Under the current rules, what condition must be met for an activity to be considered a 'contracted activity'?

The activity must be within the operator's scope of approval and performed by another organisation that is either itself certified or authorised to carry out such activity, or, if not certified or authorised, working under the operator's approval.

What is the key difference in the list of contractable service areas between the current rules and the rules applicable from 27 March 2028?

The current rules list 'ground de-icing/anti-icing' and 'ground handling' as separate items. The future rules combine them into a single item: 'ground handling, including but not limited to ground de-/anti-icing, fuelling, toilet and potable water services, aircraft cleaning and catering'.

In the rules applicable from 27 March 2028, what additional statuses can an external organisation have to perform a contracted activity without working under the operator's approval?

The external organisation can be certified, authorised, or covered by a declaration to carry out the activity.

What is the applicability date of the new rules that add a specific provision about ground handling organisations' accountability?

The new rules are applicable from 27 March 2028.

GM1 ORO.GEN.205 Contracted activities

Q: What are the five areas of services that an operator may contract to external organisations under the current rules?

Ground de-icing/anti-icing, ground handling, flight support (including performance calculations, flight planning, navigation database and dispatch), training, and manual preparation.

Q: Who holds the ultimate responsibility for the product or service provided by an external organisation under a contract?

The operator always retains the ultimate responsibility for the product or service provided by external organisations.

Q: According to the rules applicable from 27 March 2028, what is the explicit accountability of a ground handling organisation providing services to an operator?

The ground handling organisation is not exonerated from its own accountability and responsibility for the safe provision of ground handling services in compliance with the requirements of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/20.

Navigate / EASA

Ask question Discover more Add to collection

GM1 ORO.GEN.205 Contracted activities

ED Decision 2025/008/R

CONTRACTING — GENERAL

(a) Operators may decide to contract certain activities to external organisations for the provision of services related to areas such as:

(1) ground de-icing/anti-icing;

(2) ground handling;

(3) flight support (including performance calculations, flight planning, navigation database and dispatch);

(4) training; and

(5) manual preparation.

(b) Contracted activities include all activities within the operator’s scope of approval that are performed by another organisation either itself certified or authorised to carry out such activity or if not certified or authorised, working under the operator’s approval.

(c) The ultimate responsibility for the product or service provided by external organisations should always remain with the operator.

[applicable until 26 March 2028 — ED Decision 2014/017/R]

(a) Operators may decide to contract certain activities to external organisations for the provision of services related to areas such as:

(1) ground handling, including but not limited to ground de-/anti-icing, fuelling, toilet and potable water services, aircraft cleaning and catering;

(2) flight support (including performance calculations, flight planning, navigation database and dispatch);

(3) training; and

(4) manual preparation.

(b) Contracted activities include all activities within the operator’s scope of approval that are performed by another organisation either itself certified, authorised or covered by a declaration to carry out such activity or, if not certified, authorised or declaring its activity, working under the operator’s approval.

(c) The ultimate responsibility for the product or service provided by external organisations always remains with the operator.

(d) Without affecting point (c), a ground handling organisation providing services to an operator is not exonerated from its own accountability and responsibility for the safe provision of ground handling services in compliance with the requirements of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/20.

[applicable from 27 March 2028 — ED Decision 2025/008/R]

Details

Source-Title: GM1 ORO.GEN.205 Contracted activities View latest amendments

Erulesid: ERULES-1963177438-12116 Compare versions

Domain: Air operations

Applicabilitydate: 27 March, 2028

Entryintoforcedate: 8 July, 2025

Regulatorysource: ED Decision 2025/008/R Navigate

Regulatorysubject: Part-ORO

Typeofcontent: GM to IR (Guidance material to implementing rule)

Parentir: ORO.GEN.205 Contracted activities

Origin: EASA

Category: EAR