EU-OPS General Requirements — Page 20, Lesson 31

I want to walk you through the EU-OPS General Requirements for information that must be retained on the ground, the power to inspect, and the preservation of documents and recordings. Let's start with what the operator must do with information on the ground. For at least the duration of each flight — or a series of flights — the operator has to ensure two things. First, information relevant to the flight and appropriate to the type of operation is preserved on the ground. Second, that information is retained until it can be duplicated and stored in accordance with the relevant regulations. If duplication and storage on the ground isn't practicable, then the information must be carried in a fireproof container in the aeroplane. Now, what specific information are we talking about? The regulation lists five items. A copy of the OFP — that's the Operational Flight Plan. Copies of relevant parts of the aeroplane technical log. Route-specific NOTAM documents, but only if they've been specially edited by the operator — NOTAM stands for Notice to Air Missions, and these are time-critical aeronautical information bulletins. Mass and Balance documentation, which shows the weight and loading of the aircraft. And special load documentation, for any unusual or dangerous cargo. Next, the power to inspect. Any person authorized by the Authority — that's the national aviation authority, like the UK CAA or the German LBA — is permitted to board and fly in an aeroplane operated under the AOC, the Air Operator Certificate. They can also enter and remain on the flight deck, but that's subject to the Commander's discretion. So the captain has the final say on who comes onto the flight deck. Then we have the production and preservation of documents and recordings. Persons authorized by the Authority are permitted access to any documents and records relating to flight operations. The operator is required to produce all such documents and records within a reasonable time when asked by the Authority. Similarly, the Commander is required to produce any of the documents required to be carried on board an aeroplane when an authorized person requests them. Here's an important point about continuity. Original documentation must be kept for the required retention period by the operator — even if during that period the operator ceases to be the operator of that aeroplane. So if you sell the aircraft or transfer the operation, you still have to keep the original documents for the full retention period. If a crew member stops working for the original operator, documentation relating to that crew member must be made available to the new operator. And following an incident, all FDR and CVR recordings must be retained for a period of 60 days — unless the Authority requests a longer period. FDR is the Flight Data Recorder, and CVR is the Cockpit Voice Recorder. There's a critical note here from EU-OPS 1.160 (c)(1). CVR recordings may not be used for any purpose other than the investigation of an accident or incident that's subject to mandatory reporting — except with the consent of all the crew members concerned. So those recordings are strictly protected; you can't just listen to them for training or performance review without everyone's permission. Let me show you the relevant figures from the book. shows the retention of flight preparation documentation. illustrates flight crew records. And covers records for other operations personnel. These diagrams will help you visualize the documentation flow and retention periods.