The FAA has signed an agreement with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Transport Canada (TCCA) to allow for a more streamlined process as new aviation products are introduced. The agreement eliminates duplicate processes and allows for equipment to be installed into aircraft more quickly, which will save time and money for the industry and regulatory authorities, the FAA said.
As a result of the new agreement, producers of equipment approved under Technical Standard Orders (TSOs) or Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) will in most cases only have to go through the regulatory process once, whether that process is completed in the U.S., Canada or one of the European countries that fall under EASA’s regulations.
The news came only days before FAA authorization expires, on September 30. In an
effort to keep the FAA operating, house representatives Bill Shuster (R-Pennsylvania) and Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) introduced H.R. 3614, which was signed off by the House this weekend. If approved by the Senate, the “Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2015” bill will extend the authorization for the agency to operate until March 31, 2016.
“We hope the Senate will quickly follow suit so we can focus on a longer term FAA reauthorization measure that will deal with more challenging issues, including third-class medical reform,” said Jim Coon, AOPA’s senior vice president of government affairs.
Get exclusive online content like this delivered straight to your inbox by signing up for our free enewsletter.
