Single EU-wide safety authorisation for foreign airlines flying to the EU
30 Apr 2014 11:58 AM
The
European Commission has adopted a new regulation (known as PART TCO) paving the
way for airlines from outside the European Union to obtain a single EU-wide
safety authorisation to fly to, from or within the EU. The new system will
avoid unnecessary duplication and lead to greater efficiencies compared to the
current application process. The authorisation confirming EU-wide compliance
with international safety standards will be provided by the European Aviation
Safety Agency (EASA) and valid throughout the whole
EU.
Foreign airlines will no longer be required to make a
separate application for a safety authorisation to each EU Member State they
want to fly to, as is the case now.
Vice-President Siim Kallas, EU commissioner for mobility
and transport, said: "Safety always comes first in our aviation
policy. These new rules will cut red tape and simplify safety authorisation
procedures for foreign airlines, while at the same time ensuring that they
fully comply with all the necessary international safety requirements. This
will make air travel to, from and within the EU safer, to the benefit of
European citizens and all those that travel to the
EU."
The
"third country operators" (or TCO) safety authorisation issued by
EASA will be applicable to all commercial airlines from outside the EU that
intend on flying to EU territory, and will be valid for the entire EU. The
safety authorisation will be a precondition for obtaining the operating permit
in each Member State. EASA is well placed to carry out the required safety
assessment and ongoing monitoring of third country operators.
The new safety authorisation system
will:
-
harmonise the application of international aviation
safety rules across the EU – as a result it will be easier to monitor
compliance with international aviation safety standards by foreign airlines
that wish to operate to, from and within the EU and in turn make air travel to
the EU safer;
-
simplify and streamline the application process, by
providing a one-stop shop or single EU wide safety authorisation for foreign
airlines flying to, from or within the EU;
-
complement the existing EU air safety list regulation
and as a result make a significant contribution to the safety of European air
travel.
For more information
Website of the European Aviation Safety Agency
(EASA)
http://easa.europa.eu/TCO
Contacts :
Helen
Kearns (+32 2 298 76 38)
Dale Kidd (+32
2 295 74 61)
For
the public: Europe Direct by
phone 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 or by email
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