EASA Publishes Revision 24, Updates FDM and Gyroplane Rules

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has released Revision 24 of its Easy Access Rules for Air Operations (EAR for Air OPS), introducing significant updates to safety programs and pilot licensing. The new revision, published in March 2026, consolidates three separate regulatory instruments that were finalized in late 2025, streamlining compliance for operators across the European Union.

The update focuses on increasing the effectiveness of Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) programs and establishing a harmonized framework for gyroplane pilot licensing. This move addresses recurring safety findings and standardizes rules for niche aircraft operations, impacting stakeholders from major commercial airlines to individual private pilots and flight schools.

Regulatory Consolidation Details

Revision 24 integrates several key legal acts into a single, user-friendly document. According to EASA, this consolidation incorporates measures from three decisions made in late 2025. The first is Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2293, adopted on November 10, 2025, which corrects the foundational air operations regulation and rectifies cross-references in related rules covering aircrew and airworthiness.

The other two instruments are EASA Executive Director Decisions. Decision 2025/020/R, issued on December 2, 2025, amends the Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC) and Guidance Material (GM) related to organizational requirements (Part-ORO). EASA Executive Director Decision 2025/023/R, from December 15, 2025, amends AMC and GM for definitions (Part-Definitions) and non-commercial operations (Part-NCO).

The complete rules are now available on the official EASA Easy Access Rules for Air Operations webpage, which includes PDF, online, and machine-readable XML versions.

Impact on Flight Data Monitoring

A primary focus of Revision 24 is the enhancement of FDM programs. The amendments in Decision 2025/020/R provide more robust guidance for commercial air transport operators to ensure their FDM systems are effective. This regulatory tightening comes after European air safety assessments repeatedly identified weak FDM implementation as a concern. The updated AMC and GM for Part-ORO are designed to make these proactive safety tools more effective in identifying operational risks before they lead to incidents. The decision also includes updates to the Alternative Training and Qualification Programme (ATQP), further refining flight crew training standards.

Standardizing Gyroplane Licensing

The second major change formalizes licensing for a specific aircraft category. Decision 2025/023/R establishes a clear, EU-wide framework for gyroplane pilot licensing and non-commercial operations under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). This harmonizes what were previously fragmented national rules, creating a consistent standard for training and qualification. For gyroplane pilots and flight schools, this provides greater clarity and facilitates cross-border operations within the EU, representing a significant step in standardizing rules for niche aviation sectors.

Digital Transition and Context

This revision is also part of EASA's broader move toward the digitization of regulatory frameworks. The agency is rolling out an improved online publication format through its eRules platform. The introduction of machine-readable XML versions of the regulations is a notable development, allowing aviation compliance software developers to integrate rule changes directly into their databases and applications more efficiently.

This process of continuous updates is standard for EASA. For instance, Revision 19 of the Air Operations Rules, issued in November 2022, incorporated new AMC and GM for all-weather operations. Revision 24 continues this pattern of iterative refinement, adapting the regulatory framework to new data, technologies, and safety priorities.

What Comes Next

With the publication of Revision 24, the focus shifts to implementation. Commercial air transport operators will need to review the updated guidance on FDM effectiveness and ensure their Safety Management Systems and operational procedures are aligned. Similarly, flight training organizations involved with gyroplanes must adapt their curricula to the new standardized licensing requirements. The availability of the rules in a digital format is expected to facilitate this transition, allowing for quicker updates to compliance software and operational manuals.

Why This Matters

Revision 24 reinforces EASA's data-driven approach to safety oversight by strengthening FDM, a critical tool for proactive risk management. For the broader industry, it signifies a continued push towards regulatory harmonization and digitization, simplifying compliance while raising safety standards across diverse sectors of European aviation.