EASA cuts its teeth on the biggest of big birds
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) awarded the Airbus A380, the world’s largest airliner, its official seal of approval just over six months ago la

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) awarded the Airbus A380, the world’s largest airliner, its official seal of approval just over six months ago last December 12. The certification process for the A380 began in 1998 with France’s DGAC civil aviation authority and continued when EASA assumed responsibility for airworthiness approvals in 2003. The A380 is the first large European aircraft certified by EASA since the new agency started its operations that same year.

The European type certificate is valid in 30 countries–the 27 member states of the European Union as well as in Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. From a legal perspective, EASA actually took over the A380 certification from the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) in 2003 but not until September 2004 did the actual certification team fully transfer to the new agency.