Information on upcoming proposal for requirements for multi-crew concept for scheduled flights at short-haul airports

The Civil Aviation Authority of Norway (CAA-N) have adopted Regulation 17. September 2019 on requirements for commercial aviation operations on short-field airports though (BSL D 1-3). The purpose of this regulation is to ensure aviation safety by establishing additional requirements for commercial air operations on short-field airports. The regulation is considered necessary in order to mitigate risk due to the demanding local conditions at these airports related to meteorology, topography, physical characteristics and facilities at the airports. The regulation applies to air operators who conduct scheduled commercial air transport to and from such short-field airports in Norway.

Regulation (EU) 965/2012 on air operations allow for the possibility of carrying out commercial flights with aircraft that are certified for single pilot operations. From a safety perspective such provisions make good sense for relatively uncomplicated flights with smaller aircraft to and from traditional airports. However, the short-field airport network in Norway is a demanding environment for air operations. This in turn, typically gives the pilot quite a high workload. A multi-crew concept, where the aircraft is operated with a minimum of two pilots, provides increased flight safety in complex air operations. This is not only due to the added safety of having two persons able to pilot the aircraft, but also because the concept allows for a structured division of labor and mutual error monitoring- which relieves the administrative burden of the pilot flying and gives greater opportunity to detect and capture any errors and detect risks.

The risk environment when flying on Norwegian short-haul airports, combined with the objective of high safety standards for scheduled passenger flights, entails that the CAA-N intends to prepare a proposal on introducing a requirement that scheduled passenger flights to and from Norwegian short-field airports must be conducted as multi-pilot operations. All interested parties will in due time be consulted through a public hearing on the proposal. However, in order to provide a good basis for the ongoing work, the CAA-N wishes to inform about this change up front, and provide the opportunity to submit input at this preparatory stage.

Any input should be marked with case number: 18/02245 and sent to:
The Civil Aviation Authority of Norway,
P.O.box 243, 8001 Bodø.
Email: postmottak@caa.no