European Commission releases aviation safety report

The European Commission has published a report received by a task force led by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) analyzing the adequacy of European air safety and security rules.

The report was assembled in May 2015 at the request of EU Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc, following the tragic March 24 crash of Germanwings Flight 9525, where the flight’s co-pilot was later revealed to have had a history of depression and suicidal tendencies.

Chaired by Patrick Ky, executive director of EASA, the task force consisted of 14 senior representatives from airlines, flight crew associations, medical advisors and authorities. Additional contributions were provided by invited experts and representative bodies. Three formal task force meetings took place from May to July 2015, and the results were delivered to Bulc for review.

The report issues six recommendations:

1. The principle of 'two persons in the cockpit at all time' should be maintained.2. Pilots should undergo a psychological evaluation before entering airline service.3. Airlines should run a random drugs and alcohol programme.4. Robust programme for oversight of aeromedical examiners should be established.5. A European aeromedical data repository should be created.6. Pilot support systems should be implemented within airlines.It concludes that improved medical checks on crews could bring a strong contribution to air safety, and focuses on the medical and psychological assessments of pilots, including drugs and alcohol screening.

The evaluation also points at the need for a better oversight framework for aeromedical examiners, encouraging a balance between medical secrecy and safety without creating additional red-tape for airlines.

The Commission plans to examine the recommendations before deciding on future steps, taking into account advice received from other sources such as the independent accident investigation led by the French Civil Aviation Safety Investigation Authority.

Where legislative action is to be taken, EASA will be requested to develop concrete proposals, which will then be included in EU aviation safety regulations. EASA will also be asked to produce non-legislative deliverables such as guidance material and practical tools for information sharing, and to monitor actions taken by Member States and industry.

The Federal Aviation Administration in the United States is currently reviewing existing standards and procedures for pilot medical oversight and cockpit door security. It is expecting to publish its own report by the end of this year.