Retaliation to the US Federal Aviation Administration reauthorisation bill's inspection provisions could force some US carriers to fly with their own FAA-certificated mechanics on board, an industry body has warned.
Francois Gayet, secretary general of the AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD), believes that the bill "stops" the aviation safety agreement between the European Union and the USA, eliminating the cost savings that derive from mutual recognition of certifications.
The ASD is arguing for the exclusion of territories that have bilateral agreements with the USA from the legislation's scope, and is making representations to the European Commission, EU member states and its own US counterpart, the Aerospace Industries Association.
Were the EU to respond to the reauthorisation bill with equivalent regulations, some US carriers would have to carry mechanics aboard flights to destinations lacking an FAA-certificated repair station, says Gayet.
"The FAA can't cover all stations," he asserts, adding that the reauthorisation bill represents "a serious, urgent problem", particularly for general aviation operators that serve a wide range of airfields and do not have space to carry mechanics on their aircraft.
Source: Flight International
