EASA Meeting With British Parliamentarians Paves Way For One European Voice For General Aviation

12.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 28th Jun 2006

The prospect of a single European voice for General Aviation has come one step closer, following a high level meeting between British Parliamentarians and top EASA officials on Cologne on 27th June.

Gerald Howarth MP, Lembit Öpik MP and Lord Rotherwick travelled to EASA in Cologne to discuss matters with EASA representatives covering safety, communication, certification, planning and operations. The three Parliamentarians, all pilots, flew to Cologne from Biggin Hill in a TBM 700 owned by sales and maintenance company Air Touring.

After the meeting, Gerald Howarth MP said "If general aviation across Europe is to survive and compete against the United States it is essential that the burdens be reduced. It was therefore very encouraging to find all the senior executives in EASA embracing a clear philosophy of light touch regulation. I very much hope this will set the tone for the CAA's own thinking. "

Lembit Opik MP added: "This meeting has convinced me that EASA are serious about deregulation. But they want and need General Aviation to help them do it. The main problem is that there are so many different voices speaking for the interests of G.A. that there can sometimes be a lack or clarity regarding what we actually want. We really must develop one voice, because that way we can focus on the big issues about certification, maintenance and operational safety in a way which carries real weight with EASA. I know we can do that, as long as we focus on areas of common concern. And, following our meeting, I believe that EASA are serious about taking on board well argued points, in the mutual interest of a less dogmatic General Aviation regulatory environment."

Lord Rotherwick added, "The PAG were invited to a day at EASA, where during a number of very constructive meetings we were much heartened by the good responses we were given to our concerns."

In 2005, Gerald Howarth MP, Lembit Öpik MP, Lord Rotherwick and Labour Minister Nigel Griffiths MP formed the cross party Parliamentary Aviation Group to speak up for General Aviation in Parliament. They provide a welcome and long overdue presence in debates relating to GA matters, and are determined to ensuring this trend is set to continue in the years ahead.

ENDS