Bunce Says Pact 'Removes Unnecessary Bureaucracy' For Use Of Approved Components

The United States and the European Union have signed into force an agreement recognizing each other’s high safety standards through the acceptance of approved components, known as Technical Standard Orders (TSOs).

The agreement was welcomed by GAMA. “Today’s exchange of signatures between the U.S. FAA and the European Commission represents a significant step forward in the partnership between these two leading safety authorities,” said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce. “By removing unnecessary bureaucracy, we improve safety by facilitating the flow of approved components both ways across the Atlantic.”

Technical Standard Orders and European Technical Standard Orders (ETSOs) are an agreed-upon set of requirements to authorise components such as radios, GPSs, and transponders. The agreement, which falls under the broader EU-US Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement, removes repetitive oversight by no longer requiring manufacturers to apply for a comparable authorisation by the second authority. The agreement entered into force upon the exchange of signatures in Brussels earlier today.

“This agreement promises to translate into increased availability of the latest modern avionics in general aviation cockpits, and the resultant benefits this brings with it,” said Bunce. “This is the first step in a longer process of maximising the use of our bilateral agreements—with authorities freeing up their limited resources to focus on pressing safety issues, and simultaneously facilitating our manufacturers’ development of innovative, safer technologies.”

(Source: GAMA news release)

FMI: www.gama.aero