Safety Management System
EASA (EU) 2025/20: the first harmonized EU framework for ground handling safety.
Binding regulations, passenger handling and cargo handling providers across all EU member states.
We take you from gap analysis to an audit-ready SMS.
You're likely affected if
You don't need to operate airside to be affected — landside companies, especially logistics providers, can be ground handlers too. Example: if you accept and handle air cargo on behalf of a client but a different company carries out the actual transport, you're still considered a ground handler.
Full applicability in
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27 March 2028
From this date, your National Aviation Authority (Civil Aviation Authority; e.g. Germany's Luftfahrt-Bundesamt) is responsible for auditing compliance with this regulation. Preparing early is essential to be fully ready by the deadline and avoid penalties.
Not sure if your company is affected?
Take the 60-second check below and find out.
Quick scope check
Step 1 / 3
What it covers
The key clusters of the regulation.
Fewer ground incidents, one common European safety standard.
Cluster
Safety Management Systems (SMS)
Cluster
Operational Risk Management
Cluster
Personnel Competency & Recurrent Training
Cluster
GSE Control & Maintenance
Cluster
Occurrence Reporting & Investigation
Cluster
Coordination Between Airports, Airlines & Handling Agents
Cluster
Standardized Oversight & Declaration Requirements
Objective
One common European safety standard for ground operations
These are the areas most likely to affect your organization — topics EASA has introduced or changed under this regulation. Each one is something you’ll actively need to touch: either building it from scratch or adapting what you already have in place.
Timeline
What the transition period expects from you.
2025
Published by the European Commission & EASA
In force since 2025 — the clock is running.
2025 – 2027
Transition and preparation period
What's expected of you now:
Gap analysis
Implementation plan
Manuals & procedures
Training & competency
27 March 2028
Full applicability
Compliance required for all affected organizations. Realistic lead time is several months — don't start late.
Our methodology
Five steps to an audit-ready result.
Structured, transparent and without detours — every phase with a clear deliverable.
How do we help you get ready? This is exactly what our methodology is built to do.
Approach · SMS under EASA (EU) 2025/20
Our Methodology
01
Document Review
Analysis of existing procedures, policies and manuals — provided e.g. via SharePoint.
02
Onsite Visit
Walkthrough of operations and cargo areas — we verify on site, not from the desk.
03
Interviews
Structured discussions with management — capturing accountabilities and lived practice.
04
Gap Analysis
Item-by-item assessment against all requirements of EASA (EU) 2025/20.
05
Final Report & Recommendations
Findings consolidated into a structured final report with prioritized recommendations.
After the gap analysis — Phase 2
Once phase one is complete, we reconvene to plan implementation — closing the gaps step by step, ready well ahead of the 2028 deadline.
Deep dive
The nine action areas of the regulation.
What we assess your organization against, area by area.
Show all 9 action areas
AREA / 01
Safety accountability & governance
Accountable manager with real authority; independent safety monitoring function.
AREA / 02
Proportionate, integrated SMS
Scaled to station size, integrated into existing Part-ORO / Part-ADR systems.
AREA / 03
Hazard identification & risk management
Systematic hazard ID and risk assessment across ramp, cargo, GSE and de-icing.
AREA / 04
Occurrence reporting & just culture
Confidential, non-punitive reporting with root-cause analysis and just culture.
AREA / 05
Interface & coordination management
Formal safety coordination with airlines, airports, ATC and subcontractors.
AREA / 06
Competence, training & fatigue risk
Structured training, human factors and fatigue risk management for critical staff.
AREA / 07
Change management & continuous improvement
Risk assessment before every change; audits and KPIs drive improvement.
AREA / 08
GSE & infrastructure safety
GSE maintenance and apron risks integrated directly into the SMS.
AREA / 09 · FUTURE REQUIREMENT
Information security & data integrity
Preparing for upcoming ISMS requirements on safety-critical data.
References
What our clients say.
We’ve already advised clients who are adapting to EASA (EU) 2025/20 today — real experience with this exact regulation.
Show testimonials
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LUG aircargo handling GmbH
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Aircargo Services Hannover GmbH
Our Team
Who you'll work with.
James Wyatt
General Manager
- 25+ years in international aviation
- General Manager, aeroconcept (est. 2019, Leipzig)
- Previously: Lufthansa Cargo, AeroLogic, Qatar Airways, DHL Express, IATA
- Focus: cargo & ground handling, flight ops, safety & regulatory compliance
Moritz Hampel
Consultant
- 8 years at DHL Express Leipzig Hub, Lufthansa & DHL East Midlands Airport (UK)
- EASA compliance & ground handling SMS expertise
- BA Transport Management & Logistics, MBA, currently LL.M. in Business & Economic Law
- Exchange semester in China
Next step
Not sure if you're affected? Let's talk. Book a free 25-minute consultation.
A short call tells you whether your station falls under EASA (EU) 2025/20, and what a gap analysis would look like for you.
ContactsJames Wyatt & Moritz L. Hampel
Phone+49 171 188 6575
+49 157 396 17222
Based inLeipzig, Germany
Book your free 25-minute consultation
Tell us a bit about your organization — we'll get back to you to schedule the call.
Having trouble with this form? Email us directly at info@aeroconcept.aero.