5.3        What occurrences shall I report?

For the sake of clarifying legal obligations, Regulation 376/2014 differentiates between occurrences that should always be reported (mandatorily reportable occurrences) and those that may be reported if judged relevant by potential reporters (voluntarily reportable occurrences).

The occurrences to be reported in the context of mandatory reporting systems are those which may represent a significant risk to aviation safety and which fall into defined categories (Article 4(1)). To facilitate the identification of those occurrences, the Commission was required to adopt a list classifying occurrences to be referred to (Article 4(5)).

These occurrences to be reported are therefore be listed in the Commission Implementing Regulation 2015/1018 classifying the occurrences to be reported in the context of mandatory reporting schemes. The occurrences contained in Regulation 2015/1018 are those which have been considered by the legislator as potentially representing a significant risk to aviation safety. The division in the various Annexes of the Regulation 2015/1018 intends to support the identification by reporters of the occurrences they are required to report.

Regulation 2015/1018 in its Annex V.1, V.2 and V.3 states that the structure of the Section is made to ensure that the ‘‘pertinent occurrences are linked with categories of activities during which they are normally observed, according to experience, in order to facilitate the reporting of those occurrences’’.

There is no legal obligation for the reporting of occurrences outside those contained in Annex V to Regulation 2015/1018. It is nevertheless understood that reporting of any safety relevant occurrence by anyone aware of it should be encouraged.

The Commission has prepared and published promotional material with the view to promoting and encouraging the reporting of safety occurrences. This material is available here[72].