Irlsh Aviatlon AuthOrlty
The Times BUilding
11-12 D'Oher StrooI
Dublin 2, Ireland

(;lhrás Eitl/ochta na hEireann

T '353 1 603 1558

Foirgneamh na hAmanna
11-12 SráidO'O/ler
Balie Àlha Cilath 2, f,re

T: +353 1 603 1546
F' .353 1 679 2935
W'oNW laa ,Ie

oI rectors' Offl ce

Olflg Sliurth6irl

17 January 2013

MI' Bob Riedel'
Senior Policy Advisor
Aviation Safety Unit
Aviation Department
Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport
Ministry of lnfrastructure and the Environment
P.O, Box 20904
2500 EX
The Jiague

Deal' Bob
You r letter of the 14 th insta nt refe l's.
Ryanair commenced operations in 1985 with one aircraft and now operates a fleet of
over 300 87385 and operates services from over 50 locations. It carries over 70m
passengers per annum and operates almast 1,700 f1îghts per day, It has astrong
occurrence reporting culture and its reporting rate is in line with the European average,
Ryanair operates a low cost base model with a robust marketing management and
operational philosophy which is fully acknowledged by the JAA With regard to the TV
programme by RKO, this was viewed bya number of senIor lAA personneL The
programmes were similar to previous ooes carried out by Channel4 in the UK and
'Prime Time' on Jrish television. They are seen from the viewpoînt of the pilots and
their unions and attempt to highlight industrial relations problems and endeavor to
impJya negative effect on night safety,
With regard to the specifie questions you raised:
•

Question 1:

The lAA operates aMandatory Oeeurrence Reporting (MOR) system and a Confidential
Reporting system and, as far as we can establish from our data, there are na previous
MAYDAY ealls as a result of fuel shortage other than the ones referred to at Valencia,
Ryanair's fuel policy is fully compliant with EU OPS,

Reglsta,ed Office:

Bo ril Stlu rlh 61"1 Bo ard of 01'«;10 rs

Offl9 ChUlTal rIJ.:

Anne Nolan (Ca1h3OfrleactVChalnnan),

Folrgneamh na hAmMna.

Eamonn Brannan (Prlomhfl1.,dhmeannaol1lChlaf E,eculive)

Balie AtlJa CI,ath 2,

Lorralne Burk., Pat Dalton. Emle Donr.elly,

UimhJf Chl;lroUhe 211082 Ail ChlaraJlhe Ei".,

Reglslared No. 211082 RegIStered In Ireland

Rosheen McGuCJ(ran, Mrctlael Nonon,

CUláeachia DlileanaJs Theo,anta

A lIm,ted uebuity Company

Gwlfray O'8yme-VVl'l'la

Ë,,,.,

'1-' J smid O"Olier

Tha T,mes Bwlding 11-12 D'Olief Str.."
DUblin 2, lroland

•

Question 2:

The lAA would not be familiar with the detail autlined by MI' O'Leary with the number
of pilots reporting sick in a seven-day periad. Hawever, Ryanair has over 3,000 pilots
and we are satisfied that Ît has a standby system and has sufficient crews, bath rostered
and available, to operate safely its full schedule offlights.

•

Question 3:

Ryanair operates an open safety culture with rea I time f1ight data monitoring (OFDM),
which to our knowledge is far in advance of any ather operator which gives the airline
access ta any flight related exceedance and ensures real time monitoring of its fleet.
As part of its risk based approach to safety oversight the IAA assesses an operator
under seven headings. These are:
-

-

Fleet Complexity
Operations Complexity
Airwarthiness Complexity
Organisation Competency
Financial Strength
Changes Affecting Personnel
Safety Performance and Culture

The safety and cultUI"al aspects are assessed under a 15 heading matrix which I am sure
is similar to the Dutch CAA and this allows the overseeing agency to assess the cultural
impact on the operators safety.
In conclusion, the lAA oversees Ryanair to ICAO and EU standards and checks that EASA
regulations are fully implemented and adhered ta. The lAA would be pleased to
demonstrate to the Department of Transport of the Government in the Netherlands by
way of presentation, either in Dublin or in The Hague, iota how this oversight of its air
carriers including Ryanair, is carried out.
J attach for your information a copy of an apoJagy from the London Sunday Times
published in regard to Ryanair.

We also copied members of the EASA Management Board our report quoted in this TV
programme.
If we can be of any further assistanee do not hesitate to contact us.

Yours sincerely

Kevin Humphreys

Director Safety Regulation