Report on aviation safety and licences granted for Arendal airport Gullknapp in the years 2020–2023
Aviation report 2024/05
The investigation was initiated by three air incidents occured during landing patterns at Arendal lufthavn Gullknapp (ENGK) in the period 19 June–13 September 2023. The incidents dealt with the same local safety problem: traffic conflicts with training aircraft, where performing an evasive maneuver was necessary to avoid a more serious outcome. The main focus of the investigation has been the safety framework conditions for the activities at the airport. Overarching decisions at system level appear to have adversely affected aviation safety.
From 2018, when the flight school OSM Aviation Academy established its base at Arendal airport Gullknapp, the number of aircraft movements has increased a lot, at the same time as the airport closed down the Air Traffic Services (Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS)) in 2021.
The investigation has shown that the combination of increased air traffic and reduced service levels can be considered to have the potensial to affect the safety of future operations at Arendal lufthavn Gullknapp. The licenses granted for increased activity do not appear to take sufficient account of safety in relation to other issues that have to be considered.
In June 2024, Arendal Airport Gullknapp concluded that the Air Traffic Services (AFIS) must be re-established to ensure an acceptable level of flight safety.
The NSIA believes that the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority, as the Norwegian aviation authority and the Ministry of transport, which has the overall responsibility of the framework in the aviation sector, should consider whether the regulations for awarding licences have conditions that adequately ensure flight safety. This also includes the division of roles between the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Transport. The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority has submitted a safety recommendation to the Ministry of Transport and a safety recommendation to the Civil Aviation Authority in this regard.
Published 20.06.2024
Safety recommendation
Safety recommendation Aviation No 2024/07T
In this investigation, the Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority has reviewed the safety conditions for activities at Arendal Airport Gullknapp and found that overarching decisions at system level appear to have adversely affected aviation safety.
The investigation has shown that the combination of increased air traffic and reduced service levels must be considered to have the potential to compromise the safety of future operations at the airport. The licences granted for increased activity do not appear to take sufficient account of safety in relation to other issues that have to be considered. This includes the division of roles between the Ministry of Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority Norway. In the case of Gullknapp, expert aviation advice issued by the Civil Aviation Authority Norway does not appear to have been sufficiently taken into account.
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority recommends that the Civil Aviation Authority Norway, as the Norwegian aviation authority, assess whether the current licensing regulations include provisions that adequately safeguard aviation safety.
Safety recommendation Aviation No 2024/08T
In this investigation, the Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority has reviewed the safety conditions for activities at Arendal Airport Gullknapp and found that overarching decisions at system level appear to have adversely affected aviation safety.
The investigation has shown that the combination of increased air traffic and reduced service levels must be considered to have the potential to compromise the safety of future operations at the airport. The licences granted for increased activity do not appear to take sufficient account of safety in relation to other issues that have to be considered. This includes the division of roles between the Ministry of Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority Norway. In the case of Gullknapp, expert aviation advice issued by the Civil Aviation Authority Norway does not appear to have been sufficiently considered.
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority recommends that the Ministry of Transport, which has overarching responsibility for framework conditions in the aviation sector, assess whether the current licensing regulations include provisions that adequately safeguard aviation safety.
Facts
| Location | Arendal airport Gullknapp, Froland municipality, Agder county, Norway |
| Occurrence date | 19.06.2023 |
| ICAO Location indicator | ENGK |
| Operator | OSM Aviation Academy AS / OSM Aviation Academy AS |
| Registration | SE-MIN og SE-LZF |
| Meteorological conditions | VMC |
| County | Agder |
| Type of occurrence | Air traffic incident |
| Type of operation | Training / Training |
| Category of operation | Light, aeroplane (< 5 700kg) / Light, aeroplane (< 5 700kg) |
| Aircraft category | Landplane, Multi-engine, Single-engine, Piston engine |
| FIR/AOR | ENOS (Oslo ATCC) |