Transition for pilot Training Organisations located outside the territory of the Member States

Transition phase

Articles 7, 21 and 70 of Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 specify that the Agency shall commence issuing and renewing both pilot Training Organisations (TOs) and Aero-Medical Centres (AeMCs) approvals located outside the territory of the Member States as from the date specified in the respective implementing rules, but not later than 8 April 2012

This means that, with regard to the approval of Flight Training Organisations (FTOs) and Type Rating Training Organisations (TRTOs or other Training Organisations providing type rating courses) located outside Member States, a transition phase has started after the disbandment of the JAA system by 30 June 2009.

In order to ensure uniformity in the way the transition phase is dealt with, and to properly address the related safety aspects during the changeover from the JAA to the EU system in the field of the approval of FTOs and TRTOs located outside Member States, the Agency needs inputs from standardised JAA Member States.

Procedure for coordination between Authorities and the Agency

To this end, the following procedure should be applied:

  1. When a Training Organization located outside Member States wishes to obtain an approval according to the JAA requirements, this organisation shall directly apply to a fully standardised JAA Member State. 

  2. If the NAA accepts the request for approval, this authority will conduct the initial approval assessment and the subsequent oversight and will be regarded as the “Approving Authority” for the Training Organization submitting the request.              

  3. During the process of approval and oversight, the Approving Authority shall coordinates with the Agency in order to keep the Agency informed about the whole process. This will ease the changeover to the final EU Aviation Safety System when the Agency will become the competent authority for approving and performing the oversight of such FCL Third Country Approved Training Organisations.           

  4. During the transition phase, the relevant latest updated JAA requirements will be applicable to the Third Country Training Organisations, and the working methods to perform the approval process shall comply with all appropriate JIP procedures – in particular JIP Section 5, Part 2, Chapter 9, paragraph 9.2 “Flying Training Organisations” in the case of FTOs and JIP Section 5, Part 2, Chapter 9, paragraph 9.3 “Type Rating Training Organisations, Operators, and Manufacturers training departments conducting type rating courses” in the case of TRTOs and other Training Organisations providing type rating courses. 

This will provide support for both Member State Authority and Training Organisation and should make it easier for the approval holder to undergo the transfer of authority from the approving JAA NAA to the Agency when the final EU Aviation Safety System is in place.

Contact for EASA FCL Organisation Approvals
To coordinate any application for an FCL Training Organisation Approval (FTO, TRTO or other Training Organisations providing type rating courses) from an organisation located outside Member States with the Agency, NAAs and Pilot Training Organisations are invited to contact the responsible unit:

European Aviation Safety Agency
Flight Crew Licensing Organisation Approvals
Postfach 10 12 53
D-50452 Köln, Germany