What is EU-OPS 1?
EU-OPS 1 is the transposition into EC law of JAR-OPS 1, as specified by Regulation (EC) No. 1899/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 amending Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3922/1991 on the harmonisation of technical requirements and administrative procedures in the field of civil aviation.
Implemented as Commission Regulation (EC) No 8/2008, EU-OPS 1 prescribes requirements applicable to the operation of any civil aeroplane for the purpose of commercial air transport by any operator whose principal place of business and, if any, registered office is in a Member State.
As a Commission Regulation, EU-OPS 1 supersedes national legislation in EU Member States, as well as in Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. However in EU Member States, regulatory oversight remains with the National Aviation Authority (NAA).
EU-OPS 1 was introduced on 16 July 2008 and is now effective in all EU member states, as well as Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, with JAR-OPS 1 remaining effective in all other JAA countries. Operators that do not achieve full compliance with EU-OPS 1 cannot operate legally after this date.
What are the changes to JAR-OPS 1?
A summary listing the differences between JAR-OPS 1 and EU-OPS 1 is below, with major changes detailed at the end of the article.
Major changes to JAR-OPS 1 include:
- Cabin Crew training
- All Weather Operation
- ELTs
- New Subpart Q (Flight and Duty Time Limitations and Rest Requirements)
Which areas will be impacted by the transition to EU-OPS and what impact will this have on my QMS?
The differences between JAR-OPS 1 and EU-OPS 1 include material from both Section 1 and 2 of JAR-OPS 1; Section 2 material, detailing the requirements for both a quality system (OPS 1.035) and an accident prevention and flight safety programme (OPS 1.037) for commercial air transport operators, has now been transposed into law.
By mandating a quality system and an accident prevention and flight safety programme, EU-OPS 1 now requires operators to implement systems for both quality and safety, and provides for the integration of the accident prevention and flight safety programme with the quality system.
The differences between JAR-OPS 1 and EU-OPS 1 are intended to harmonise the regulations with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs). To establish, maintain and improve compliance with ICAO SARPs, operators are implementing systems for the integrated management of safety and quality.
In ensuring compliance with the requirements of multiple international standards and regulations, including EU-OPS, EASA Part-145, ICAO SARPs and IATA IOSA, operators must establish a centralised and standardised framework for managing quality and safety in all areas and at all levels of the organisation.
Major changes between JAR-OPS 1 and EU-OPS 1 include the following:
Cabin Crew Training
Commercial air transport operators are now required to:
- perform medical examination or assessment ‘at regular intervals’
- provide ‘attestation of safety training’ when initial training has been successfully completed
- ensure mandatory minimum course content
- ‘approve training organisations’ who wish to train for and provide the attestation of safety training
- check that training has been completed
- keep copies of the attestation of safety training
- ensure training for awareness of surface contamination and need to inform flight crew
- ensure that further slide descent training is completed when sill heights differ significantly
All Weather Operation
Commercial air transport operators are now required to:
- ensure each flight crew member completes training and checking requirements for low-visibility operations
- establish procedures and instructions for low-visibility operations, which must be included in the Operations Manual
- include in the Operations Manual the minimum equipment that has to be serviceable for low visibility operations
Flight and Duty Time Limitations and Rest Requirements
Commercial air transport operators are now required to:
- ensure that crew members’ records include: block times; start, duration and end of each duty or flight duty periods; and rest periods and days free of all duties
- ensure that copies of crew members’ records are available on request
- identification of the systems with impact on regulatory activities
What can my organisation do to meet the requirements of EU-OPS 1?
Q-Pulse is your solution for implementing an integrated safety and quality management system to comply with the requirements of EU-OPS 1.
In supporting safety and quality management activities with a standardised system, commercial air operators can adopt a systematic approach to managing safety and quality. In addition, operators
can achieve a holistic view of their safety and quality management systems with a centralised software solution.
For more details on the major changes to JAR-OPS 1, and where Q-Pulse can help you to meet the new requirements, request our EU-OPS white paper.