The new European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) came almost silently to life last month–as if echoing the muted expectations that many in the aviation industry have of the organization. To optimists, the new body is Europe’s answer to the FAA, promising a new regime of clear, consistent and harmonized regulations and standards. To pessimists, it is the lesser evil to the current regime consisting of the ultimately impotent Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) and a disparate bunch of national aviation authorities (NAAs).
What makes EASA potentially more powerful is the fact that its requirements will be backed by the full force of European Union (EU) law, meaning that they will automatically apply at least in the 15 EU member states, which will rise to 23 next year. The other 14 JAA member states will need to have the EASA directives made law through their own legislative processes. According to the EC, “Further negotiations and political decisions” will be required before EASA’s legal relationship with non-EU states is finalized.
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