A new revision of the EU regulation on pilots’ background checks introduces an “intelligence pillar” as of 31 Dec 2020. The new requirement to include and analyse intelligence information will become a mandatory element of the thorough background checks which pilots undergo every 5 year. Such checks are vital for aviation security and assess pilots’ trustworthiness. Currently, authorities look at education, employment and criminal records. But the revision of the Regulation adds intelligence background information as a mandatory requirement for a successful background check.
This amendment* will have major consequences for pilots. In practice, if intelligence information about the pilot is missing, or is just inaccurate, he/she will fail the background check and will not be able to get a crew identification card. He/she will be deprived of the right to work as a pilot in Europe. The simple lack of information will be sufficient to fail his/her background check even if there is no proven risk to aviation security.
