EASA standardization covers two main areas:
- management of the electronic Standardization Information System (SIS);
- EASA standardization inspections conducted in EU member states.
Electronic Standardization Information System (SIS - Standardization Information System).
This is a system dedicated to the process of collecting data from member states and planning standardization inspections. There are two campaigns for updating data in SIS each year - one for each half of the year. The result of Poland's submission of data in SIS is the development by EASA of four, quarterly Continuous Monitoring Reports (CMRs). Based on these, EASA creates the EASA Standardization Inspection Annual Program in EASA member states, including Poland.
Standardization Inspections
EASA Standardization Inspections, provided for in the Standardization Inspection Annual Program, should take into account the results of previous inspections and may include inspections of companies or groups of companies under the supervision of the competent inspection authority. They shall be conducted by a qualified and trained team delegated by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). In addition, each country designates a national standardization coordinator who serves as the primary point of contact with EASA and assists it at all stages of the inspection.
EASA standardization inspections are divided into the following types:
- comprehensive inspections - regular, used to inspect one or more areas;
- Targeted inspections - for the purpose of inspecting specific areas within one or more domains or for assessing the status of implementation of agreed corrections and corrective actions;
- Ad hoc inspections - used to investigate specific concerns arising as part of EASA's continuous monitoring or at the request of the European Commission. Competent authorities are informed of them two weeks in advance.
EASA standardization inspections include the following stages:
- preparatory stage - lasting at least 10 weeks before the inspection;
- on-site inspection stage;
- report development stage - lasting a maximum of 10 weeks after the on-site inspection stage.
Then, if the EASA team finds nonconformities, a corrective action implementation period begins, the duration of which depends on the established class of the nonconformity in question.
The breakdown is as follows:
- Class C - stands for non-compliance with applicable requirements. It is problematic mainly from the point of view of standardization;
- Class D - means non-compliance with the applicable requirements. It is problematic from the standpoint of standardization, but if it is not corrected in a timely manner, it can cause a safety hazard;
- Class G - denotes an immediate safety risk.
The most important documents created as a result of an inspection are:
- inspection report prepared by EASA;
- the corrective action plan approved by EASA.
The member state is required to provide EASA with evidence of individual corrective actions, in accordance with the approved plan.
Sources of information on EASA standardization:
- Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council of July 4, 2018 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and amending Regulations (EC) No. 2111/2005, (EC) No. 1008/2008, (EU) No. 996/2010, (EU) No. 376/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and Directives 2014/30/EU and 2014/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Regulations (EC) No. 552/2004 and (EC) No. 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3922/91;
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 628/2013 of June 28, 2013 on working methods to be used by the European Aviation Safety Agency in conducting standardization inspections and monitoring the application of Regulation (EC) No. 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No. 736/2006;
- EASA's official website: easa.europa.eu/home.