The background: Why systematic reporting is important
Safety in aviation is not created by the absence of errors, but by dealing with them correctly. Safety-relevant incidents also occur regularly in general aviation - from airspace violations and near-misses to problems with flight preparation or the technical condition of the aircraft.
It is often avoidable factors that lead to dangerous situations: human error, faulty communication, unclear procedures or a lack of system knowledge. However, these situations often remain under the radar - especially in the GA sector, where no professional safety management systems (SMS) are prescribed. This is precisely where EU Regulation 376/2014 comes in: It creates a standardised Europe-wide system for recording, analysing and passing on safety-relevant information.
What does EU Regulation 376/2014 regulate?
Regulation (EU) No. 376/2014 on occurrence reporting, analysis and follow-up in civil aviation entered into force on 15 November 2015 and applies to all member states of the European Union. Its aim is to improve aviation safety through a structured reporting system that allows risks to be recognised at an early stage and preventive measures to be taken - at European level.
The regulation obliges all parties involved in aviation operations to report safety-relevant incidents. This includes, among other things:
- Pilots and aircraft pilots
- Aircraft operators
- Flying schools and training organisations (ATO/DTO)
- Maintenance and repair companies
- Air traffic controllers and aerodrome operators
- Manufacturer of aviation equipment
- Authorities and air traffic control centres
The reporting obligation applies to both commercial and non-commercial air traffic. This is an important signal for general aviation in particular: safety is a shared responsibility, regardless of the type of operation.
Which events must be reported?
The regulation distinguishes between Reportable events and voluntary reports. Reportable events include, among others:
- Near misses in the air or on the ground (runway incursions)
- Airspace violations (e.g. entry into controlled zones without clearance)
- Failure of important systems during the flight (e.g. avionics, navigation, communication)
- Problems with flight performance data or weight calculations
- Loss of control of the aircraft (also temporary)
- Danger from other aircraft or obstacles
- Errors in flight planning that are relevant to safety
In addition, voluntary reports are also welcomed - for example in the event of suspicious circumstances, conspicuous trends or near-misses that only luckily did not lead to an accident. The threshold for reporting should be deliberately kept low: Every tip-off can help to recognise weak points.
The ECCAIRS system: digital, standardised, confidential
The European system is used for the practical implementation of the reporting system ECCAIRS (European Co-ordination Centre for Accident and Incident Reporting Systems). This is a standardised digital platform that can be used to centrally record and evaluate incident reports.
In Germany, ECCAIRS is operated via the MOR system (Mandatory Occurrence Reporting) of the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA) and the Bundesamt für Flugsicherung (BAF). Reports can be submitted via the ECCAIRS2 portal or national platforms. In Austria, Austro Control is in charge of the reporting process; in Switzerland, the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) is responsible.
Important: The reports will be treated confidentially. The identity of the person making the report will be protected and the Principle of "Just Culture - In other words, a fair safety culture in which people are not punished but analysed and learn.
"Just Culture" - trust instead of punishment
A central component of the EU regulation is the protection of reporters. It is expressly emphasised that no one may be disadvantaged or legally prosecuted because of an honest and bona fide report. This so-called Whistleblower protection is a prerequisite for pilots and those involved to have the confidence to report safety-relevant incidents.
The goal is a "just culture" - a safety culture based on trust, responsibility and a willingness to learn. It recognises that people make mistakes - and that these mistakes provide valuable indications of systemic problems. Weaknesses can only be rectified if they are discussed openly.
What does this mean for general aviation?
A functioning error culture is particularly important in the general aviation sector. Unlike in scheduled or commercial air traffic, there are no comprehensive safety management systems, audits or flight operations departments. It is therefore all the more important that pilots and organisations take responsibility themselves and contribute to the safety database.
ECCAIRS also enables a Europe-wide trend analysis: Reports from different countries and aviation sectors can be compared with each other. This allows key risks to be recognised at an early stage - such as systematic errors in flight preparation, new threats from drones or problems with digital navigation systems in GA.
Conclusion: Reporting saves lives - even in general aviation
EU Regulation 376/2014 and the ECCAIRS reporting system are important instruments for sustainably improving safety in general aviation. They provide a structured, protected and trustworthy framework for learning from mistakes - before they lead to accidents.
For every individual in the GA community, this means that anyone who observes or experiences a security-related incident should report it - not out of fear or obligation, but out of conviction. Because every contribution counts. A practised error culture saves lives - in the cockpit, on the ground and beyond.
Source references:
LBA