When and how to seek EASA approval?

Pursuant to Article 21 of Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 (Basic Regulation or BR) the Agency will be the competent authority to issue, renew, amend, limit, suspend or revoke the certificates of all pilot training organizations (including "Registered Facilities" under JAR FCL provisions) and Aero-Medical Centres located outside the territory of the Member States.

This changeover of competence from European NAAs to EASA must take place not later than 8 April 2012 in accordance with the provisions of Article 70 of the Basic Regulation.

The related Implementing Rules, Part FCL and Part AR/AR, are not yet published. In particular the "Draft Regulation on Authority Requirements and Organisation Requirements" (see Opinions page) is only a preliminary document and can still be revised and changed. Some information on the changes is available on the EU Commission Comitology Register page.

EASA is preparing for the implementation of Part AR/OR in the field of FCL Organisations Approval. The related procedures cannot be finalised before the Implementing Rules are adopted. Nevertheless EASA has already some procedures and processes in place for other organisations approval (see Organisation Approvals page). Although different in its details, it is expected that, for consistency, the FCL Organisations Approval process will be similar to the existing ones.

For the time being the Agency is awaiting the validation of Part AR/OR to finalise the relevant procedures for FCL Organisations Approval. In the meantime, please check the Agency's website regularly where the relevant information on FCL Organisations Approval procedures will be made available.

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