The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) have taken a significant step forward in their collaboration on the implementation of the EU-Japan Aviation Partnership Project.

This landmark agreement aims to enhance safety, promote regulatory harmonisation, and foster mutual cooperation between the European Union and Japan in the aviation sector.

The collaboration between EASA and JCAB signifies their joint commitment to developing an aviation partnership project, focused on areas such as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), urban aerial mobility (UAM), airworthiness, maintenance, operations, safety management and environmental protection.

By sharing knowledge, expertise, and best practices, both organisations aim to strengthen the aviation industry’s resilience and high standards. The project forms part of an EU-funded programme which aims at enhancing the partnership between the EU and North Asian countries in the domain of civil aviation.

The signing of these agreements between EASA and JCAB reflects the growing importance of international cooperation in aviation. It marks the beginning of cooperation with the potential to inspire further international collaborations in the field of aviation safety and environmental protection.

Meanwhile, EASA has published the updated Easy Access Rules for Operational Suitability Data (OSD) Flight Crew Data (CS-FCD) (Issue 2).

https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/document-library/agency-decisions/ed-decision-2021012r

The publication incorporates ED Decision 2021/012/R which provides a regular update of CS-FCD; updates the description of the type rating evaluation process for setting up type rating requirements and training programmes; develops definitions for ‘checking’, ‘evaluation subjects’, ‘modification’, and ‘type of aircraft’ for the purpose of CS-FCD; harmonises CS-FCD with the update of Subpart FC ‘Flight Crew’ of Annex III (Part-ORO) to Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 (Air OPS); and clarifies the concept of training areas of special emphasis (TASE).

The Easy Access Rules for CS-FCD (Issue 2) are available for free download on the EASA website as pdf, online dynamic publication, as well as in an xml format with machine-readable content. As they have been generated through the eRules platform, they will be updated regularly to incorporate further changes and evolutions to their content.

Last week, EASA and the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (ANAC Brazil) signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to further cooperate on e‑VTOL certification.