Madrid, April 24, 2024.
- ANZEN Engineering, a leading company in System Safety & Reliability engineering, is part of the international working group of the European Organization for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE) responsible for developing the recent ED-135 guidelines. These are aviation sector safety directives recognized by the top certification authorities: the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and its U.S. counterpart, the FAA. In other words, these standards for safety analysis aim to minimize risks in aircraft, systems, and equipment, ensuring maximum passenger safety. The guidelines establish rigorous working methodologies for the companies in charge of aircraft and systems design and for the whole supply chain, while also providing crucial assistance in achieving airworthiness certification, safeguarding all passengers.
According to a recent study by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), flying in Europe is now safer than ever since records began. Their 2023 Global Aviation Safety Report shows that, in Europe alone, the “all accident” rate improved from 0.98 per million sectors in 2022 to 0.48 accidents in 2023. Even more impressive: Europe has maintained a zero-fatality risk since 2018.
But why is air travel in Europe so safe? How is it certified that aircraft meet safety standards to prevent potential accidents and ensure passenger security?
ANZEN Engineering, a leader in System Safety & Reliability engineering and a key contributor to the EUROCAE international working group on safety guidelines, explains the stringent design standards for aircraft and systems that will make you feel even more confident each time you fly.
A bit of history: When was the first Aviation Safety Guide published and what did It say? Why is the new European Guide, ED-135, important for Aircraft safety certification?
To find the first major safety guide for civil aircraft system design (not to be confused with ‘security’; ‘safety’ refers to protocols, procedures, checks, analyses, and methodologies used to assess and mitigate potential risks and prevent accidents), we need to go back nearly 30 years, to 1996. That year, the RTCA, EUROCAE’s equivalent in the United States, published the first version of the ARP (Aerospace Recommended Practice). It outlined a series of activities, protocols, and procedures that needed to be followed during aircraft design phases to ensure civil aircraft safety.
From 1996 until late 2023, this guide had not been significantly updated —hence the significance of ED-135. While in 2010 another important guide, ARP4754A, was published to explain how to develop aircraft systems (introducing concepts already being adopted by major players in the industry), ED-135 now complements and expands on this earlier work.
Why is ED-135 so important? For the first time, it focuses on the entire aircraft
ED-135 marks a historic milestone because, for the first time, it addresses safety concepts at the aircraft level. Prior to its release, guidelines focused on aircraft systems and equipment, but not on the aircraft as a whole. Why focus on the aircraft now? The answer is clear: because today’s aircraft are far more complex, integrated, and technologically advanced than earlier, much simpler models.
What’s missing but expected soon: human error and cybersecurity
While ED-135 is a highly comprehensive guide and a major advancement for the aviation sector, it still leaves some key areas to be addressed in future updates —most notably human error and ‘security’, especially cybersecurity.
Human error currently represents one of the main safety risks, driven by factors such as potential confusion by pilots regarding new design elements introduced by manufacturers.
Regarding security, the major challenge is combating cyberattacks, which are on the rise globally in the aviation sector, according to cybersecurity experts. We’re talking about access breaches, malware, and unlawful interference.
And what about drones and military aviation? Does ED-135 apply to these aircraft?
It depends. Drone regulations are still evolving, and for new commercial drone manufacturers, applying all these guidelines would be extremely costly. However, for certain types of professional or specialized drones, ED-135 can serve as an excellent framework for understanding what safety design activities might be required by certification authorities. While ED-135 is not a legally binding standard, manufacturers —especially start-ups or small firms that may lack the capacity for comprehensive safety analysis processes— might face skepticism from certification bodies if they don’t follow its recommendations.
New elements in ED-135 that set the foundation for the future of aviation
For the first time, EUROCAE’s guide also includes the application of new safety analysis methodologies from the aerospace sector —already used by pioneering companies worldwide— designed to tackle the complexity and interrelationship between today’s aircraft structures, systems, and equipment. These include Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), an area of expertise of ANZEN Engineering, which will form the backbone of the industry moving forward.
In the words of Pablo de la Cruz, CEO of ANZEN Engineering: “As a reference company in aviation safety, ANZEN is proud to be a member of EUROCAE and to participate in the development of such an important and essential guide for aviation safety.”
Yago Grela, Head of Communications at EUROCAE, adds: “On behalf of EUROCAE, I want to express our gratitude to ANZEN Engineering for supporting our annual Symposium. Their commitment to the event and their contributions as experts in our working groups —such as for the recent ED-135— help us drive safety and innovation in the aviation industry.”
About ANZEN Engineering
ANZEN Engineering is an international engineering company specialized in critical systems for the aerospace and defense sectors. Founded in 2019, it supports technically complex projects around the world, providing expertise in safety, reliability, airworthiness, ILS, cybersecurity, and MBSE. Its multidisciplinary team works with globally recognized standards, ensuring the certification and robustness of the platforms it supports. With a presence in Europe, the U.S., and the Middle East, ANZEN strengthens its position as a strategic, reliable, and independent partner committed to technical excellence and sustainable innovation.
Media contact
Raquel Parra
r.parra@iprisma.es
