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
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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 [email protected] 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
