EASA og ATC

European aviation safety set for serious reform

Europe's aviation safety watchdog wants cash-strapped EU nations to surrender some of their powers over safeguarding air travel in their own countries.

The move comes with the publication of Vision 2020: EASA presents its Vision for the Future of the Aviation Regulatory System by the European Aviation Safety Agency.

It is recommending to European transport chiefs in Brussels that when national authorities have a lack of resources or expertise, they should be able to delegate some of their oversight functions to other authorities or to EASA, in order to make sure that no safety risks are overlooked.

The proposals which meet what EASA sees as crucial requirements for the future of the aviation regulatory system have now been forwarded to the European Commission as an 'EASA Opinion' and represent the result of industry consultations since September.

The agency is also proposing that its scope is extended in new areas such as airport ground handling, RPAS (drones) and security and that member states can opt to have their state aircraft (excluding military) come under EASA's regulatory remit.

'EASA, that means the agency and its sister national authorities, need to be prepared for the challenges ahead. With these changes, we will be more proportional, flexible and proactive to increase the level of safety in European aviation' said EASA executive director, Patrick Ky, 'I believe that although our proposals are ambitious they are also reasonable. There is nothing wrong with being ambitious about safety'.

The proposal will now be sent to the European Commission which will use it as an input for the amendment of the agency's current Basic Regulation during 2015.