The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) may take over type certification for business aircraft registered in the UK, after the country withdraws from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on January 1, 2021.
The UK secretary of state for transportation Grant Shapps confirmed the UK’s departure from EASA during an interview with Aviation Week on Friday, March 6th. According Shapps, a good proportion of EASA’s expertise comes from the UK anyway, and by leaving EASA the UK will “bring expertise home”.
It is currently unclear how much direct effect the UK’s decision to leave EASA will have on aircraft and airmen certification. In a call with the CAA a spokesperson suggested directing all questions to the Department of Transportation (DfT).
However, in a statement issued to Corporate Jet Investor later, the CAA said it had been planning for the UKs withdrawal since 2016, and there will be no immediate changes to regulations once the withdrawal is complete.
“The UK Government and the European Union have both said they intend to agree a bilateral aviation safety agreement, as the UK will no longer participate in the European Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) system after the transition period ends.” In the statement Tim Johnson, UK Civil Aviation Authority Director said: “The UK Civil Aviation Authority has been planning for this outcome since the 2016 referendum, and we are prepared to take over regulatory responsibilities from EASA. There will be no immediate changes to aviation regulations at the end of this year, because of these preparations.”
One suggestion is that there will be a transitional period, during which time the CAA will validate all EASA certifications. However, after this date, all certifications will be handled in-house.
That would mean that the UK, rather than accepting EASA type certificates for new aircraft types, would need to certificate new aircraft types itself.
The DfT confirmed in an email to Corporate Jet Investor that the transitional period would last for two years, and that should it require to extend the period, it would have to notify EASA by the end of July 2020.
The UK’s decision to leave EASA goes directly against a report that was issued in October 2019, that specifically recommended that the UK remained a part of EASA. The report, issued by the UK’s House of Commons, although specifically addressing commercial and recreational drone use in the UK, argued that best practices and knowledge sharing should continue with the EU after the UK leaves the European Union (EU).
“As aviation crosses borders and the use of drones is taking place internationally, it is important that the UK engages in best practice and knowledge sharing with other countries,” says the report. “The government should continue to pursue its ambition to stay in the European Aviation Safety Agency after Brexit.”
The UK formally left the EU on January 31, 2020.
Former British Prime Minister Theresa May had stated in March 2018 that she was keen for the UK to stay as part of EASA after Brexit. May was replaced as Prime Minister in July 2019.
ADS, a UK trade organisation which represents and supports over 1,100 UK businesses operating in the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors, issued a statement later on March 6th, saying that it was disappointed by the decision.
“UK influence in EASA contributes to raising standards in global aviation, supports collaboration with our international partners, and helps make our industry attractive to the investment it needs to be home to the development of a new generation of advanced aircraft technology,” said the statement.
“We are disappointed that it has not taken a more ambitious approach. It is essential that it works with us to deliver a regime that does not put jobs at risk in an industry that employs 111,000 people in highly-skilled roles across the UK.”
