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, severely limiting its adoption and market growth in the EU compared to other regions.
Key obstacles include burdensome requirements for identifying and approving safe forced landing sites, stringent engine reliability proofs, extensive maintenance programs, and a lack of accessible flight simulators for required training.
These excessive regulations discourage official compliance, leading operators to use "workarounds" outside of Commercial Air Operator Certificates (AOCs) and preventing the modern, efficient single-engine turboprop fleet from being fully utilized for public benefit.
The industry is advocating for simplified, performance-based rules and clearer interpretive guidance from EASA to unlock the market's potential and foster growth.

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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.”