
Article 1 
For the purpose of this Regulation, ‘Community SAFA system’ means the system set up in Directive 2004/36/EC and in this Regulation for the collection, exchange and analysis of information on the air safety of aircraft and of air operators.
Article 2 

1. The European Aviation Safety Agency shall manage and operate the tools and procedures necessary for the collection and exchange of:
1.. the information established in Articles 3, 4 and 5 of Directive 2004/36/EC,
2.. the information provided by third countries or international organisations with whom appropriate agreements have been concluded by the Community, or organisations with whom EASA has concluded appropriate arrangements in accordance with Article 18(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002.
2. The management shall include the following tasks:
1.. collect data from the Member States relevant to the safety information on aircraft using Community airports;
2.. develop, maintain and provide continuous updating of a centralised database containing:

((a)) all the information which the Member States are obliged to collect and make available on the basis of Articles 3, 4 and 5 of Directive 2004/36/EC,
((b)) any other relevant information concerning the air safety of aircraft and of air operators;
3.. provide necessary changes and enhancements to the database application;
4.. analyse the centralised database information and other relevant information concerning the safety of aircrafts and of air operators and, on that basis:

((a)) advise the Commission and the competent authorities of the Member States on immediate actions or follow-up policy;
((b)) report potential safety problems to the Commission and to the competent authorities of the Member States;
((c)) propose co-ordinated actions to the Commission and to the competent authorities of the Member States when necessary on safety grounds and ensure co-ordination at the technical level of such actions;
5.. liaise with other European institutions and bodies, international organisations and National Aviation Authorities on information exchange;
6.. advise the Commission on the future development and strategy of the Community SAFA system.
Article 3 

1. Member States shall enter into the centralised database without delay:
1.. the ramp inspection reports referred to in Article 4(4) of Directive 2004/36/EC,
2.. the ramp inspection reports not required by Directive 2004/36/EC but which have been carried out in accordance with the procedure established under Annex II of Directive 2004/36/EC.
2. Member States shall communicate to the European Aviation Safety Agency any information useful for the application of the Directive 2004/36/EC and for the accomplishment by the European Aviation Safety Agency of the tasks assigned to it by this Regulation, including information covered by Article 3 of Directive 2004/36/EC.
Article 4 
The European Aviation Safety Agency shall:

1.. submit to the Commission a proposal for a manual of ramp inspection procedures and, whenever necessary, for further development and update of the manual and of the Annexes to Directive 2004/36/EC;
2.. develop training programmes and foster the organisation and implementation of training courses and workshops for inspectors to improve the understanding of the Community SAFA system with the aim of reaching a common standard in the performance of ramp inspections;
3.. facilitate and co-ordinate an inspector exchange programme aimed at allowing inspectors to obtain practical experience and contributing to the harmonisation of procedures.
Article 5 

1. The European Aviation Safety Agency shall prepare yearly and forward to the Commission:
1.. A report on the Community SAFA system, containing, at least, the following information:

((a)) status of the progress of the system, including the achievements concerning the collection and exchange of information, the database, the manual of ramp inspections and the training actions;
((b)) status of the inspections performed in the year;
((c)) analysis of the inspection results with indication of the categories of findings;
((d)) actions taken during the year; and
((e)) Annexes containing lists of inspections sorted out by state of operation, aircraft type, operator and ratios per item.
2.. A proposal for a public aggregated information report containing an analysis of all information received in accordance with Article 5 of Directive 2004/36/EC.
2. The Commission will, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 10(5) of Directive 2004/36/EC, consult the Air Safety Committee regarding the report on the Community SAFA system referred to in the first subparagraph.
Article 6 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Articles 1 to 5 shall apply from the 1st of January 2007.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.Done at Brussels, 19 May 2006.
For the Commission
Jacques BARROT
Vice-President