COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2024/404 of 30 January 2024 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 as regards the updates of relevant ICAO provisions, the completion of the radio communication failure procedure and removing the supplement to the Annex to that Regulation - text published in the Official Journal of the European Union

Objective

To amend Regulation 923/2012 as regards the updates of relevant ICAO provisions, contained in particular in Annex 2 (Rules of the Air), Annex 3 (Meteorological Service), Annex 10 (Aeronautical Telecommunications), Annex 11 (Air Traffic Services), Doc 4444 (PANS-ATM) and Doc 7030 (Regional Supplementary Procedures).

Summary

The most notable changes introduced by this Regulation are:

• Three definitions were updated and four new were added.
• Updated procedures for Special VFR flights.
• Added a procedure to be followed when there is uncertainty as to the position on the manoeuvring area.
• Added provisions related to ATC clearances for flights that are partially in controlled airspace.
• Added procedures for read-back by vehicle drivers operating on the manoeuvring area.
• Updated the requirements to report and request deviations from the current flight plan, with focus on speed deviations (especially in case of speed control) and time estimates.
• Added a provision explicitly stating the contents of a position report.
• Added a requirement for forwarding braking action information from an air-report in case it does not correspond to the runway condition report.
• Added a provision that the expression "TAKE-OFF" is only to be used when an aircraft is cleared for take-off or when cancelling a take-off clearance.
• Added a comprehensive description for radio communication failure procedures. This includes the use of SSR code 7601 by pilots flying IFR in VMC who decide to continue to fly in VMC and land at the nearest suitable aerodrome.
• Removed the procedure for the use of relay communication technique, as this is now included in the RCF procedure mentioned above.
• Certain specific communication procedures were updated. Most notably, the description of the procedures related to weather deviation was expanded.
• Added provisions for the notification of suspected communicable diseases or other public health risk on board an aircraft.
• Added description for visual signals used as instructions for ground vehicles or pedestrians.
• Updated the AIREP SPECIAL form to include braking action information, including detailed reporting instructions.
• Updated the provisions for flight plan completion.
• The Supplement to the Annex (containing a list of differences between Regulation 923/2012 and the ICAO SARPS) was removed. In order to support the Member States in their obligation to report these differences to ICAO, EASA maintains a repository which contains this informaiton (among other data).
• Minor wordings and error corrections.

Entry into Force

This Regulation entered into force in May 2024.

This Regulation is applicable from 1 May 2025 with the exception of the update to Annex 6 (flight plan completion) which is applicable from 1 May 2024.

Regulation 2024/404 amending Regulation 923/2012 (OJ, 11.04.2024)

Related Regulations

• Regulation 2018/1139
• Regulation 2017/373

Further  Reading

European Commission

• EUR-Lex Portal: Regulation 2024/204 (available in different languages and file formats)