Terms of Reference

ECAST targets aeroplanes used in commercial operations that meet the definition of complex motor-powered aircraft contained in article 3(j)(i) of the Regulation (EC) 216/2008.

Note: According to the article 3(j)(i) of the Regulation (EC) 216/2008, an complex motor-powered aeroplane, shall meet one of the following criteria:

1. with a maximum certificated take-off mass exceeding 5 700 kg, or
2. certificated for a maximum passenger seating configuration of more than nineteen, or
3. certificated for operation with a minimum crew of at least two pilots, or
4. quipped with (a) turbojet engine(s) or more than one turboprop engine.

ECAST is open to and directed at the following European-based operators (regardless of geographic area of operations):

1. Scheduled service airlines.
2. Holiday charter airlines.
3. Business and private charter airlines/companies.
4. Air taxi airlines/companies.
5. Fractional ownership airlines/companies.
6. Owners of complex motor-powered aircraft (as defined by the Regulation (EC) 216/2008).

ECAST is also open to and concerned with:

1. Third party and foreign operators.
2. Regulators, air navigation service providers and airport operators.
3. Maintenance and repair organisations.
4. Aircraft designers and manufacturers.
5. Training organisations.
6. Trade associations
7. Professional organisations dedicated to commercial aviation safety.

Although ECAST is a voluntary partnership between EASA, other authorities and the aviation industry, it is a key contributor to the development of European Aviation Safety Strategy and the European Aviation Safety Programme and Plan. This role was reinforced by the following mandate issued by the European Aviation Safety Committee (EASAC) which reports to the EASA Management Board: “ECAST will support implementation in Europe of the European Aviation Safety Strategy developed by the European Commission and of the European Aviation Safety Programme and the European Aviation Safety Plans developed by EASA in cooperation with the Member States and EUROCONTROL.”

To be the world’s leading strategic aviation safety partnership.

Through a successful professional partnership of aviation organisations, regulatory authorities and industry, improve European civil aviation safety by identifying safety risks and suggesting means of protecting the aviation community, passengers and the general public from harm caused by aviation-related accidents and incidents.

The ECAST aim is to reduce the accident rate and the fatality risk for European commercial aviation operating worldwide.

The role of ECAST is to be a forum between regulatory community and industry partners to discuss strategic safety matters such as the European Aviation Safety Programme (EASP), Member State Safety Programmes (SSPs), the ICAO Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP) and concepts such as Regional Aviation Safety Groups (RASGs).

ECAST will derive safety priorities and recommendations using SMS risk assessment principles which are based on analysis of the best available safety data.

ECAST will also seek to positively enhance aviation safety through cooperation and coordination with other similar and likeminded bodies at the international level.

ECAST will retain autonomy with regard to organisation, working processes, definition of safety priorities, and launch of working groups.

ECAST will pursue its vision, mission and aim through promotion of the most effective safety principles, the appropriate use of technology, communication of best practice in aviation safety and by coordinating with other aviation safety initiatives on a worldwide basis.

ECAST will:

1. Apply and promote safety management principles.
2. Encourage a culture of ‘open and honest’ reporting by treating all safety data and its sources with respect and confidentiality and by adopting internationally recognised standards of data protection and recording requirements.
3. Cooperate and coordinate activities with other safety initiatives in Europe and worldwide, such as EUROCONTROL Safety Initiatives, US-CAST and ICAO COSCAP.

ECAST is composed of organisations that are able to exert positive influence on aviation safety. Participants shall be drawn from organisations in the EASA Member States and ECAC States, from national aviation authorities, industry (manufacturers, operators), professional associations (safety organisations and trade bodies), EUROCONTROL, the FAA and international bodies including ICAO.

Participation in ECAST may take two forms, each with different levels of involvement and privileges:

1. ECAST Members, who have signed the ESSI/ECAST Pledge, and thereby commit themselves to provide human and material resources to the work of ECAST and agree to implement reasonable actions resulting from of ECAST recommendations.
2. ECAST Partners are those organisations that have not signed the ESSI/ECAST Pledge but wish to support the mission and work of ECAST.

ECAST Members and Partners will provide their technical knowledge, skills and other relevant contributions in support of ECAST.  Subject Matter Experts are provided by the ECAST Members or Partners for the purpose of conducting specific technical activities.

ECAST Members and Partners may nominate alternates to attend ECAST Meetings and speak on their behalf.

Members and Partners should refrain from lobbying on political, business or social issues or from promoting the business interests of their company within the ECAST community.

ECAST is free to define the process or series of processes by which it will pursue its vision, mission and aim.

ECAST processes may be modified or redesigned to better serve ECAST needs and to take into account resource limitations and other constraints.

ECAST work is defined as a (renewable) 10-year programme which needs to be data driven.  Priorities should be identified using historic accident rates and proactive safety management methods, with the intent of allocating work towards the creation of specific safety recommendations and enhancements that are directly related to measurable reductions in the European accident rate.

Specific priorities and plans within the programme should be based on a 3 year timescale but be reviewed annually as necessary.

    

ECAST is a partnership between regulators, professional associations, trade bodies and industry stakeholders.  This partnership shall recognise that future safety improvements may be achieved through regulation, but equally through the adoption of best practice and by voluntary agreements.

EASAC, which has both regulators and industry representation, will provide guidance to ECAST and may task it to develop safety campaigns, perform analysis work and encourage implementation of voluntary safety enhancements as part of the EASP.
ECAST shall elect at least one industry Co-Chair from within the ECAST Membership who shall serve in accordance with the Terms of Reference.  The regulatory authority Co-Chair will be provided by EASA.  The Secretariat will be provided by EASA.

