Aerodromes are high-risk environments. Almost 70% of all fatal air accidents happen at or around airports, such as runway incursions. This complex issue involves a lot of different aspects: airport design, lighting, markings, signage, wildlife control.

Air Traffic Management (ATM) is the combination of navigation, surveillance and communication for the safe and efficient execution of a flight. More than 20 years ago, the European Commission launched the Single European Sky (SES) to modernise and restructure air traffic management in Europe.

While the physical health of aircrews is assessed every year, the mental health and psychosocial stress factors and their potential impact on the crews’ medical fitness have so far been less in the focus.

EASA is the European Aviation Safety Agency. It was created to centralise aviation safety in Europe. Specifically, it is involved in the certification and airworthiness approvals for aircraft.

The traffic rights between two countries are regulated by Air Services Agreements (ASA). Following the consolidation of the European Union, some clauses within the bilateral agreements between EU Member States and third countries entered in conflict with European legislation.

Safe, comfortable and affordable air travel is a common desire of passengers and crews alike. Having airlines compete freely with each other, based on the best product, service and price is a necessary precondition for aviation. But to grow and create good jobs, Europe’s airlines should compete on a level playing field with a common set of rules.

ECA's aim is to ensure that the standard of initial and recurrent training are always sufficient to ensure the safety and security of flights. This is particularly true for developments such as the Multi-crew Pilot License (MPL), which risks undermining flight safety if not properly implemented and monitored. 

The Flight Data (FD) recorded during a flight must be used solely to enhance aviation safety. During an operation, any occurrence may happen and pilots must be confident that they can report what happened without being blamed or sanctioned. 

Flight and Duty Time Limitations (FTL) are necessary to ensure that air crew fatigue does not endanger flight safety. Since the 1944 Chicago Convention, it is recognised that pilot fatigue can pose a risk to the safety of air operations.

The helicopter industry is experiencing more and more challenges. The most serious among them is likely the accident rate, which remains significantly higher than in fixed-wing operations. 

ECA monitors the developments of the air transport market in Europe with a particular focus on the consequences on labour.

Since July 2008, European framework rules for air operations apply throughout Europe, based on the EU Regulation 1899/2006. In addition, in 2008 the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) acquired a new mandate to create rules in this area.

Today, pilot skills and entry requirements to the profession are under growing scrutiny and strain. The challenges are known: growing competition in the aviation sector, an increasingly challenging economic environment, exponential growth of air traffic and an increase in automation. 

Ensuring the safety and security of flights is the main task of every pilot. According to ICAO regulations, the pilot in command is responsible for security onboard the aircraft. Since 9/11, the aviation industry has witnessed a proliferation of security measures, which directly affect the pilots' daily working environment.

According to the European Commission, Social Dialogue refers to the discussions, consultations, negotiations and joint actions undertaken by the social partner organisations representing the two sides of industry.

Trans-National Airlines (TNAs) are airlines with bases in more than one country. This implies that the pilots of a same company may have different working conditions and/or work under different national social laws.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS+), Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) – or drones as they are commonly known – have been introduced across many nations and within militaries. Today, anyone can buy a remote controlled aircraft and use it in civil airspace.