EASA considers single engine turbine IFR

EASA Panel Finishes Single-engine IMC Review

An EASA rulemaking committee recently completed its review of comments on a proposal to permit commercial single-engine turbine operations in IMC (CAT SET-IMC), keeping the rulemaking on track for release next year. EASA is expected to provide a technical briefing of the proposal to member states in June followed by the issuance of an opinion in September. The proposal, released in July 2014, would then come under European Commission consideration, with finalization anticipated in the first half of next year. The rulemaking committee, which met last week and includes industry stakeholders, reviewed 150 comments mostly in favor of the rulemaking, said Jens Hennig, vice president of operations for GAMA and a committee participant. The proposal, however, continued to draw opposition from Germany, which has long been against commercial single-engine IFR operations. The UK, which also has historically opposed the concept, instead asked mainly technical questions, as did the Netherlands. Currently 12 aircraft are in commercial SET-IMC operations in Europe under exemptions established by the individual countries. The rulemaking would require operators to obtain a special authorization for commercial SET-IMC operations, but would provide a more standardized approach in Europe. It also builds in extensive flight-planning requirements and follows ICAO equipment directives.