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

Verified

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 widely criticized for its excessive complexity and burdensome requirements, leading to frustration and significantly low adoption rates in the EU compared to the U.S. and Canada.
Specific regulatory requirements, such as the need for pre-approved forced landing sites and extensive documentation for engine reliability, create significant bureaucratic hurdles for operators, stifling market potential and forcing some to use operational "workarounds."
This over-regulation has prevented the COM-SET IMC market from developing, failing to achieve its intended safety objectives while hindering economic growth and the efficient use of modern, reliable aircraft.
Industry stakeholders are urging EASA to implement immediate clarifications and interpretive guidance, rather than a new rulemaking process, to streamline compliance, address critical issues, and unlock the market's potential for safe and sustainable transportation.

See a mistake? Contact us.

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.”