The provisions of the Regulation on Aircrew are published in several documents: Implementing Rules (published in the Official Journal of the European Union) and associated Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC), Guidance Material (GM) and Certification Specifications (published on the Agency website).
Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 of 25 November 2011 laying down technical requirements and administrative procedures related to civil aviation aircrew was published on 25 November 2011 in the Official Journal of the European Union. It contains:
- The Aircrew Regulation opens with the Cover Regulation, describing the requirements for:
- the subject matter,
- definitions,
- pilot licensing and medical certification,
- existing national pilots’ licences,
- conversion of flight test qualifications,
- existing national flight engineers’ licences,
- conditions for the acceptance of licences from third countries,
- credit for training commenced prior to the application of this Regulation,
- credit for pilot licences obtained during military service,
- cabin crew medical fitness and
- entry into force and application.
- Annex I Part-FCL
- Annex II Conditions for the conversion of existing national licences and ratings for aeroplanes and helicopters
- Annex III Conditions for the acceptance of licences issued by or on behalf of third countries
- Annex IV Part-MED
The Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC) and Guidance Material (GM) to Part-FCL and Part-MED were adopted by the Agency and published on the Agency’s webpage in December 2011. (ED Decision 2011/016/R AMC and GM Part-FCL and ED Decision 2011/015/R AMC and GM Part-MED).
The remaining annexes were published in the amending Commission Regulation (EU) No 290/2012, containing the requirements for the qualification of cabin crew, authority requirements for aircrew and organisation requirements for aircrew:
- Annex V Part Cabin Crew
- Annex VI Part-ARA (authority requirements for aircrew)
- Annex VII Part-ORA (organisation requirements for aircrew)
The Acceptable Means of Compliance and Guidance Material to these annexes were adopted by the Agency and published on the Agency’s website in April 2012: ED Decision 2012/005/R (GM to Part-CC), ED Decision 2012/006/R (AMC and GM to Part-ARA) and ED Decision 2012/007/R (AMC and GM to Part-ORA).
Regulation on Aircrew - Implementation
The provisions of the Regulation on Aircrew are published in several documents: Implementing Rules (published in the Official Journal of the European Union) and associated Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC), Guidance Material (GM) and Certification Specifications (published on the Agency website).
When do the new rules become applicable?
- The new Regulation on Aircrew, covering pilot training and checking, medical aspects, initial training for cabin crew and requirements for authorities and organisations is applicable since 8 April 2012. However, it provides EASA Member States the flexibility to defer the date when the new Regulation applies, via derogations. Further information on the dates at which the rules will apply for each Member State is available here.
What format now applies to licences, ratings and certificates?
- Under the new rules, EASA Member States continue to issue licences, ratings and certificates. Therefore, any questions regarding your licence, ratings and certificates should be addressed to the NAA that issued them (contact details are available here).
- During the transition phase into the new Aircrew rules, mutual recognition of certificates and licences issued in ‘old’ formats continues. Further information is available here.
In relation to examiner standardisation, the Agency has the obligation, in accordance with ARA.FCL.210 in Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 as amended, to collect and disseminate the applicable Member State (MS) national procedures relating to the conduct of skill tests, proficiency checks or assessments of competence. An examiner must review and apply the MS-specific procedures of the applicant’s licencing authority if this authority is not the same as the one that issued the examiner’s certificate. The Agency has developed the so-called Examiners Differences Document (EDD) which is to be used by examiners for this purpose. The EDD can be downloaded from the download box located at the top of this page. The Agency intends to revise the document on a quarterly basis. Please ensure you always have the latest revision.
Further information
Please consult the FAQs. In addition:
- Pilots: For questions related to your licence, certificate or rating, please contact the NAA that issued it.
- Cabin crew: For questions related to your cabin crew attestation and assessment of medical fitness, please contact the NAA of the country of your operator or, if you are unemployed, the NAA of your residence country.
- Training organisations and aero-medical centres:
- located in the EU - please consult your NAA
- located in a third country - further information is available here.
- National aviation authorities
- The Agency provides training on the Aircrew and Air Operations regulations (and on other regulations).
- NAAs are required to notify the Agency of alternative means of compliance approved within their State.
- Member States have the flexibility to derogate from the Implementing Rules of the Basic Regulation. Further information is available here.
How can alternative means of compliance to the AMC published by the Agency be used by NAAs, operators and approved training organisations across the EU?
References: Regulation (EU) No 290/2012 on Aircrew: ARA.GEN.120; Decision AMC/GM to Part-ARA: AMC1 ARA.GEN.120(d)(3), GM1 ARA.GEN.120;
Regulation (EU) No 290/2012 on Aircrew:
ARA.GEN.120 Means of compliance
“(d) The competent authority shall evaluate all alternative means of compliance proposed by an organisation in accordance with ORA.GEN.120 by analysing the documentation provided and, if considered necessary, conducting an inspection of the organisation.
When the competent authority finds that the alternative means of compliance are in accordance with the Implementing Rules, it shall without undue delay:
(1) notify the applicant that the alternative means of compliance may be implemented and, if applicable, amend the approval or certificate of the applicant accordingly; and
(2) notify the Agency of their content, including copies of all relevant documentation;
(3) inform other MS about alternative means of compliance that were accepted.
(e) When the competent authority itself uses alternative means of compliance to achieve compliance with Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 and its Implementing Rules it shall:
(1) make them available to all organisations and persons under its oversight; and
(2) without undue delay notify the Agency.
The competent authority shall provide the Agency with a full description of the alternative means of compliance, including any revisions to procedures that may be relevant, as well as an assessment demonstrating that the Implementing Rules are met.”
AMC1 ARA.GEN.120(d)(3):
“The information to be provided to other Member States following approval of an alternative means of compliance should contain a reference to the Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC) to which such means of compliance provides an alternative, as well as a reference to the corresponding Implementing Rule, indicating as applicable the subparagraph(s) covered by the alternative means of compliance.”
GM1 ARA.GEN.120 explains that alternative means of compliance are valid for an individual organisation:
“Alternative means of compliance used by a competent authority or by organisations under its oversight may be used by other competent authorities or organisations only if processed again in accordance with ARA.GEN.120 (d) and (e).”
When the Agency finds that an alternative means of compliance of which it has been notified has value to be issued as an Agency AMC, this alternative means of compliance will be fed into the Rulemaking process. On completion of the rulemaking process, the means of compliance will be published as AMC.
AMC and GM to Part-ARA are available here.
Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement with the United States to cover pilot licences
The European Union and the United States of America signed on 19/11/2020 two new Annexes to the Agreement on Cooperation in the Regulation of Civil Aviation Safety (BASA), expanding its areas of application to allow the conversion of pilot licences and to reduce duplication in the oversight of flight simulators.
On pilot licencing, the BASA Annex and its technical implementation ensure that pilots residing in the EU fly aircraft on the basis of licences and ratings issued in accordance with EU regulations, under the oversight of EU Member States. It will also ensure that they maintain and develop their qualifications via EU training organisations. The objective of the new Annex is to convert certain US pilot licences into EU Part-FCL licences and ratings, while taking account of the similarities between the US and EU regulatory systems. This is a cost-effective solution to converting FAA pilot licences into EU Part-FCL licences. Several thousand EU pilots are expected to take advantage of the provisions and complete the conversion of their FAA pilot licences and ratings.
