Interim Report - Introduction - EASA

INTERIM REPORT – OPTIONS FOR CHANGE
EASA.2009.OP.21
systems could design and deliver similar courses. States may wish to investigate this option
with a view towards offering a form of approval to the training organisations and their de-icing
/ anti-icing training courses (NB: UKCAA is already exploring this option through the UK
National Occupational Standards). In support of Option GHDSP2 above, States may then
require that service provider operatives must be in possession of a vocational qualification
from an approved/acceptable training organisation. As the Study Team is only aware of one
example of such a course and qualification this would need to be a long-term option;
furthermore, many service providers who currently conduct their own training may need to
seek appropriate accreditation from their national vocational qualification system, which will
no doubt take time.
TRGSP: As part of the State approval/selection of service providers through Directive
96/97/EC on ground-handling, require de-icing / anti-icing operatives to
possess a valid vocational qualification in de-icing / anti-icing.
Improving the Regulation of Air Operations
The regulation of standards of de-icing / anti-icing services is currently met through
operators’ requirements for de-icing / anti-icing, and their quality control programmes. This
arrangement is clearly not satisfactory to a large number of stakeholders, and may be due to:
− the provision of inadequate rules and/or guidance material;
− poor interpretation of these rules and guidance; and/or,
− the ineffective oversight of operators’ de-icing / anti-icing policies, programmes and
quality systems.
The regulations applicable to operators concerning de-icing / anti-icing are minimal; imposing
the single assurance of an airworthy aircraft at take-off. Guidance material for operators is
comprehensive, detailed and plentiful, and also from a variety of sources. This in itself can
present the situation where interpretation of such guidance material is variable, and this is
transposed into operators’ procedures, training, contracts and quality programmes.
REGAO: To improve the existing regulations for operators; improve the interpretation of
those regulations; and improve the oversight of operators in this regard.
Recommended.
There are many options available to amend and improve interpretation of the current
regulations for operators (Attachment B), not all of them are sensible, or liable to be effective.
The options included here are considered achievable and they address specifically the areas
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