Inhalt
- VDF-New Year’s reception
- Regulation of ground handling services
- Safety messages in ground handling
- Air traffic forecast: December 2022 – May 2023
- Ordinary VDF General Meeting
VDF New Year’s Reception
In the last two general meetings we have repeatedly emphasised that, external circumstances permitting, we would like to hold a get-together again. And now it is becoming a reality:
the New Year’s Reception
on Thursday, 19 January 2023, 2.00 p.m.
at the Airport Club, Frankfurt Airport Center, in the Dorian Lounge.
We are equally pleased that Ministerialrat Dr Sven Berger, Head of Division B 3 at the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Home Affairs, has agreed to give us his opinion on current developments in aviation security. Dr Berger’s responsibilities include the topics of background checks and the Aviation Security Training Ordinance. Afterwards, he will also be available to answer questions and discuss the issues.
Given the topicality of the two topics mentioned, we expect an interesting event and hope for the interest and numerous participation of our members.
The event has no fixed end date. At the beginning we ask for punctual
It is up to each participant to leave on time. Regarding registration, please send an informal feedback with the name(s) of the participant(s) to gf@vdf-ev.com by 05 January 2023.
Regulation of ground handling services
The public consultation of the first draft regulation ended on 30 September 2022. EASA is currently reviewing the comments received on this first draft published in May 2022. The high number, around one thousand, requires a longer period of time, which is why there has been no further activity so far. After reviewing the comments, EASA will resume work with the expert groups to find solutions to the most complex issues.
There has therefore been a slight delay in the timeline. The time frame is now as follows:
This timeline means that EASA is expected to discuss a draft regulation internally in the first quarter of 2023, but it will not yet contain the usual guidance material associated with such regulations (AMC Acceptable Means of Compliance and
GM Guidance Material). The agreed draft is expected to be endorsed by the EU Commission and published in the first or second quarter of 2024. The associated guidance material should then be published in the third quarter.
Safety messages in ground handling
On the occasion of an EASA online conference on the topic of regulation of ground handling services, the situation regarding safety reports from the area of ground handling services was also discussed, which, according to Regulation (EU) No 376/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 on occurrence reporting, analysis and follow-up in civil aviation, would also have to be provided by ground handling service providers.
“Only 4% of reporting comes from GH organisations” or “Poor reporting culture among GHSPs” are statements that are untenable, at least for German ground handling service providers – there is simply no structure to be determined by the authorities on how such a thing should be done. The VDF management has meanwhile pointed out this problem several times to the Federal Ministry of the Interior and the Federal Aviation Authority, especially in connection with the amendment of the German aviation legislation and the penalties it contains for ground handling service providers if they do not comply with the requirements. However, a response is still pending.
Forecast of air traffic supply: December 2022 – May 2023
For the first time, the German Air Transport Association (Bundesverband der Deutschen Luftverkehrswirtschaft e. V.) has produced a forecast of air traffic supply for the next six months. In it, the planned supply of seats of German airlines and airports is presented in tabular form and with comments.
The view of the supply development in seats provides information on how the airlines assess the German market at the time of publication of this forecast. We have structured the BDL seat supply forecast according to destination regions, airport location and airline business model in Europe and Germany.
Ordinary VDF General Assembly 2023
At its last meeting, the VDF Board has already set the date for the Annual General Meeting 2023. It will take place on Thursday, 25 May 2023, 1 p.m. at the Airport Club, Frankfurt Airport FAC, Dorian Lounge.
This is for advance information. Invitations will be sent out in accordance with the Articles of Association.
The Board and Management wish the readers of the VDF Newsletter a Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year.