Security processes at St. Gallen-Altenrhein Airport certified
The safety processes at St. Gallen-Altenrhein Airport meet the requirements of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) has issued the corresponding certificate to the operating company Airport Altenrhein AG.
After Geneva and Lugano, St. Gallen-Altenrhein Airport is the third airfield in Switzerland to receive an EASA certificate. Zurich and Bern airports will also be certified in accordance with EASA requirements by the end of 2017. In an audit lasting several days, the FOCA checks whether the described safety processes comply with the specifications and whether they are applied by the aerodrome operator as described.
EASA has received a mandate from the EU Commission to ensure uniform and binding requirements in terms of safety in European aviation and, to this end, has defined the requirements for the organisation, operation and infrastructure of aerodromes within the scope of EASA in EU Regulation No. 139/2014. These requirements define, for example, how an aerodrome must organise the refuelling of aircraft, the deployment of the fire brigade, the periodic condition check of runways and approach lighting, and snow clearance.
EASA or ICAO certified?
The regional aerodromes of Sion, Grenchen, Les Eplatures, Samedan, Ecuvillens, Lausanne, Birrfeld and Bressaucourt will continue to be certified in accordance with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO).
As a result of Switzerland's participation in EASA, the airports of Zurich, Geneva, Bern, Lugano and St. Gallen - Altenrhein are initially affected by the corresponding requirements. (Source: FOCA)
