EASA SD SD-2020-04: Superseded by EASA SD-2021-05

What to do

Third Country Operators must ensure aircraft are cleaned and disinfected at least every 24 hours, before each long haul flight, and after any long haul flight using aviation-approved substances. They must implement the EASA-ECDC Aviation Health Safety Protocol or equivalent measures to mitigate onboard health risks. Additionally, any aircraft with a suspected COVID-19 case onboard must be disinfected before further commercial use. These actions are effective from 1 July 2020.

Summary

EASA Safety Directive 2020-04 is a regulatory document issued to Third Country Operators authorized by EASA to perform commercial air transport of passengers to, from, or within the European Union. It mandates operational measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, focusing on cleaning and disinfection protocols for aircraft. The directive applies to all relevant commercial passenger flights, including long haul flights, to mitigate COVID-19 transmission risks onboard aircraft.

What changed

EASA Safety Directive 2020-04 supersedes the earlier SD 2020-02 and introduces updated requirements for cleaning and disinfection of aircraft, including specific compliance times such as cleaning prior to and after long haul flights. It also requires implementation of the EASA-ECDC Aviation Health Safety Protocol to mitigate health risks onboard. This directive updates and expands previous measures to reflect the evolving COVID-19 situation globally.

Why it matters

This directive is critical for aviation professionals as it ensures enhanced safety and health protection measures against COVID-19 transmission during commercial air transport. Operators must comply with strict cleaning and disinfection protocols, impacting operational procedures and maintenance schedules. Compliance teams must ensure adherence to these requirements to maintain authorization for flights within the EU and avoid operational disruptions.