Mon, Jun 05, 2006
Agency Has Little Regulatory Authority So Far
Now coming up on its
fourth year of existence, the European Aviation Safety Agency
(EASA) is still waiting for the aviation industry to figure out,
exactly, what role the agency is expected to fill.
The International Herald Tribune reports EASA -- an umbrella
organization that works with aviation authorities for 25 member
states -- still has very little direct say over national aviation
operations, which are still handled primarily by state
authorities.
"We conceive, national authorities produce," said EASA executive
director Patrick Goudou, who added "we need priorities" to
determine what direction EASA is expected to move towards.
The agency was formed in July 2002, to promote a common level of
safety and environmental oversight in civil aviation throughout the
European Union. While it is often compared to America's Federal
Aviation Administration, EASA doesn't yet have the regulatory
authority of the FAA.
EASA also faces the added task of having to deal with
individual EU governments, that are reluctant to give up their
power.
The agency will likely take another step towards assuming
full authority over EU aviation early next year, however, when
common safety rules and pilot licensing standards are expected to
be introduced throughout the EU -- standards EASA will have direct
oversight over, in addition to its current responsibilities for
assuring airworthiness of all EU-registered aircraft.
While a gradual process, Goudou says his agency "is being built
up, bit by bit, and we have taken the first step -- and that is
all."
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