EASA today published proposals for future requirements applicable to Third Country Operators (TCO) engaged in commercial air transport operations into, within or out of the EU. The proposals published in a document known as a Notice of Proposed Amendment (NPA), are designed to establish a single European system for the safety approval of these operators replacing the various national systems existing today in the framework of agreements between EU Member States and third countries. In this sense, the proposals intend to simplify and lessen the administrative burden faced by operators from third countries.
EASA NPA 2011-05 harmonises and streamlines the authorisation process for third country operators by proposing a single, risk-based assessment process, proportionate to the operations and simple to implement. Applications would be submitted to EASA which would be responsible for issuing an authorisation valid across the territory of the EU and for ensuring that this authorisation remains continuously valid. This authorisation system would complement the existing system for vetting the safety performance of air carriers in the framework of the European Safety List.
With the publication of this NPA, the proposal is the first step of a fully transparent public consultation process. All third country operators operating or intending to operate commercial air transport services into the European Union are invited to submit their comments to EASA . Comments will be reviewed and a Comment Response Document (CRD) will be made available for public consultation. At the end of the consultation process, EASA will present a final Opinion to the European Commission which, on this basis, will decide to launch the final process for adoption binding requirements in the form of a Commission Implementing Regulation expected in April 2012.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is the centerpiece of the European Union's strategy for aviation safety. Our mission is to promote and achieve the highest common standards of safety and environmental protection in civil aviation. Based in Cologne, the Agency currently employs more than 650 experts and administrators from all over Europe.
Dominique Fouda, Safety Information & Communications Officer
Tel.: + 49 (221) 89990 2007 - Fax: + 49 (221) 89990 2507 - dominique.fouda [at] easa.europa.eu (dominique[dot]fouda[at]easa[dot]europa[dot]eu)
Ilias Maragakis, External Communications Officer
Tel.: + 49 (221) 89990 2030 - Fax: + 49 (221) 89990 2530 - ilias.maragakis [at] easa.europa.eu (ilias[dot]maragakis[at]easa[dot]europa[dot]eu)
