Considerations related to the Performance of RAMP Inspections SAFA & SACA

Sofema Online (SOL) www.sofemaonline.com considers the roles and responsibilities related to the performance of Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft (SAFA) & Safety Assessment of Community Aircraft (SACA)

Introduction - How are ramp inspections performed?

The Inspection is performed by Authorised inspectors who are using an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) compliant checklist with 53 inspection items during ramp checks.

Category 2 and Category 3 findings are communicated to the responsible Aviation Authority for information and to the home base of the operator with the request to take appropriate action to prevent reoccurrence.

The checks may include:

>> Pilots licenses
>> Documents procedures and manuals carried in the cockpit.
>> Compliance with these procedures by flight and cabin crew.
>> Safety Equipment in Cockpit and Cabin,
>> Cargo carried in the aircraft.
>> The technical condition of the aircraft.

As the time between arrival and departure (the turn-around time) may not be sufficient to go through the full checklist, not all 53 items may be inspected.

Note: It is the Programme policy not to delay an aircraft except for safety reasons.

>> Some oversight authorities of the Participating States engaged in the EU Ramp Inspections Programme carry out random inspections while others try to target aircraft or airlines that they suspect may not comply with the applicable standards.
>> The absolute number of inspection findings represents an important outcome of the inspecting process which provides valuable information on the subject aircraft or its responsible operator.

Concerning Severity of findings, three categories of findings have been defined:

>> “Category 1” finding is called a minor finding;
>> “Category 2” is a significant finding and
>> “Category 3” is a major finding.

The terms “minor”, “significant” and “major” relate to the level of influence on safety.

>> The prime purpose of categorizing the findings is to classify the compliance with a standard and the severity of non-compliance with this standard.
>> The inspections and the categories of findings are recorded in the centralized database.
>> When considering the findings established during a ramp inspection, Category 2 (significant) and Category 3 (major) findings require the highest attention when it comes to the need for rectification. Based on the category, number and nature of the findings, several actions may be taken.

Oversight Responsibility

As part of their responsibility regarding the safety oversight of their national operators according to the relevant international safety standards, Aviation Authorities are requested to ensure proper implementation of corrective actions to address the reported findings.

>> If the findings indicate that the safety of the aircraft and its occupants is impaired, corrective actions will be required.
>> Normally the aircraft captain will be asked to address the serious deficiencies which are brought to his attention. (Inspectors have the authority to formally ground the aircraft (extenuating circumstances should not be a common practice)
>> The formal act of grounding by the State of Inspection means that the aircraft is prohibited from resuming its flights until appropriate corrective measures are taken.

Note: It is standard practice that the captain of the inspected aircraft is debriefed concerning the findings

Addressing Findings

As regards such bans and their subsequent lifting, those Participating States which belong also to the European Union shall be acting in accordance with the provisions laid down in Regulation (EC) No 2111/2005 on the establishment of a Community list of air carriers subject to an operating ban within the Union.

>> Corrective actions before flight authorised

o Before the aircraft is allowed to resume its flight, corrective action is required to rectify any deficiencies which have been identified.

>> Depart with operational restrictions (locked out pax seat for example)
>> Individual Participating States may decide to revoke the entry permit of that aircraft.

o Means that the particular aircraft is no longer allowed to land at airports or fly in the airspace of that State.
o Such a ban can be lifted if the operator of the aircraft proves that the problems have been properly addressed and corrected.
o   Such entry permit repercussions can therefore be, and usually are, of a temporary character.

Next Steps

Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) www.sassofia.com and Sofema Online (SOL) www.sofemaonline.com provide regulatory compliant as well as vocational training courses please see the website or email team@sassofia.com for additional guidance.