MAA Pushes Pan-European Military Standards, Justifies Increased UK Scrutiny
The first Rivet Joint SIGINT aircraft for the UK Royal Air Force arriving at RAF Waddington last November. Like other aircraft that are new to the UK military register, it is subject to a safety scrutiny process led by the Military Airworthiness Authority (MAA). (Photo: Bob Archer).
The first Rivet Joint SIGINT aircraft for the UK Royal Air Force arriving at RAF Waddington last November. Like other aircraft that are new to the UK military register, it is subject to a safety scrutiny process led by the Military Airworthiness Authority (MAA). (Photo: Bob Archer).

The UK Military Airworthiness Authority (MAA) is taking a leading role in a forum that aims to harmonize requirements within Europe for military airworthiness. The move would help the aerospace industry design future pan-European products. But although the forum is basing the requirements framework on European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) regulations, there is no intention to create a pan-European regulatory agency for military aircraft, according to Air Vice-Marshal Martin Clark, the MAA’s technical director. “Regulation will remain a national responsibility,” he told AIN.