The new European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) officially starts work on September 28. The long-awaited organization will begin the task of gradually assuming certification, licensing and regulatory responsibilities currently split between the continent’s Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) and national aviation authorities (NAA). After a delay of almost a year, EASA finally got its first executive director on July 11, when the appointment of Patrick Goudou was confirmed. The 53-year-old Frenchman was formerly director of aeronautical maintenance at the French defense ministry. The agency is starting life at the JAA building in Hoofddorp in the Netherlands.