The EPAS sets out the strategic and operational priorities for safety and environmental protection for the next 5 years.
It is a key component of the European Aviation Safety Programme (EASP) and provides a coherent and transparent framework for European States to manage aviation safety, both at regional and at national level.
In commercial air transport (aeroplanes) and business aviation, aircraft upset in flight (loss of control), and runway excursions, incursions and collisions are the most important risk areas. Human performance, pilot competence, and the often complex processes that lead to an accident require a continued but also increased focus on human factors and safety management.
Rotorcraft operations, General Aviation, drones, as well as threats related to cybersecurity in aviation and flying too close to conflict zones are also addressed.
The plan’s safety priorities and concrete actions are based on the safety data and information that is continually gathered and processed at the European level. Main sources for these include the EASA Annual Safety Review, the EASA Standardisation Annual Report, and the Air Traffic Management (ATM) Master Plan.
With a view to consolidate safety management capabilities at State level the EPAS also comprises 14 actions specifically addressed to Member States, including a new action to develop a State Plan for Aviation Safety.
A Summary leaflet is also available for download here.
Distribution of actions per driver
EPAS is divided into four drivers, which correspond to different chapters in the document
- Safety: actions in this category are driven by the need to improve the current level of safety in aviation.
- Efficiency/Proportionality: actions in this category are primarily driven by the need to ensure that rules are cost-effective in achieving their objective, as well as proportionate to the risks identified.
- Level playing field: actions in this category are mainly driven by the need to ensure that all players in a certain segment of the aviation market can benefit from the same set of rules, thereby promoting innovation, supporting fair competition and ensuring free movement of persons and services. Level playing field actions will directly contribute to maintaining or even increasing the current level of safety.
- Environment: actions in this category are driven by the need to improve the current environmental protection in the aviation sector, while striving to ensure a level playing field globally.
Safety is the driver with the majority of the actions in the plan, followed by efficiency/proportionality. Furthermore, in most cases, actions addressing efficiency, environment and level playing field also have a safety component.
European Plan for Aviation Safety 2019-2023
See also |
EASA European Commission
Helicopters Accident Reports 
