Yemenia was almost on the “black list” of the EC: the report of the Commission

(BRUSSELS2) In 2008, the European Commission placed the company Yemenia (Yemen Airways) under surveillance - one of whose planes, an Airbus A310-300, had just crashed off the Comoros. On several occasions, from 2005 to 2008, the checks carried out in France, Germany and Italy revealed breaches of international security rules. An audit of the carrier had even been carried out by Airbus at the end of 2007. Despite this, the European executive had estimated, in a report published in 2008, that the measures taken by Yemenia "do not satisfactorily (resolve) all security issues". For the benefit of the doubt, however, the company had escaped placement on the European blacklist and had committed to presenting a new security plan (read below, the extract from the first report of the European Commission - July 2008).Presented at the end of 2008, it answered the main questions and Brussels then issued a "satisfecit" to the Yemeni company (see next the extract from the second report of the European Commission - November
2008).

The report of the European Commission (published July 25, 2008): (...)" Yemenia — Yemen Airways

(26) The carrier Yemenia — Yemen Airways has been found to fail to meet certain specific safety standards established by the Chicago Convention when operating in the Community. These failures were detected by the competent authorities of France, Germany and Italy during ramp inspections carried out within the framework of the SAFA program (1).

(27) Yemenia has entered into a contract with the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, under which the latter must provide the carrier with technical experts and controllers to train its personnel (pilots and engineers) and verify its performance in two areas specific: maintenance, on the one hand, engineering and technical operation of aircraft, on the other. Airbus carried out an audit of the carrier in these two areas in November and December 2007 and subsequently presented a set of corrective measures aimed at improving safety performance and systematically remedying safety deficiencies detected during the ramp inspections, and which touched on these areas. A corrective action plan has
was presented on May 26, 2008.

(28) The Commission considers that this plan of measures does not satisfactorily resolve all the safety problems detected. Although the carrier has demonstrated that it is capable, through its structure and organization, of guaranteeing full compliance with a security policy, problems persist in certain areas. In the field of technical operation, and more particularly ground and flight training, it has not been satisfactorily demonstrated that corrective measures were going to be taken and under what conditions, since no information has been provided regarding the qualifications and experience required for the staff concerned. In the field of maintenance and engineering, the measures plan leaves many points unresolved, such as ETOPS, engineering, the technical library, which are essential elements for the safety of air operations or for the smooth running of maintenance operations. It is not possible to fully assess the action plan due to the incomplete nature of the answers provided by the carrier. Additional documentation was also sent to the Commission on 12 and 25 June 2008. This documentation contains an amended corrective action plan following further discussions with Airbus.
The documents supporting this modified plan were presented to the Commission on July 7, 2008.

(29) In order for the Commission and the Member States to be able to complete their assessment of the detailed documents submitted by Yemenia, the Commission will invite the company to provide further details concerning the revision of the corrective action plan, taking into account the discussions which took place between the carrier and Airbus.

(30) The Commission recognizes the efforts made by Yemenia to remedy the safety deficiencies noted. Moreover, the latest ramp inspections carried out in the Community did not reveal any major deficiencies. The Commission considers, however, that the corrective measures presented by Yemenia must be fully implemented and closely monitored, and that Member States should systematically verify effective compliance with the applicable safety standards by giving priority to ramp inspections to be carried out on aircraft of that carrier in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 351/2008.

(31) At this stage, the Commission therefore considers that the carrier should not be listed in Annex A. It will decide on the appropriate measures to be taken when the assessment of the plan
Corrective Action Plan and documents supporting this plan will be completed.

(1) DGAC/F-2005-270, DGAC/F-2005-471, DGAC/F-2005-1054, DGAC/F-2005-1291, DGAC/F-2006-60, DGAC/F-2006-601, DGAC/F-2006-716, DGAC/F-2006-1465, DGAC/F-2006-1760,
DGAC/F-2006-2066, DGAC/F-2007-119, DGAC/F-2007-1002, DGAC/F-2007-1332, DGAC/F-2007-2066, DGAC/F-2008-478, DGAC/ F-2008-1129, LBA/D-2006-47, LBA/D-2006-103, LBA/D-2006-157, LBA/D-2007-477,
ENAC-IT-2005-51, ENAC-IT-2005-218, ENAC-IT-2005-648, ENAC-IT-2006-330, ENAC-IT-2008-126.

Le European Commission report (published 15 November 2008)

(22) Following the adoption of Regulation (EC) No 715/2008, the Commission has been informed by the competent authorities of the Republic of Yemen as well as by the carrier Yemenia that the corrective action plan has been reviewed and reviewed with Airbus, which carried out audits of the company in the field of maintenance and operation. The Commission received the outcome of these discussions on 17 September 2008.

(23) The Commission has closely followed the results obtained by the carrier in terms of safety and considers that the results of the ramp inspections to which the aircraft were subjected
operated by Yemenia within the Community since the adoption of Regulation (EC) No 715/2008 show that the company is implementing its corrective action plan in the area of ​​maintenance and operating disciplines in a sustainable manner to prevent the reappearance of significant safety deficiencies. Following ramp inspections carried out on Yemenia's aircraft and the results indicating serious deficiencies, the Commission heard the carrier on October 15 and received documents proving that the carrier was reacting appropriately and quickly to provide lasting solutions. . Therefore, the Commission considers, on the basis of this information, that no further action is required. Member States will systematically verify the effective compliance with the applicable safety standards by prioritizing ramp inspections to be carried out on aircraft of this carrier
in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 351/2008.