EC300 Baseline Aviation Security Measures

In February 2010 the UK Department for Transport (DfT) announced pending radical changes to the current EU baseline aviation security measures for GA operators.

In brief, the revised regulation issued by the European Commission (EC300) will have a major effect on all GA operators by introducing stricter passenger and baggage security screening. Operators expected to be most affected by the revised regulations are:

• Private/non commercial flights using aircraft with a MTOW greater than 15 metric tonnes.

As a member state, the UK government were given the opportunity to derogate (opt out) from ten specific flight categories, ranging from emergency/humanitarian flights to aircraft with a MTOW less than 45.5 metric tonnes used for the purpose of company business. Consultation meetings were held in the UK by the DfT to discuss the choice of derogations. The results of these meetings have yet to be collated and sent to the UK government for approval. The recent calling of the UK general election will further delay government approval for EC300 implementation.

In addition to the consultation process, the DfT announced that they would offer individual operators the opportunity to state a case for appeal that would determine what security measures were necessary for them when operating within the UK. The appeal would be based on the profile of the operator, the passengers and the internal security measures adopted by the operator that would reduce the potential risks such as:

• Employee background security checks
• Passenger background security checks
• Security procedures of the aircraft when not flying (on-board alarm, secure parking area).

Harrods Aviation strongly encourages all operators likely to be affected by the new measures to state their own case directly to either the DfT or their local government representative. Please send your responses to the DfT: ec300derogations.consultation@dft.gsi.gov.uk

The EC300 regulation will not become a requirement by law in the UK until such time as the DfT issue the new directive. This is not expected to happen before, at the earliest, the end of June 2010. Harrods Aviation FBO facilities at both London Luton and Stansted are able to offer customers a full and comprehensive passenger and baggage screening service.

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