WRITTEN QUESTION E-1912/03 by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission. Award of service contracts in Spain to non-Community helicopter companies.
Date: 2003-06-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Spain, administrative procedure, civil aviation, fire protection, harmonisation of standards, helicopter, occupational safety, provision of services, transport safety

6.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 58 E/113

(2004/C 58 E/127)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1912/03

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(12 June 2003)

Subject: Award of service contracts in Spain to non-Community helicopter companies

is still

The Spanish Government
failing to comply with Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91 (1) on the
harmonisation of technical requirements in the field of civil aviation, given that it continues to authorise
the transport of forest fire brigades in helicopters subject to airworthiness restrictions, such as a ban on
carrying persons and flying over urban areas or groups of people. These helicopters, which were
withdrawn from military use on grounds of age (after 30 years in the Spanish, North American or Israeli
Army), have entered the field of commercial aviation thanks to authorisations granted by the Spanish
authorities. However, the Commission already has figures showing that these helicopters caused serious
accidents in Spain last year (a particularly tragic accident occurred on 14 June 2002 in Lérida, when eight
people died on board an EC-GJL purchased from the Spanish army for only EUR 3 000 which had been in
use for more than 30 years). This type of helicopter is not certified and authorised for commercial
operation in any other EU country.

What steps will the Commission take vis-à-vis the Spanish authorities to ensure compliance with the rules
set out in Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91 on requirements in the field of civil aviation?

What action will the Commission take to curb the serious rise in helicopter accidents in Spain, which
people working in the Spanish sector attribute to the absence of national
legislation in line with
Community legislation or similar to that in other EU countries?

Does the Commission not believe that granting licences for the type of helicopter described above
constitutes negligence on the part of the Spanish aviation authorities?

What is the Commission’s view of the practice followed by the Spanish authorities of certifying and
authorising the transport of forest fire-fighters in helicopters which should be subject to the airworthiness
restrictions described above, taking account of the provisions laid down in Community legislation on
health and safety at work?

See Written Questions E-3487/00, E-3488/00 and E-3489/00 (2).

(1) OJ L 373, 31.12.1991, p. 4.
(2) OJ C 187 E, 3.7.2001, p. 9.

(2004/C 58 E/128)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1913/03

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(12 June 2003)

Subject: Contracting of non-Community helicopters to fight fires: the cases of Italy and Spain

The Commission issued a warning to the Italian Government in relation to the purchase of 49 helicopters
to fight forest fires, calling on it to comply with Community legislation and arguing that the fire problem
was neither exceptional nor temporary an endemic problem.

How, then, Commission explain its failure to act in the case of Spain, thereby allowing the Spanish
Government
to use those same criteria of exceptional and temporary circumstances to circumvent
Community legislation, and permitting the subcontracting procedure to be abused in relation to wet-lease
agreements involving non-Community helicopter companies?

See Written Questions E-3487/00, E-3488/00 and E-3489/00 (1).

(1) OJ C 187 E, 3.7.2001, p. 9.