Single-Engine Turboprop Commercial Ops in the EU Still in a Tangled Web

The issues plaguing the recent EASA rule implementation for commercial single-engine turboprop operations draw frustration and a quest for solutions.

Julie Boatman

Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 12:43 AM ET

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The Pilatus PC-12 would see significant adoption as an on-demand means of transportation, should the rules surrounding the use of single-engine turboprops in the EU improve. [Courtesy: Pilatus Aircraft]

Key Takeaways:

The 2017 EASA rule for commercial single-engine turboprop (COM-SET) operations in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) is overly complex and restrictive, causing significant frustration and hindering the market's potential in the EU.
Unlike simpler regulations in the U.S. and Canada, the EASA rule's extensive requirements—such as defining "safe forced landing sites" and lengthy bureaucratic processes—have led to low adoption rates and operators seeking workarounds, undermining the intended safety and efficiency goals.
Industry stakeholders are urging EASA to streamline these regulations through immediate, practical guidance rather than lengthy new rulemaking, aiming to unlock the considerable economic and sustainable transport benefits of modern SET aircraft.

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The issues plaguing the 2017 European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) rule implementation for commercial single-engine turboprop operations in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) in the European Union have drawn intense frustration—and a quest for solutions.

Kyle Martin, vice president, European affairs for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), opened the conference by setting the scene. “I’m surprised to believe the rulemaking for what we’re going to discuss…started 30 years ago.”