As air traffic continues to grow in Europe, from both a transport and leisure perspective, Europe's citizens need to be assured that the aircraft that cross our skies are designed, built, operated and maintained to the highest safety standards.

This has become all the more important as the number of commercial, corporate and even private aircraft, and the intensive use made thereof, have witnessed a dramatic increase to cope with demand.

The creation of the European Aviation Safety Agency contributes to establish and maintain a high and uniform level of civil aviation safety in Europe. This system will also ensure a single European market for industry and air operators without competitive disruption.

The Agency additionally contributes to the Community objective of reducing the environmental impact of aviation through the definition and application of technical requirements that are in line with international standards.

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European countries have long sought to harmonise their procedures and standards in the field of aviation safety, through the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA).

The JAA acted as a co-ordinating body, relying on the good will of national aviation authorities across Europe. Despite significant achievements, there remained differences in the application of JAA rules in its Member States.

The Community has therefore taken over responsibility from the national authorities of its 25 EU Member States to produce common rules in the field of airworthiness and environmental protection. Such rules are directly applicable throughout the Community, with individual Member States no longer able to deviate or impose additional requirements.

At the same time the European Aviation Safety Agency was given powers to implement this Community law where centralised action is more efficient.

In such a context common standards are more rapidly and consistently implemented throughout the EU.

Since Europe is not limited to the European Union, those other European countries, provided they abide by the Agency's decisions, will be closely associated with the Agency's work. This is already the case for Norway, Switzerland and Iceland.

Aircraft are sold and operated in a global market. Harmonisation of standards is therefore required across the world. The European Aviation Safety Agency works closely with its counterparts around the world, including international organisations, such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation, to achieve this goal.

Conformity assessment with applicable safety and environmental standards is a necessity, but a heavy burden for the aviation industry. Therefore, all efforts shall be made to avoid the duplication of checks and controls. The Agency therefore assists the Commission in negotiating and concluding bilateral agreements with the Community's main counterparts, providing for the reciprocal acceptance of certification findings, and facilitating market access for European industry.

The Agency negotiates itself working arrangements with its foreign counterparts to help certification tasks and alleviate the burden on industry in this respect.

CERTIFICATION On 28 September 2003, the Agency took over responsibility for the airworthiness and environmental certification of all aeronautical products, parts, and appliances designed, manufactured, maintained or used by persons under the regulatory oversight of EU Member States. This also includes all post-certification activities, such as the approval of changes to, and repairs of, aeronautical products and their components, as well as the issuing of airworthiness directives to correct any potentially unsafe situation. All type-certificates are therefore now issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency, and are valid throughout the European Union.

On the same date the Agency became the competent authority to approve and oversee the organisations involved in the design of aeronautical products, parts and appliances. It also carries out the same role for foreign organisations involved in the manufacture or maintenance of such products.

To execute its tasks within the present period of building up its resources, the Agency relies on national aviation authorities who have historically filled this role and concludes contractual arrangements to this effect.

RULEMAKING The Agency contributes to the production of all EU legislation related to the regulation of civil aviation safety and environmental compatibility. It submits opinions to the European Commission and must be consulted by the Commission on all legislative proposals in this field. Its experts have direct contact with all relevant actors, and make use of the knowledge available within industry and national administrations across the European Union. The Agency, in consultation with its stakeholders, adopts also so-called 'soft rules'. These are non-binding standards, specifications and guidance material, to assist in the consistent application of EU legislation across the European Union.

Approvals and Standardisation Where Community law is implemented at Member State level, the Agency assists the Commission in overseeing its effective application and its uniform understanding.

The necessary standards are therefore being developed and maintained properly, uniformly and consistently across the European Union.

Accordingly, the Agency conducts inspections of undertakings as well as national authorities throughout the EU, both to monitor the application of EU rules on aviation safety, and to assess the effectiveness of these rules. The Agency also provides technical training, which is essential to achieve overall consistency and high level standards.

