rulemaking actions have been revised to alleviate the stakeholder’s burden during the unprecedented crisis the aviation sector is facing now. A new section has been included to provide more context on the COVID-19 impact on the European aviation sector. Furthermore, a new Volume III now reflects the key risk areas and the associated safety issues affecting the European aviation system.
This new EPAS edition features the following novelties and highlights:
- Volume I ‘Strategy’: A new section ‘operational context’ is included to provide information on the European aviation system in terms of size, nature and complexity, describing the pre-COVID-19 situation, as well as the impact of the crisis.
- Volume II ‘Actions’ is shaped by the need to alleviate the regulatory burden on stakeholders in response to the unprecedented crisis affecting the entire aviation sector, while maintaining a high, uniform level of aviation safety. For this purpose, action priorities and timelines were reviewed and adjusted in consultation with the Agency’s Advisory Bodies.
- A new Volume III ‘Safety Risk Portfolios’ provides the set of available domain risk portfolios established through the European Safety Risk Management process. It describes the key risk areas and underlying safety issues affecting the European aviation system, identifying those requiring further action. Following an analysis of specific risks and safety issues arising from the current crisis, a dedicated COVID-19 risk portfolio is also provided.
Finally, EPAS 2021-2025 continues to establish a series of actions for innovative air mobility solutions to create a cleaner, quieter and more sustainable aviation system. Initiatives include actions to increase CO2 efficiency, prepare for electric and hybrid propulsion technology, sustainable aviation fuels, carbon offsetting, as well as for the development of an environmental label.
Volume I: https://www.easa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/dfu/epas_2021_2025_vol_one_final.pdf
Volume II: https://www.easa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/dfu/epas_2021_2025_vol_two_final.pdf
Volume III: https://www.easa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/dfu/epas_2021_2025_vol_three_final.pdf
