EU Creates Its Own FAA

After enduring a harsh summer marked by a spate of fatal aircraft accidents, the European Commission adopted Wednesday a major proposal to extend the reach of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to rulemaking, control of air operations in the field, pilot licensing and qualification, and oversight of foreign airlines operating within the European Union.
 
"European passengers need to be assured that all aircrafts abide by the highest safety standards. I want stringent safety rules to apply in all Member States and to all airlines, whether based in the EU or not," said Jacques Barrot, Vice-President in charge of transport.

The EASA, created in 2002, currently handles certification of airworthiness issues and tracking environmental performance of aeronautical products -- essentially functioning as a watchdog group. The proposed expansion of duties would create an agency closer in scope to the FAA in the United States, or Britain's Civil Aviation Authority.

Under the proposal, EASA would oversee the issuance of pilots’ licenses, to guarantee that they comply with common European rules on knowledge, skills and language proficiency. EASA would also further develop the existing requirements for EU pilots which will be adopted by the European Commission.

The legislation proposed Wednesday would also entail maintaining an essential requirements standard for all aircraft operating within the EU, whether they are EU or foreign planes. Under the plan, EASA would examine Member States' current aviation programs and model a common standard based on their recommendations.

While national authorities would continue to issue certificates for EU carriers, the EASA would be responsible for checking those agencies' compliance to this regulation.

Thirdly, the Agency would also handle certification of foreign operators with the essential requirements for operating aircrafts in the EU. No EU Member State currently issues certificates for third country operators.

The Commission also announced its plans to extend further the functions of EASA to safety and interoperability of Air Navigation Services, Air Traffic Management and airports. The objective is to have, by 2010, the whole field of aviation safety under the scope of a single organization -- the EASA.

FMI: www.easa.eu.int