ADR.AR.C.055 Findings, observations, corrective actions and enforcement measures

(a)The Competent Authority for oversight in accordance with ADR.AR.C.005(a) shall have a system to analyse findings for their safety significance.

(b)A level 1 finding shall be issued by the Competent Authority when any significant non-compliance is detected with the certification basis of the aerodrome, the applicable requirements of Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 and its Implementing Rules, with the aerodrome operator’s or the apron management services provider’s procedures and manuals, with the terms of the certificate or certificate or with the content of a declaration which lowers safety or seriously endangers safety. The level 1 finding shall include:

(1)failure to give the Competent Authority access to the aerodrome and aerodrome operator’s or the apron management services provider’s facilities as defined in ADR.OR.C.015 during normal operating hours and after two written requests;

(2)obtaining or maintaining the validity of a certificate by falsification of submitted documentary evidence;

(3)evidence of malpractice or fraudulent use of a certificate; and

(4)the lack of an accountable manager.

(c)A level 2 finding shall be issued by the Competent Authority when any non-compliance is detected with the certification basis of the aerodrome, the applicable requirements of Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 and its Implementing Rules, with the aerodrome operator’s or the apron management services provider’s procedures and manuals, with the terms of the certificate or the certificate or with the content of a declaration which could lower or possibly hazard safety.

(d)When a finding is detected, during oversight or by any other means, the Competent Authority shall, without prejudice to any additional action required by Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 and its Implementing Rules, communicate the finding to the aerodrome operator or the provider of apron management services in writing and request corrective action to address the non-compliance(s) identified.

(1)In the case of level 1 findings, the Competent Authority shall take immediate and appropriate action to prohibit or limit activities, and if appropriate, it shall take action to revoke the certificate or to deregister the declaration, or to limit or suspend the certificate or declaration in whole or in part, depending upon the extent of the finding, until successful corrective action has been taken by the aerodrome operator or by the provider of apron management services.

(2)In the case of level 2 findings, the Competent Authority shall:

(a)grant the aerodrome operator or the provider of apron management services a corrective action implementation period included in an action plan appropriate to the nature of the finding; and

(b)assess the corrective action and implementation plan proposed by the aerodrome operator or the provider of apron management services and, if the assessment concludes that they are sufficient to address the non-compliance(s), accept these.

(3)Where the aerodrome operator or the provider of apron management services fails to submit an acceptable corrective action plan, or to perform the corrective action within the time period accepted or extended by the Competent Authority, the finding shall be raised to a level 1 finding, and action taken as laid down in point (d)(1).

(4)The Competent Authority shall record all findings it has raised and where applicable, the enforcement measures it has applied, as well as all corrective actions and date of action closure for findings.

(e)For those cases not requiring level 1 or level 2 findings, the Competent Authority may issue observations.

(f)Any findings issued with regard to an organisation responsible for the provision of AMS or any observations made to the organisation responsible for the provision of AMS shall be notified by the Competent Authority to the operator of the aerodrome where such service is provided.