The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will start assuming its responsibilities in September, though it may well take at least until 2008 for it to complete the process of replacing the existing Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA). According to Michael Smethers, deputy chairman of the newly appointed management board, the agency is committed to avoiding duplication in rulemaking and charging, but he admitted to AIN that this cannot be assured in the early years of the transition, when the EASA and JAA will continue to work in tandem, along with the national aviation authorities of their member states.
Seven months after it was legally established in September, and five months before its jurisdiction takes effect, EASA still does not have an executive director due to a standoff between the management board and the European Commission. According to General Aviation Manufacturers and Traders Association (GAMTA) officials, it is now anticipated that the post will be advertised again after the two sides were unable to agree on any of the initial candidates.
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