The qualifications and integrity of airport and airline personnel play an important role in ensuring aviation safety. European and Swiss regulations have recently been updated and a first renowned airline in Switzerland has chosen the Aequivalent platform to streamline and digitize this lengthy process.

In Switzerland, the Federal Civil Aviation Act (FCAA) regulates background checks. Employees of Swiss airlines who have access to the security zone of the airport must undergo a vetting process. Nevertheless, it is imperative that the person to be checked agrees. (Art. 108b²⁹⁷ FCAA).

The periodical renewal of background checks for existing staff is also provided for by law (Art. 108e³⁰⁰ FCAA) and has recently been strengthened.

In addition, as of 31 December 2021, certain positions must pass an extended background check before being effectively granted privileged access. The European commission defined the extended background checks in the implementing regulation 2019/103 of 23 January 2019, depending on the applicable rules of Union and national law, at least as follows :

1. Establish the person’s identity on the basis of a valid government issued document;
2. Verification of the criminal record in all countries of residence during at least the preceding 5 years (the criminal record extract must not be older than 30 days at the time of the background check);
3. Verification of periods without professional or academic activity, during at least the preceding 5 years (all gaps in the CV of more than 28 days must be declared by the applicant and verified);
4. Findings and other relevant information available to national competent authorities which they consider may have an impact on a person’s suitability for a function shall be necessary for extended background checks.

The normal background check as defined by the EU shall include points 1 to 3 of the preceding paragraph. (Implementing Regulation, points 11.1.3 and 11.1.4).