ENAC Grounds Seven SkyAlps DHC-8-Q400s Over Maintenance Non-Conformities

The Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) has grounded seven DHC-8-Q400s operated by SkyAlps (BQ, Bolzano/Bozen) following safety inspections that uncovered several “non-conformities.” The audit, conducted from February 26 to 28, identified unspecified “deficiencies” in the aircraft maintenance attestations required under EU Regulation 1321/2012, highlighting significant gaps in compliance with flight safety standards.

ENAC revealed that certifications provided by an unnamed maintenance specialist at SkyAlps did not meet regulatory requirements. In response, the inspectorate banned the employee from accessing the airports where SkyAlps operates. As a result of these issues, the seven grounded aircraft will remain out of service until SkyAlps implements the necessary corrective actions and obtains ENAC’s approval.

Currently, SkyAlps’ fleet comprises fourteen DHC-8-Q400s, with nine registered in Malta and four in Austria. However, the Austrian-registered aircraft have not been active since March 2020 and have not been formally inducted into the operator’s fleet. FlightRadar24 ADS-B data as of March 4, 2025, indicates that only a single Q400, 9H-PAUL (msn 4255), is actively flying. Three others—9H-EVA (msn 4237), 9H-SOP (msn 4242), and 9H-PET (msn 4104)—were active until March 1.

Despite the grounding of these aircraft, ENAC confirmed that SkyAlps retains its air operator’s certificate (AOC) and is actively seeking replacement aircraft. The regulator also stated that it will continue to monitor the situation and evaluate the corrective measures once implemented.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com