A uniform system will bring advantages throughout European society. Citizens and passengers can be further reassured that all civil aircraft have been designed, built, and maintained to the same high standards, no matter where they are based. By ensuring the highest environmental standards are agreed and implemented throughout Europe, the Agency will help to reduce environmental pollution and improve quality of life, particularly through noise reduction.

For the aviation industry, common standards adopted by the Agency will bring legal certainty and simpler, cheaper and quicker procedures for getting products and services onto the market and/or into the air. Certification on the basis of the Agency's standards will be valid throughout the EU, promoting therefore free movement of goods and services: a given product or part is approved for use throughout the EU, whereas a maintenance organisation can offer its services across the Union.

It is also expected that the certification costs will be reduced for all organisations, whether European or not, particularly in cases where multiple certificates from different countries have been needed in the past.

Since September 2003 the Agency has already processed and granted thousands of certificates. It has proven its ability to take on its regulatory tasks without causing disruption to stakeholders, and is working smoothly towards implementing its full mandate.

The European Aviation Safety Agency which became operational on 28 September 2003* is key to translating aviation safety and environmental protection objectives into reality. The Agency is an independent legal entity set up by the European Union.

The Agency assists the European Commission in preparing EU legislation on civil aviation safety and environmental compatibility. It also develops its own standards (certification specifications and guidance material) to facilitate the implementation of its objectives.

The Agency is responsible for the certification of aeronautical products - aircraft, engine parts and appliances - and the organisations that design them to ensure that aircraft are airworthy and meet environmental standards. It is also the one-stop-shop for the certification of foreign organisations that manufacture or maintain products used by Community operators.

Where Community regulation is implemented at Member State level (issuing of individual airworthiness certificates and approvals to production and maintenance organisations and personnel in their territory), the Agency assists the Commission in overseeing its effective and uniform application.

The Agency will work closely with countries outside the European Union and international organisations in the aviation field, to promote European safety standards and ensure a high degree of harmonisation across the world.

While the Agency's work will first focus on the airworthiness and environmental compatibility of aeronautical products, it will be given additional responsibilities when the scope of Community competences is extended to the regulation of air operations, the licensing of flight crew and the oversight of third country aircraft flying in the territory of Member States. In the longer term, it is also envisaged that the Agency will play a role in relation to the safety regulation of airport operation and air traffic management.

November 2004 saw it move into its permanent headquarters in Cologne, Germany.

* Regulation (EC) N°1592/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council - 15 July 2002.

The European Aviation Safety Agency consists of a Management Board, an executive Agency and a Board of Appeal.

Control of the Agency is ensured through the Management Board made up of representatives of each EU Member State and the European Commission. The Board adopts the Agency's work programme in co-operation with the European Commission. It also adopts the Agency's budget after approval by the European Parliament. The Management Board appoints the Executive Director, who has responsibility for the management of the Agency. To fulfil its tasks, the Board consults with an Advisory Body of Interested Parties (ABIP), representing all aviation stakeholders.

The Agency is made up of four directorates, corresponding to its main tasks: rulemaking, certification, Approvals and Standardisation as well as administration. Each Director reports to the Executive Director. With reference to rulemaking activities, the Agency consults with two bodies, made up of national authorities (the Advisory Group of National Authorities - AGNA) and stakeholders' representatives (the Safety Standards Consultative Committee -< SSCC).

Decisions of the Agency which adversely affect a person or organisation may be addressed to the Board of Appeal, established specifically for the purpose. This Board is an independent body, whose decisions may be appealed to the European Court of Justice. The Agency is bound to implement the decisions of the Board of Appeal and the Court.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
European Aviation Safety Agency
Postal address:
Postfach 10 12 53, D-50452 Cologne, Germany
Visiting address:
Ottoplatz 1, D-50679 Cologne, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)221 8999 0000
Fax: +49 (0)221 8999 0999
E-mail: info@easa.europa.eu
Website: http://easa.europa.eu