On Air, Issue 15 - General Aviation

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Cologne, May, 2017

On Air, Issue 15: General Aviation

Editorial - Interview - Featured topic - Figure of the month - News & events

The Importance of General Aviation

General Aviation (GA) is among EASA’s top priorities. The Agency has dedicated a large amount of resources and effort to develop simpler, lighter and better rules for GA. In partnership with the national aviation authorities, EASA created in 2014 the roadmap for Regulation of General Aviation (known as the GA Roadmap) as a contribution to a safer European aviation system.

The Agency aims at bringing positive change to the GA community by simplifying existing regulations where possible, introducing flexible measures where necessary and developing safety promotion to address safety risks when rules are not necessary.

Interview with Pete Bunce, President & CEO of GAMA

1) The General Aviation Manufacturer association (GAMA) represents more than 100 General Aviation (GA) manufacturers worldwide, can you tell us more about GAMA in a few lines?

GAMA has grown continuously from its founding in 1970. Originating as a US-based organisation created by the main fixed-wing GA manufacturers at the time, it has evolved into a global association with member companies spread across five continents. In Europe alone we have companies with primary bases in France, the UK, Slovenia, Germany, Italy, Poland, Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg – not to mention the footprint of these and other member companies across EU Member States.

It’s often overlooked that we bring together airframe manufacturers from both fixed-wing and rotorcraft, as well as the leading avionics, engines, simulator manufacturers as well as large Maintenance Repair and Overhaul companies. We also recently created a new GAMA membership category for companies that have yet to certify their aviation products, to bring together the exciting world of electric and hybrid-propulsion as well as technological innovation such as flight automation.

General Aviation Roadmap Update 2017

We are moving on!

EASA established a few years ago some commitments about better and lighter regulation for General Aviation. There was an urgent need for a change on the GA community.
Aiming to ease the GA segment of unnecessary regulatory burden, and in taking a proportionate and risk-based approach to rules, we can now present a number of tangible results in various topics from the last 3 years:

1) Flying schools & private pilot training:

The requirements applicable to Approved Training Organisations (ATO) have been found too demanding for small GA training providers mainly run by private flying clubs or even private individuals. EASA has taken these concerns on board and has developed new rules to make life easier for training organisations in GA.

6

6 GA strategic principles:

• One size does not fit all
• Philosophy of minimum necessary rules
• Adopt a risk-based approach
• Protect ‘grandfather rights’ unless there are demonstrable and statistically significant safety reasons against doing so
• Apply EU smart regulation principles; and
• Make the best use of available resources and expertise

And 6 GA objectives we are committed to in General Aviation