Peer/Pilot Support Programmes (PSP)

Last summer (2018), the European Commission published EU 2018/1042 regulation (https://bit.ly/2V401V6) which will come into force as from 14 August 2020 and mandates access to Peer/Pilot support programmes for multi-pilot aircraft operators:

CAT.GEN.MPA.215   Support programme
(a) The operator shall enable, facilitate and ensure access to a proactive and non-punitive support programme that will assist and support flight crew in recognising, coping with, and overcoming any problem which might negatively affect their ability to safely exercise the privileges of their licence. Such access shall be made available to all flight crew.

BeCA is, together with IFALPA (https://bit.ly/2CHmyzB) and ECA (https://bit.ly/2TLxdiD), a strong supporter of PSP and seeks collaboration with all stakeholders (BCAA, airlines, AMEs, psychologists, hospitals, insurers) to make this idea a reality. We truly believe in the proven concept of peer support. In 2017 BeCA gathered all Belgian AMEs, ECA and Stiftung Mayday for a one day workshop at EUROCONTROL HQ. A few months later we had a second meeting with psychologists and a few airline representatives. As from August 2018, we have asked our BeCA representatives to announce the publication of the new regulation at the CPPW/CPPT and we look for active participation from airlines to set up a national system which will be beneficiary for all parties (fewer costs, fully independent, single organisational structure).

Just Culture (JC)

For over a year, BeCA has been waiting for the signing of two new Royal Decrees implementing Just Culture in Belgium. One which establishes a national body where you as a pilot can appeal if you feel treated unjustly within your company after reporting a safety issue. Another covering the set-up of a national Just Culture forum i.e. an event review group who may advise the body on specific cases. As from the start of this year, we have sent numerous reminders to the Cabinet Bellot, but so far we have received no reply. We continue our efforts because, at the moment, the Belgian state is non-compliant with EU 376/2014 and there is no means of appeal in cases of ‘mistreatment’ by your management after filing a safety report other than a judicial case. Unfortunately, the second requirement of the regulation, i.e. advance arrangements between civil aviation authorities and the judiciary, is also missing.

New rules on cosmic radiation reporting

Exposure to ionizing radiation and its carcinogenic/mutagenic potential has received considerable attention. Whereas annual exposures for ground-based radiation workers have been successfully reduced, airline flight crew exposures remain at levels substantially above those of other radiation-exposed workers and are increasing with modern flight operations.

Some aspects of the Belgian regulations regarding follow-up of exposure of aircrew to cosmic radiation will change in 2019.

The most important change is related to the publication in 2019 of a Royal Decree establishing a national dose registry. Doses of aircrew will also be integrated into this national registry.

Transposition of the European directive 2013/59/euratom regarding Basic Safety Standards for radiation protection.

The integration of aircrew data into the national dose registry will have some practical consequences for airlines. It requires that each crew member is identified by a unique identification number: FANC will request that the national registry number of each crew member is systematically added next to the name and surname. The regulations regarding the dose registry will be enforced in 2019 but FANC allows a one-year transition time for complying with the practical aspects of the regulations.

Regarding implementation of the 2013/59/euratom directive, the main changes will be the following:

• Obligation for the company to officially appoint a so-called Radiation Protection Officer. He/she is a central responsible person within the company for all matters concerning radiation protection (information of the workers, transmission of dosimetric data, contact with authorities,…).
• The calculations codes used for dose assessment will need to comply with criteria defined by FANC. In practice, all currently used software already comply with the intended criteria (system of quality assurance, validation through inter-comparison studies,…)

For more info, please refer to the FANC’s website in Dutch (https://bit.ly/2FLNtMD) or French (https://bit.ly/2HPrDds).

Another interesting resource is this extensive IFALPA position paper published in 2018: https://bit.ly/2uz9Gr5.