EASA Certificering Vereisten

Inleiding EASA Regelgeving

EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) is de Europese luchtvaart veiligheidsautoriteit die uniform aviation safety standards handhaaft across 31 EU en EFTA landen. Voor Nederlandse PH-geregistreerde vliegtuigen betekent EASA compliance niet alleen een wettelijke verplichting, maar ook operationele voordelen: automatisch vrij verkeer binnen Europa, harmonized luchtwaardigheidsstandaarden, en mutual recognition van crew licenties.

EASA regelgeving is comprehensive en dekt aircraft certification (type design approval), airworthiness management (ongoing luchtwaardigheid via Part-M), operator authorizations (Part-NCC private, Part-135 commercial), crew licensing (Part-FCL pilot standards), en maintenance organizations (Part-145 facilities). Nederlandse ILT (Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport) implementeert EASA regulations domestically en fungeert als national aviation authority.

Compliance kosten zijn substantieel maar voorspelbaar: initiële setup €15.000-€100.000 afhankelijk van aircraft size en operational complexity, jaarlijkse recurring costs €30.000-€100.000 voor typische business jet private operations. Commercial Part-135 charter operations significant duurder: AOC setup €50.000-€150.000, annual overhead €150.000-€500.000. Deze kosten dekken CAMO services, ARC renewals, crew training, audits, en administrative compliance.

Deze gids behandelt fundamentele EASA vereisten: Certificate of Airworthiness, Airworthiness Review Certificates (ARC), Airworthiness Directives compliance, Part-M continuing airworthiness management, crew licensing standards, Part-NCC vs Part-135 operational requirements, operations specifications, Nederlandse ILT specifics, compliance kosten, en EASA vs FAA vergelijking. Begrip van deze framework essentieel voor succesvolle aircraft ownership in Nederland - non-compliance resulteert in grounded aircraft, insurance invalidation, en potentiële legal liability.

Certificate of Airworthiness & ARC

Certificate of Airworthiness (C of A):

Het C of A is het fundamentele document dat bevestigt dat een aircraft type gecertificeerd is conform EASA design standards, en dat het individuele exemplaar gebouwd is volgens approved specifications. Issued eenmalig bij manufacture door de type certificate holder authority (EASA voor Europese types, FAA met EASA validation voor Amerikaanse jets). Het certificaat bevestigt dat aircraft voldoet aan EASA Certification Specifications: CS-23 voor light aircraft, CS-25 voor transport category jets.

Bij import van een buitenlands geregistreerd vliegtuig naar PH-registratie is een nieuw EASA C of A vereist. FAA-certified aircraft bijvoorbeeld krijgt EASA C of A issuance na documentatie review, verification van type certificate validation (meeste Amerikaanse bizjets hebben EASA validation), en soms physical inspection. Kosten nieuwe C of A: €2.000-€10.000 depending complexity. Het C of A blijft permanent geldig zolang aircraft maintained volgens approved standards - dit wordt aangetoond via de Airworthiness Review Certificate.

Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC):

De ARC (EASA Form 15c) demonstreert dat aircraft ongoing luchtwaardigheid behoudt door compliance met maintenance requirements, Airworthiness Directives, en technical standards. Unlike het permanente C of A, vereist ARC annual renewal. Issued door EASA Part-M approved CAMO of Part-145 maintenance organization met appropriate approval scope.

Het ARC review process omvat: verification alle Airworthiness Directives complied, confirm maintenance program accomplished (inspections, overhauls, life-limited parts tracking), review technical log accuracy, physical aircraft inspection voor corrosion/damage/unauthorized modifications, en verify insurance/registration currency. ARC geldig 1 jaar from issuance, renewal required before expiry voor legal operations. Cost ARC renewal: light jets €5.000-€10.000, midsize €8.000-€15.000, heavy jets €12.000-€25.000 annually.

ARC expiry is serious: vliegtuig mag niet legaal opereren zonder geldig ARC, verzekeringen kunnen coverage invalidate, en re-issuance requires full annual inspection plus alle accumulated maintenance sinds expiry accomplished. Aircraft management companies typisch track ARC expiry 3 maanden vooraf en schedule renewal inspections proactively, preventing operational disruptions. Part-NCC operators kunnen benefit simplified ARC process (minder frequent physical inspections) indien excellent maintenance history demonstrated.

EASA Airworthiness Directives

Airworthiness Directives (AD's) zijn mandatory safety modifications of inspections issued door EASA wanneer unsafe conditions discovered in gecertificeerde aircraft types. Triggered door in-service failures, accident investigations revealing design flaws, manufacturer service bulletins upgraded naar mandatory status, of aging aircraft issues zoals corrosion en fatigue cracks. AD compliance is niet optional - het is wettelijk verplicht en non-compliance grounds aircraft.

AD Categorieën:

• Emergency AD's: Immediate compliance before next flight required. Rare maar issued bij critical safety discoveries - bijvoorbeeld structural crack discovered causing in-flight failure risk. Operator moet aircraft ground totdat modification/inspection accomplished.
• Time-limited AD's: Specify compliance deadline in flight hours of calendar days - bijvoorbeeld "inspect within 50 flight hours or 30 days, whichever occurs first." Meest voorkomende type. Operator plant compliance binnen window without grounding aircraft unnecessarily.
• Recurring AD's: Require repetitive inspections/actions at specified intervals - bijvoorbeeld "inspect every 500 flight hours for wing spar cracks." Ongoing compliance burden integrated in maintenance planning, costs recurring jaarlijks.
• One-time AD's: Single modification of inspection - bijvoorbeeld "replace fuel pump P/N xxx with improved P/N yyy." Once accomplished, no further action required that AD.

