Will Revert Powers To The Civil Aviation Authority

U.K. Transportation Secretary Grant Shapps has announced that the United Kingdom will withdraw from EASA at the end of the Brexit transition period.

The U.K. website The Speaker reports that Shapps said such a move should be expected from a sovereign nation. "We can't be subject to the rules and laws made by someone else," he said.

A department of transport spokesperson said that the transition to the CAA should have little to no effect on existing industry, as the regulations are already closely aligned between the U.K. and the E.U.

However, the aerospace trade organization ADS said the move could put high-skilled jobs at risk.

“We have been clear that continued participation in EASA is the best option to maintain the competitiveness of our £36bn aerospace industry and our access to global export markets," said ADS Chief Executive Paul Everitt in a statement posted on the organization's website.

“UK influence in EASA contributes to raising standards in global aviation, supports collaboration with our international partners, and helps make our industry attractive to the investment it needs to be home to the development of a new generation of advanced aircraft technology.

“Government had promised it would consider harmonization where it is in the UK interest and will be led by the evidence on the future of aviation safety regulation.

"We are disappointed that it has not taken a more ambitious approach. It is essential that it works with us to deliver a regime that does not put jobs at risk in an industry that employs 111,000 people in highly skilled roles across the UK.”

(Source: ADS Group news release and as cited)

FMI: Source report
www.adsgroup.org.uk