EASA Extends EPAS to 2026 and Refocuses EU Aviation Safety Priorities
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a 2026 addendum to the European Plan for Aviation Safety (EPAS) Volume I (2023–2025), formally extending its validity through the end of 2026. The addendum reinforces continuity in safety planning while updating several strategic priorities to reflect evolving risks, policy initiatives, and regulatory reforms across the European aviation system.
GNSS Resilience, PBN Transition, and Risk-Based Oversight
A central theme of the addendum is the rising concern over GNSS jamming and spoofing, as well as Europe’s readiness for the performance-based navigation (PBN) transition by 2030. Under the Best Intervention Strategy (BIS-44), EASA will assess the overall state of preparedness and explore possible amendments to the PBN Implementing Regulation. In parallel, operators, national aviation authorities (NAAs), and air navigation service providers (ANSPs) can expect additional regulatory initiatives focused on contingency measures for GNSS signal degradation and enhanced use of risk-based oversight aligned with an updated safety management maturity model.
Civil–Military Coordination, Dual-Use Certification, and Runway Safety
EPAS 2026 brings civil–military coordination to the forefront of the EU safety strategy. Revised Section 3.1.4 explicitly addresses dual-use platforms and civil-derivative State and military aircraft, acknowledging the increased defence footprint and GNSS-related vulnerabilities in European airspace. EASA is committed to embedding the principle of “as civil as possible, as military as needed” more deeply into certification and rulemaking processes, potentially leading to a single regulatory approach for dual-use platforms.
The addendum also upgrades runway incursion prevention to a standalone EPAS priority. Efforts will be coordinated through the EASA Runway Safety Team and Task Force, supported by new measures including a Safety Information Bulletin on continuous stop-bar use. EU airlines, aerodromes, and military partners should prepare for more prescriptive coordination on joint safety management and deployment of surveillance and on-board warning technologies.
Big Data and Regulatory Simplification
A new focus on Data4Safety (D4S) and regulatory simplification signals a shift toward data-driven decision-making and reduced compliance complexity. The D4S initiative aims to establish a shared EU safety data infrastructure connecting EASA, Member States, and industry. Meanwhile, EASA’s rule simplification programme, endorsed by its Management Board, will unfold over the next two to three years, covering Part 21 alignment with the Basic Regulation, review of CAT/SPO requirements for small aeroplanes, updates to drone and medical rules, and simplification of pilot and ATCO certification frameworks.
For operators and oversight bodies, this evolution means fewer administrative burdens but greater emphasis on safety data sharing and performance-based compliance. Legal, compliance, and safety managers should monitor how new simplification packages align with existing obligations, particularly where reduced paperwork coincides with heightened expectations on data quality and safety management maturity.
Human Factors, Fatigue, and Workforce Sustainability
The 2026 addendum consolidates human performance concerns under a revised Section 3.1.3.1, integrating fatigue management and research into the effectiveness of EU flight time limitations (FTL) for commercial air transport. EASA foresees new rulemaking tasks addressing FTL for emergency medical services, air taxi, and single-pilot CAT operations, complemented by safety promotion on fatigue risk management.
Additionally, a new Section 3.2.5 elevates workforce availability to a strategic safety concern. Workstreams will focus on developing next-generation aviation professionals, fostering diversity and safety leadership, and strengthening long-term career pathways. Stakeholders should anticipate closer oversight of FTL compliance and EU-level initiatives to sustain licensing and instructor pipelines.
Transitional Year Before Full EPAS Revision
Extending the current EPAS cycle to 2026 enables EASA to finalise a broader overhaul of the European aviation safety risk management process by 2027. Stakeholders should treat 2026 as a transition year—a period to align with evolving priorities while maintaining continuity across EPAS Volumes II and III, which remain operational under standard revision timelines.
General Aviation and Sustainable Integration
The GA Flightpath 2030+ strategy is now fully incorporated into the EPAS framework, advancing proportionate and sustainable development in General Aviation. Priority activities include “declared-by-default” approvals, greener fuel infrastructure, GNSS-based instrument approaches to non-instrument runways, and enhanced electronic conspicuity for collision avoidance.
Finally, EASA aligns its safety priorities with broader EU initiatives—SES 2+, the ATM Master Plan, and the RefuelEU Aviation Regulation—reflecting an integrated approach to safety, capacity, and decarbonisation. For airlines, airports, and ANSPs, this convergence means that safety planning, sustainability compliance, and operational performance will increasingly be governed through interlinked EU policy frameworks.
EASA – EPAS 2026 Addendum (Volume I)