EASA vs FAA AD's: Critical verschil voor aircraft import: EASA AD's applicable alle EU-registered aircraft, FAA AD's alleen N-registered. When importing USA aircraft naar PH-registry, must verify alle applicable EASA AD's accomplished - often FAA AD compliance insufficient. EASA kan eigen AD issued voor same underlying issue met different compliance method/timeline. Gap analysis en remediation kosten €5.000-€50.000 depending aircraft type/age.

AD compliance tracking via CAMO - they monitor new AD issuance (EASA publishes continuously), determine applicability uw aircraft, schedule compliance coordinating maintenance facilities, en document accomplishment in aircraft records. Cost varies wildly: simple inspection AD's €500-€2.000 labor, major modifications €10.000-€100.000+ (engine component replacements, structural reinforcements). Budget €5.000-€20.000 annually average bizjet accounting new AD's issued. Occasionele "gotcha" AD's kunnen spike €50.000-€200.000 - part ownership risk.

Part-M Continuing Airworthiness

EASA Part-M regulation governs continuing airworthiness management ensuring aircraft maintains luchtwaardigheid throughout operational life. Part-M compliance mandatory alle PH-registered aircraft - geen exceptions. Owner must contract EASA Part-M approved CAMO (Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization), usually aircraft management company holding Part-M approval.

CAMO verantwoordelijkheden comprehensive: develop/maintain aircraft-specific maintenance program approved door authority, track/schedule AD compliance ensuring timely accomplishment, coordinate maintenance planning met Part-145 approved facilities, maintain technical records (logbooks, AD status, modifications), perform annual airworthiness reviews issuing ARC, en serve as ILT liaison point for airworthiness matters. This relieves owner of direct compliance burden maar vereist professional organization met EASA expertise.

Part-M subparts: (A) technical requirements applicable all aircraft, (B) CAMO approval standards en responsibilities, (C) alternative lighter requirements ELA1 aircraft (small piston singles <1.200kg). Business jets fall under Subpart A/B requiring full CAMO. Owner self-management technically mogelijk under Part-M Subpart G (private owner with maintenance knowledge) maar extremely complex business jets - professional CAMO strongly recommended, essentially mandatory practical standpoint.

Violation Part-M requirements serious consequences: ARC non-renewal grounding aircraft, ILT findings requiring formal corrective action plans, possible registration suspension repeat offenses. Insurance companies kunnen deny claims non-compliance. Professional CAMO essential navigating EASA airworthiness complexity - their annual fees €8.000-€40.000 seem expensive maar prevent far costlier compliance failures, maintenance errors, en operational disruptions.

Part-NCC vs Part-135 Operations

Part-NCC (Non-Commercial Complex Operations):

Part-NCC governs private/corporate aircraft operations waar aircraft niet available public charter. Owner flies eigen aircraft transporting guests, employees, business associates - geen paying passengers commercial basis. Part-NCC vereisten streamlined compared commercial: declaration to ILT (niet full AOC application), simplified operations manual, accountable manager appointed (kan owner or management company), maintenance per Part-M, crew type-rated en medically qualified maar geen minimum hour requirements beyond type rating, insurance minimums per EU Regulation 785/2004.

Setup relatively straightforward: management company prepares operations manual template (aircraft limitations, crew minimums, weather minimums), appoints accountable manager, submits declaration ILT. Processing 2-4 weken typical. Cost: €5.000-€15.000 setup, €10.000-€25.000 annual compliance via management company (operations manual updates, crew qualification tracking, insurance coordination, ILT correspondence). Ongoing ILT surveillance risk-based - compliant operators audited every 3-5 years unless incidents trigger inspection.

Part-135 (Commercial Air Transport):

Part-135 governs commercial charter operations waar aircraft available public, passengers pay for flights. Requires full Air Operator Certificate (AOC) issued ILT after extensive application/audit. Requirements significantly more stringent: comprehensive operations manual (hundreds pages), safety management system (SMS), quality assurance program, key personnel ILT-approved (Accountable Manager, Operations Manager, Safety Manager, Maintenance Manager - all Dutch resident), crew minimum hour requirements, recurrent training 6-monthly simulator sessions, operational control/flight following/dispatch procedures, ops specs defining authorized operations.

AOC setup timeline 6-12 months: pre-application meeting ILT, operations manual development, personnel appointments/training, documentation audit, demonstration flights, final certification inspection. Cost: €50.000-€150.000 professional fees (consultants, manuals, training). Annual compliance overhead: dedicated operations/safety staff salaries, SMS implementation, training programs, quality audits, ILT audit responses. Small single-aircraft operator €100.000-€200.000 annual overhead, multi-aircraft fleets €300.000-€1M+ depending size.

Wanneer Part-NCC vs Part-135? Part-NCC sufficient pure private/corporate use - significant cost savings en operational simplicity. Choose Part-135 if: (1) Charter revenue desired offsetting aircraft costs, (2) Fractional ownership program planned, (3) Business model requires public availability. Hybrid approach: owner operates Part-NCC primary use, occasional charter via third-party AOC operator (management company's certificate renting aircraft) - generates revenue without AOC burden, though complicated tax/insurance structuring.