Aircrew Regulation
and EASA Regulatory Structure
Description
The EASA Regulation on Aircrew, covers:
- pilot training and checking;
- medical aspects;
- initial training for cabin crew; and
- requirements for authorities and organisations.
Basic Regulation
Regulation (EC) No 216/2008, as it was further amended, has been termed as the Basic Regulation. It describes the common rules in the field of civil aviation and it establishes a European Aviation Safety Agency.
Under the EU legal order, the Basic Regulation (BR) has general application. It is binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
The main objective of the BR is to establish and maintain a high uniform level of civil aviation safety in Europe.
Additional objectives, among others, are, to ensure a high uniform level of environmental protection, to facilitate the free movement of goods, persons and services and to provide a level playing field for all actors in the internal aviation market. One of the means to attain such objectives is the preparation, adoption and uniform application of all necessary acts.
For that purpose, the BR granted the power to the European Commission to adopt implementing rules which detail how to comply with the essential requirements of the BR.
One of EASA’s (the Agency’s) tasks is to assist the Commission in the adoption of implementing rules.
Cover Regulation
The Cover Regulation designates the:
- first 12 articles of Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011, that describe the technical requirements and administrative procedures related to civil aviation aircrew, pursuant to Regulation 216/2008, as further amended.
- first 10 articles of Commission Regulation (EU) No 965/2012, that describe the technical requirements and administrative procedures related to air operations pursuant to Regulation 216/2008.
The Cover Regulation:
- explains the principles and considerations of the legislator when adopting the regulation (the ‘whereas’ clauses);
- describes the regulation’s objective and scope;
- defines the terms used in the Cover Regulation;
- indicates to whom/what the regulation and its annexes apply;
- provides one or more dates from when the rules become applicable (opt-out provisions), including any grandfathering and transition measures for the adaptation to the new rules.
Aviation Regulation
Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011, as further amended, has been termed as the “Aircrew Regulation”.
The Aircrew Regulation is thus composed of the Cover Regulation (12 Articles) and six annexes, which contain the:
- Annex I – Part-FCL, implementing rules on pilot licensing,
- Annex II, conversion of existing national licences,
- Annex III, was deleted by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/723
- Annex IV – Part-MED, medical certification and attestation,
- Annex V – Part-CC, qualification of cabin crew,
- Annex VI – Part-ARA, authority requirements for aircrew, and
- Annex VII – Part-ORA, organisation requirements for aircrew.
Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC) and Guidance Material (GM)
In addition to the aforementioned regulations, EASA issues Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC), as well as Guidance Material (GM) for the application of the Basic Regulation and its Implementing Rules.
AMCs illustrate a means, but not the only means, by which a requirement of an Implementing Rule can be met. Satisfactory demonstration of compliance using a published AMC shall provide for presumption of compliance with the related requirement; it is a way to facilitate certification tasks for the applicant and the competent authority.
In addition to the above, EASA publishes documents called Easy Access Rules containing regulations in a consolidated and easy-to-read format.
Flight Crew Licensing related information and documents may be accessed via the EASA website.
