October 24, 2023

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Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) www.sassofia.com considers the obligations related to Ramp Inspections for compliance with ICAO requirements.

Introduction

SAFA & SACA Ramp Inspections follow a procedure common to all SAFA Participating. States are then reported upon using a common format.

  • All these procedures are established by EASA at an European level and are disclosed on the EASA website.
  • If an inspection identifies significant irregularities, these will be taken up with the airline and its oversight authority.
  • When irregularities have an immediate impact on safety, inspectors will require corrective actions to be embodied before the departure of the aircraft.

Data Storage

  • All reported data are stored in a computerized database set up by EASA.
  • The database also holds complementary information, such as lists of actions carried out following inspections. The information held within this database is reviewed and analyzed by EASA on a regular basis.

The European Commission and the SAFA Participating States are informed of any potential safety hazards identified.

  • EASA has developed qualitative criteria with the aim of achieving a more focused approach regarding the SAFA inspection priorities.
  • There is a legal obligation to perform inspections on third-country aircraft, but nothing prevents European Member States from inspecting aircraft of air carriers from other European States.

Note: SAFA inspections are limited to on-the-spot assessments and cannot substitute the necessary regulatory oversight carried out by the competent authority of the inspected air carriers and aircraft.

The implementation of SAFA Ramp Checks

  • The SAFA Participating States choose which aircraft are to be inspected.
  • Some authorities carry out random inspections while others try to target aircraft or airlines that are suspected of non-compliance with ICAO standards.
  • In either case, only a very small proportion of flights of third-country aircraft operating in each State are inspected.

Base Criteria for SAFA Inspection

  • SAFA ramp inspection procedures are based on ICAO standards (mainly Annex 1 for personnel licenses),
  • Annex 6 Part 1, 2, 3 for aircraft operations,
  • Annex 8 for airworthiness and
  • Annex 18 for the transportation of Dangerous Goods),
  • ICAO regional supplementary procedures, and
  • National procedures in force (mainly national particularities) such as supplementary procedures published through AIP.(Aeronautical Information Publications)
  • A checklist of 54 inspection items is used during a SAFA Ramp Check.

Awareness Training for Operators Staff for SAFA Readiness

Basic Training to introduce the concept of SAFA / SACA & SANA

Now View the following EASA Documents:

INSPECTION INSTRUCTIONS AND PRE-DESCRIBED FINDINGS Doc # INST.RI.01/005 Approval date 20/05/2022 –

The Ramp Inspection Manual (RIM) issue 3.0 (applicable as of 1 August 2022)

RIM attachment – Alcohol testing on crew members’ guidance (applicable as of 14 February 2021). See this page 

Next Steps

Follow this link to our Library to find & Download related documents for Free.

Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) www.sassofia.com and Sofema Online (SOL) www.sofemaonline.com provide regulatory compliant as well as vocational training courses please see the website or email team@sassofia.com for additional guidance.

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aviation, aviation safety, EASA, ICAO, ICAO requirements, Sofema Aviation Services, SAFA, SAS blogs, SACA, SANA, SAFA Inspection, Ramp Inspections, Ramp Checks