EASA Homepage EASA initiatives in order to provide Better Regulation for General Aviation
Based on the input received from stakeholders during workshops and meetings, the Agency has decided to launch initiatives in order to inform stakeholders about the ongoing projects and tasks and to further enable stakeholders’ involvement in the development of the Agency’s policies for General and Business Aviation. Dedicated focal points have been assigned for both areas. A brief introduction to some of these initiatives and Rulemaking tasks is provided below; the presentation Better Regulation for General Aviation (link above) provides additional information on many of these tasks:
- Development of the European Light Aircraft (ELA) process which will result in a simpler certification and maintenance regulatory regime for recreational aircraft and in particular for Light Sport Aircraft has reached the next milestone of the rulemaking process with the publication of Part I of the Comment Response Document to the Notice of Proposed Amendment (NPA) 2008-07.
CRD 2008-07 Part I contains the following:- An explanatory note providing a comprehensive summary of the discussions and conclusions;
- The resulting text of the EASA Opinion to Part-21; and
- The way forward related to a new rulemaking task BR.010.
An EASA Opinion will be drafted after 15 September 2010 that will contain the proposed resulting text and will take reactions into considerations. The final ruling on this EASA Opinion to Part-21 by the European Commission is expected in 2011. CRD 2008-07 Part II will contain all the comments, responses and the resulting text of the proposed new Certification Specifications. - Development of a new licence for engineers working on non-complex aircraft (NPA 2008-3, task 66.022). The Opinion was sent to the Commission in December 2009. The Comment Response Document, published in September 2009, is available via the Agency’s Comment Response Tool.
- Launch of a new task concerning the Basic Regulation (BR.010), which should provide a further improved process for ELA (e.g. aeroplanes with a Maximum Take-off Mass < 1 200 kg). This task is supported by a study and its preparation is the subject of a special process. The Terms of Reference (ToR) are being drafted, and high level meetings underway. This task is expected to start during the third quarter of 2010.
- Greater cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration (USA) and Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) on issues relating to the ELA process, Light Sport Aircraft (LSA), and on FAR-23/CS-23 in general. A significant example is the cooperation on rulemaking activities regarding turbojets and High Performance Aircraft. For general information view the presentation Update on Rulemaking Cooperation, from the Europe/US International Aviation Safety Conference 2009.
- Development of the main elements for the future Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL) with the aim to be an "entry" licence revitalizing General Aviation. It includes a modular system with a more competency based approach, which also takes into account previous flight experience in other aircraft categories. For more information visit the NPA FCL page on this website.
- Ongoing rulemaking task to develop a more accessible instrument qualification (FCL.008) for Private Pilot Licence holders. The Terms of Reference (ToR) and information about the rulemaking group for this task are available via the Agency’s page on ToR and Group Composition (listed under FCL).
- Nomination of focal points for General Aviation and Business Aviation
- contact point for GA / BA organizations
- internal coordination of GA / BA related issues within the Agency
- internal EASA network of GA / BA specialists in the Agency’s different directorates
- development of a list with the most urgent topics / problems for GA / BA
- organizing a specific GA workshop (early 2011)
- drafting of an Agency action plan / policy paper towards GA / BA issues
- Workshops and meetings with GA / BA organisations in order to explain the proposed requirements. The Agency had a stand at AERO 2010 and attended the. AERO Expo 2010 in Prague (28-30/05/2010), and ILA 2010 in Berlin (8-13/06/2010).
- Gaining additional data and statistical information and necessary analytical tools on General and Business Aviation (Safety Analysis and Rulemaking Process Support) in order to fully understand their activities
- E-tool development (web-based rulemaking handbook), which aims to facilitate access to the Agency’s published rules. This will allow users to filter rules according to their specifications. The first implementation will be Part-M, and this is scheduled for the end of 2010.
- Revision of the Safety Standards Consultative Committee (SSCC) composition in order to have a justified and more balanced representation of all areas of aviation industry (including GA). The SSCC provides advice on the Agency’s rulemaking programme (its content, priorities, its execution, and amendments), and verifies that changes within future rulemaking programmes are supported by a formal and structured safety case. Further information, including the list of members, can be found on the Agency’s SSCC page.
- Close contact between Rulemaking and other Agency activities on General Aviation, such as the European General Aviation Safety Team (EGAST)