18 October 2019
Should light aircraft weighing between 450kg and 600kg move from pan-European EASA certification to the UK CAA’s national regulations? The CAA has just launched a consultation on the proposal – the ‘opt out’ process.
The proposal includes the views of a working group of general aviation stakeholders brought together to advise the CAA.
Opting out may introduce greater flexibility for certifying sub-600kg aeroplanes, helicopters and sailplanes and bring them into more direct and potentially more proportionate national oversight, said the CAA.
However, it also points out that national certification removes the common standards and mutual recognition that EASA aircraft have. It states that EASA’s own oversight of aircraft intended for sport and recreational use is likely to become more proportionate due to EASA introducing new proposals in 2020.
The consultation summarises the key changes proposed and their implications from an airworthiness, flight crew licensing and operational perspective.
This consultation closes on Friday 29 November 2019 and is available here.
1 comment
Taking the opt out doesn’t
prevent manufacturers opting back in – should EASA surprise everyone by producing a workable and desireabjr system.
The pressure for this actions eurooe has been driven by manufacturers frustrated that the EASA system is so expenisive and unwieldy compared with the likes of the LSA system in the US, that effectively Europe was being denied this category of aircraft. The microlight sector has been flourishing across Europe under sub EASA national regulation – proving that it is s much better option.
Lots of Europe have grasped this opportunity already – with the ‘big three’ microlighting nations Czech Republic, German and France already having taking the opt out and getting on with it .
It should be a no brainer for UK too!