The ECAST Co-Chairs will:

1. Manage ECAST in accordance with these Terms of Reference.
2. Call for meetings to implement the work programme as required.
3. Approve and coordinate the formation of working groups.
4. Facilitate coordination or cooperation with other teams such as EHEST, EGAST, and other Regional Aviation Safety Groups (RASGs), as required.
5. Make best use of ECAST resources.
6. Represent and promote ECAST in Europe and worldwide, in particular through presentations at Safety Conferences and similar events.

The Secretariat will:

7. Support the Co-Chairs in all ECAST activities.
8. Draft the Agenda and the Minutes of the Plenary meetings.
9. Manage the ECAST participants list and the associated distribution lists.
10. Manage the ECAST Work Programme.
11. Oversee the sub-teams and working groups and produce progress reports for ECAST and the EASAC (EASAC has mandated ECAST to contribute towards its work and requested regular ECAST reports.  Therefore, ECAST can have a significant impact on EASAC work, including rulemaking).

The following two sub-Teams are to be established in accordance with the ECAST working process:

-          The Safety Analysis Team (SAT) to prioritise and undertake safety analysis and develop appropriate methodologies.

-          The Safety Implementation Team. (SIT) to develop, implement and monitor safety action plans.

In addition, working groups may be formed to address specific issues as necessary.

Each sub-team and working group shall develop its own Terms of Reference and submit these for approval to the ECAST.  Terms of References should define the aim, objectives, scope, composition, working method, deliverables and end state.

Working groups shall select a Chair and a Secretary. The Chair shall provide regular feedback on activities and achievements to the ECAST. The Secretariat will support the Chairs in all their activities.

Deliverables of the Working Groups shall be submitted for approval to the ECAST. If any decisions are required at Plenary Meetings, material must be presented as Working Papers and supplied to ECAST at least one week before the meeting.

Working Groups can be suspended or disbanded as required by the ECAST.

The Future Aviation Safety Team (FAST) is an ‘associated team’ of ESSI/ECAST.

FAST employs a prognostic approach based on analyses of ongoing or future changes affecting the aviation system, with the aim of revealing unidentified hazards. The FAST concept is to anticipate and highlight new safety hazards before they appear, and have plans and recommendations in place to mitigate them should they occur.

Meetings

Meetings shall be held at regular intervals, preferably quarterly or bi-monthly. They shall be hosted by EASA in Cologne, Germany or, on a voluntary basis, by the organisations participating in ECAST.

ECAST Plenary meetings should:

1. Develop and approve the ECAST Work Programme and any amendments.
2. Monitor progress and deliverables.
3. Produce regular reports to EASAC.
4. Agree membership of ECAST plenary, sub-teams and working groups.

Co-Chairs may decide to change meeting frequency and duration as appropriate.

Minutes of Meetings and Working Papers

Minutes of meetings shall be kept as a Record of Proceedings, with draft versions distributed within three weeks of each meeting and approved at the next meeting.  Full use of all means of communication shall be made to ensure that working papers are developed with minimum delay. Working papers can be presented by any participating organisation but must be processed initially through the Secretariat.

Lists of Participants

The Secretariat shall maintain a list of ECAST Members and Partners.  The secretaries of all working groups and sub-teams shall maintain their own list of participants. All members and partners involved in ECAST must ensure that their contact details (name, affiliation, phone numbers and email) remain accurate. A list of ECAST Plenary Members and Partners along with participants of the respective working groups and sub-teams are available on request to the Secretariat at ue.aporue.asaenull@tsace

Reporting

Chairs of the working groups and sub-teams shall submit progress reports to the ECAST on a regular basis.

Decision Making

Only ECAST Members and Partners will participate in the decision making process, on an equal basis. In all instances, the final decision will rest with the Co-Chairmen.
In reaching a decision, the Co-Chairmen shall endeavour to achieve the maximum level of consensus, which may go beyond counting scores; consensus does not necessarily mean majority but rather a ‘constructive agreement’.

A clear understanding of the rationale behind a decision is often more important than the numbers of supporters and opponents. The Minutes should reflect any dissention as well as supporting opinions that lay behind a decision.

Consensus or voting for decision making will apply, depending on the following circumstances:

1. Consensus For work-related matters, such as conclusions from analyses, nature or implementation of recommendations, decisions will be taken by consensus. Issues that can not be resolved in one group shall be elevated to the next level: e.g. from Working Group to the ECAST Plenary.
2. Voting For non-essential matters such as meeting places, dates or agendas, majority voting may be used.

Legal Aspects

Implementation of safety recommendations, guidance or plans by ECAST Members, Partners or Third Parties resulting from the ECAST work are subject to appropriate national and international laws and regulations.

Financial Resources

ECAST Participation is on a voluntary basis only. Working, travel and accommodation costs are sole responsibility of individual participants.

ECAST may nominate an ECAST Treasurer from within ECAST to manage any funds generated through conferences and similar events organised on behalf of ECAST.  However, ECAST shall not undertake any commercial business specifically to raise funds.  Any excess funds must be used solely for the aim of safety improvement.  The following activities may be funded by ECAST:

1. Production and publication of safety reports, safety leaflets and safety videos,
2. Organisation of and participation in conferences and similar events.

The formula for funding allocation will be agreed by the ECAST Membership and approved by the Co-Chairs.  Specific allocations of ECAST funds are to be approved by at least one Co-Chair.

Human Resources

ECAST Members and Partners will allocate human resources as required for approved tasks.

EASA has agreed to develop and maintain a website within the EASA information domain to publish the ECAST deliverables and other appropriate information.