Iss ue # 02 06.2009 European Aviation Safety Agency EASANEWS
Dear Reader, as this Newsletter goes to print, some 300 aviation professionals from around the world, including officials from the FAA and EASA, will be convening in Athens for the annual EU-US Aviation Safety Conference. Alternating between the US and Europe, the Conference has been a major forum to discuss “hot topics” and new initiatives
in the area of aviation safety for the last 26 years. This year, despite the attractions of Greece, there have been less registrations than in the past due to the global economic downturn. And appropriately,
the headline topic of this years’ conference
is “improving safety in challenging times”.
Many have asked me in recent months how the
crisis has affected the Agency. There are two sides
to the answer. The good news is that design-
related activities have so far been little affected
and the Agency’s income from fees and charges
has remained stable. On the downside, economic
uncertainty in the aviation business has caused
hesitation, in some cases resistance to some of
the Agency’s planned new safety rules. EASA, in
turn, may not have appreciated the severity of
the challenges faced by industry when drafting its
proposals.
The crisis has shown us that we must do even
more to consult widely and communicate comprehensively.
And we remain fully committed to
open and transparent regulation.
The Agency’s new responsibilities are designed
to strengthen the European aviation sector, not
to stifle it. I am convinced we can work together
with industry to emerge from the crisis both
stronger and safer.
Patrick Goudou, Executive Director
Editorial
Furthermore, taking into account the possible difficulties
that could be generated by a large number
of changes in this short timeframe, the Agency is
also reviewing the planning of its other activities,
particularly those related to air operations, flight
crew licensing and third country aircraft. At the
moment, it is analysing, together with the European
Commission and the Member States, and
alongside its main stakeholders, the best schedule
possible for the adoption of the related regulatory
proposals. This examination takes into account the
available resources as well as the necessary time
for stakeholders to acknowledge, comment and
implement the changes that are expected to be
adopted soon.
The SES II package is designed to deliver safer,
greener and more cost-efficient flights. Airlines,
passengers and the manufacturing industry will
benefit from it. Annual savings for the airlines is
calculated around four billion euros. Passengers
will profit from fewer delays, shorter and safer
flights. Investment in research for new air traffic
management technologies increases the competitiveness
of the European aeronautical industry.
The role of the Agency in this package is to draft
precise, uniform and binding rules for airport operation,
air traffic management and air navigation
services. Their sound implementation in the Member
States will be overseen by the Agency as well.
The Agency sees this as a great step forward for European
aviation safety. It follows the extension of Community
competence to air operations, flight crew licensing and certification of third country operators. The dates for implementation set forth in the legislation
will lead to several changes in the European
regulatory framework for aviation safety in a very
short timeframe. The Agency is fully aware of the
challenges that stakeholders will face.
Consequently, EASA is embracing these new tasks
with great care, vigilant to meet the deadlines with
minimum disruption. Already, as a first measure,
and in order to have all the necessary implementing
measures in place when needed, the Agency is
urgently making available the necessary resources.
The required regulatory activities will start in the
coming weeks. This will allow the Agency to make
use of all the time available to work with all affected
stakeholders to ensure optimum transparency
(see also page 7 for information on the progress
already made).
The Single European Sky (SES) II legislative package is only one step away. The positive vote of the European
Parliament on the proposal and its political endorsement by the Transport Ministers in March
2009 paved the way for adoption through the Council. This is likely to happen shortly before or after the summer break. With the adoption of the proposal, EASA sees its responsibilities extended to the
safety of air traffic management (ATM) and aerodromes.
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