New EASA responsibility

Since 29 March 2007, EASA is responsible for the approval of the flight conditions on the basis of which a permit to fly can be issued by the Competent Authority of the Member State of Registry, or of the Member State prescribing the identification marks.
A Permit to Fly is generally issued when a certificate of airworthiness is temporarily invalid, for example as the result of a damage, or when a certificate of airworthiness cannot be issued for instance when the aircraft does not comply with the essential requirements for airworthiness or when compliance with those requirements has not yet been shown, but the aircraft is nevertheless capable of performing a safe flight.

More information here.

"Common safety standards for air travel to be guaranteed by the European Aviation Safety Agency"

As stated by te Press Service of the European Parliament, "MEPs in the Transport Committee voted on Tuesday to give the European Aviation Safety Agency the power to impose fines on airlines or other aviation players if safety standards are not correctly implemented. This came as they gave the go-ahead for an expansion of the Agency's role to help establish common, and properly enforced, safety standards for all airlines flying in Europe, whether EU-based or not.

The Committee adopted its first reading report on proposals to give the European Aviation Safety Agency new roles across the whole field of aviation and airline behaviour - including the conditions for operating aircraft and issuing, maintaining, limiting or suspending an operator's certificate. The EASA will also have competence over pilots' licences, to ensure they meet standards of knowledge, skill and language proficiency.
Jörg Leichtfried (PES, AT), the rapporteur, said, 'Uniform safety standards at the highest possible level are our objective.' He said the EASA therefore needs 'not only the theoretical, but also real, practical powers to carry out the tasks it is entrusted with.'
Following this line, the committee voted to change the Commission proposal and give the EASA the power to impose fines and periodic payment penalties if safety standards are not implemented correctly. Sources of information on abuses or non-compliance, notably including whistleblowers, should be given adequate protection, according to another amendment adopted by MEPs, with the aim of encouraging reporting of such events and reducing the number of accidents.
The EASA was set up in 2002 to help provide a high and uniform level of aviation safety across Europe, by drawing up common standards, overseeing their application in the EU and promoting them at world level. Previously, each Member State had adopted its own national legislation, based on the minimum international standards."

Switzerland joins European Aviation Safety Agency

Switzerland today officially became a member of the European Aviation Safety Agency. It is the fourth non-EU country to adopt European Union aviation safety legislation after Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Patrick Goudou, Executive Director of the Agency, said: “I welcome Switzerland’s membership. It is an important step towards a more integrated safety system in Europe and underlines the key role of the Agency in this system”.

The four non-EU countries are represented in the Agency’s Management Board and nationals of these countries are eligible to work for the Agency.

Source: EASA-Press release 2006-11-30.

Switzerland joins European Aviation Safety Agency

Switzerland today officially became a member of the European Aviation Safety Agency. It is the fourth non-EU country to adopt European Union aviation safety legislation after Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Patrick Goudou, Executive Director of the Agency, said: “I welcome Switzerland’s membership. It is an important step towards a more integrated safety system in Europe and underlines the key role of the Agency in this system”. The four non-EU countries are represented in the Agency’s Management Board and nationals of these countries are eligible to work for the Agency.
Source: EASA-Press release 2006-11-30

(Originally posted by Michael Wukoschitz)

"High-level group set up to advise Commission on the future of aviation regulation"

As stated by the EU Press Room, "Two years after the adoption of the Single European Sky regulations the Commission wishes to further pursue the simplification of the organisation of the sector. In September the European Commission invited representatives of the national civil aviation administrations, aviation industry and Eurocontrol to a conference in Brussels to find ways to improve the efficiency and performance of the system, while ensuring the highest safety standards. The conference made some radical conclusions, which are now being followed-up by the creation of a 'high-level group'.
Vice-President Jacques Barrot, Commissioner in charge of Transport stated: 'I have called this group together to advise the Commission how the conclusions of the conference can be realised and the current fragmented regulatory field be unified under the Community framework. It is evident that some organisations will have to evolve and enable to reform the current organisation of ATM and safety; it is the task of this group to advise us strategically how to reach those goals'.
The group is composed of selected high level representatives of the European states, air navigation service providers, airspace users, airports and aviation industry. Both European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Eurocontrol are also represented. Work will start on 8 November 2006 and the group aims to report back to the Commission mid-2007, with proposals on the public sector functions in European aviation.
The group will concentrate on developing answers to the questions of simplifying the regulatory framework, reforming the related organisations and ensuring the successful participation of the private sector. It will also have to address the implementation of the Community method with a view to the 'total system approach' to aviation safety. The terms of reference and list of members for this group can be found on the web page http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air_portal/2006_09_20_conference_en.htm
which also includes information on the September 20 conference on future of aviation regulation."

Airline Blacklist Regulation in force

By February 16 2006 each EU member state will have to communicate to the commission all air carriers that are subject to an operating ban in its territory. Within one month the commission will then decide on the imposition of an operating ban throughout the EU and establish a joint list. At least every three months, the commission should consider whether the list needs to be updated. For this reason, member states and the European Aviation Safety Agency should communicate all relevant information to the commission. The list will be published on the Internet and in the Official Journal. Air carriers, tour operators and ticket sellers), national civil aviation authorities, the European Aviation Safety Agency and all European airports should bring the list to the attention of passengers. Furthermore the regulation gives passengers a right to be informed of the identity of the operating air carrier at the time of reservation and of any subsequent change. Passengers will have a right to reimbursement or re-routing from their air carriage contractor if their flight is operated by a listed carrier. The new regulation will apply to all airlines, including non-EU airlines where the carriage started in the European Union, and irrespective of whether the flight in question departed from an EU airport. The provisions relating to information of passengers will come into force July 16th 2006. Member states have to ensure compliance with these rules and to implement penalties for non-compliance. The regulation is published online here.

(Originally posted by Michael Wukoschitz)

Switzerland joins European Aviation Safety Agency

Switzerland today officially became a member of the European Aviation Safety Agency. It is the fourth non-EU country to adopt European Union aviation safety legislation after Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Patrick Goudou, Executive Director of the Agency, said: “I welcome Switzerland’s membership. It is an important step towards a more integrated safety system in Europe and underlines the key role of the Agency in this system”. The four non-EU countries are represented in the Agency’s Management Board and nationals of these countries are eligible to work for the Agency.
Source: EASA-Press release 2006-11-30

(Originally posted by Michael Wukoschitz)