EASA Part-145 Approval and European Aviation Safety Agency - A Brief Introduction

What is EASA?
INTRODUCTION: The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) previously known as Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA), is an associated body of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) representing the civil aviation regulatory authorities of a number of European States who have agreed to co-operate in developing and implementing common safety regulatory standards and procedures.
The co-operation is intended to provide high and consistent standards of safety and a "level playing-field" for competition in Europe.
Much emphasis is also placed on harmonising the EASA regulations with those of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States, which would be able to:
Draw-up common standards to ensure the highest level of safety and environmental protection;
-- Oversee their uniform application across Europe and;
-- Promote them at world level.
Such a single authority is now a reality with the adoption of a European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002 of 15/07/2002, which puts in place a Community system of air safety and environmental regulation and creates an aviation safety agency
The agency is developing its know-how in all the fields of aviation safety and environmental protection in order to assist Community legislators in the development of common rules for;
-- The certification of aeronautical products, parts and appliances;
-- The approval of organisations and personnel engaged in the maintenance of these products;
-- The approval of air operations;
-- The licensing of air crew;
-- The safety oversight of airports and air traffic services operators.
The establishment of the EASA has caused changes to the JAA system and the organisation. Since 2002 the JAA has actively participated to the activity for the transition from the JAA system to EASA by developing, in consultation with the Commission, a transition plan focused on regulatory aspects.
The EASA Membership is based on signing the document, originally signed by the then current Member States in Cyprus in 1990. Based on these arrangements and related commitments, the EASA's objectives and functions may be summarised as follows;
OBJECTIVES:
-- "Aviation Safety";
To ensure, through co-operation amongst Member States, that EASA members achieve a high, consistent level of aviation safety.
-- "Business Effectiveness":
To achieve a cost effective safety system so as to contribute to an efficient civil aviation industry.
"CONSOLIDATION OF COMMON STANDARDS"
To contribute, through the uniform application of common standards and through regular review of existing regulatory situation, to fair and equal competition within Member States.
-- "World-wide Aviation Safety Improvement";
To co-operate with other regional organisations or national authorities of States who are playing an important role in Civil Aviation, in order to reach at least the EASA safety-level and to foster the world-wide implementation of harmonised safety standards and requirements through the conclusion of international arrangements.
FUNCTIONS:
-- To develop and adopt EASA Requirements, in the fields of aircraft design and manufacture, aircraft operations and maintenance, and the licensing of aviation personnel.
-- To develop administrative and technical procedures for the implementation of EASA Requirements.
-- To implement EASA Requirements and the related administrative and technical procedures in a co-ordinated and uniform manner.
-- To adopt measures to ensure, whenever possible, that pursuance of the EASA safety objective does not unreasonably distort competition between the aviation industries of Member States or place companies of Member States at a competitive disadvantage with companies of non-Member States.
-- To provide the principal center of professional expertise in Europe on the harmonisation of aviation safety regulation.
-- To establish procedures for joint certification of products and services and where it is considered appropriate to perform joint certification.
-- To co-operate on the harmonisation of requirements and procedures with other safety regulatory authorities, especially the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
-- Where feasible, to co-operate with foreign safety regulatory authorities especially FAA, on the certification of products and services.
MISSION
Assistant to the EU, in the form of technical expertise; Adoption of Certification Specification, Acceptable Mean of Compliance and Guidance Material.
Certification (Airworthiness and Environmental Protection) of aeronautical products, design, production and maintenance organisations.
EVOLUTION OF JAR-145 TO EASA PART-145 (MILESTONES):
-- JARS-145 were the Joint Aviation Requirements for approval of maintenance organisation of aircraft and aircraft components.
-- Originally JAR-145 Requirements published in July 1991, became effective from January 1992, with its office at Hoofddrop, Netherland.
-- Change-1 issued to JAR-145 Requirements in August 1995.
-- Change-2 issued to JAR-145 Requirements in July 1998.
-- Ammendment-3 issued to JAR-145 Requirements in April 2001.
-- Ammendment-4 issued to JAR-45 Requirements in November 2003.
-- Ammendment-5 issued to JAR-145 Requirements in January 2003.
-- 15th July 2002: EASA's creation (Regulation (EC) 1592/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council).
-- 1st September 2003: Appointment of the Executive Director.
-- 24th Sept, 2003: Commission Regulation (EC) 1702/2003 on airworthiness and environmental certification.
-- 28th September 2003: EASA is operational for certification of aircraft, engines, parts and appliances, with its temporary office at Brussles, Belgium.
-- 20th November 2003: Commission Regulation (EC) 2042/2003 on continuing airworthiness.
-- 25th November 2003: EASA signs the Cyprus Arrangement (JAA membership).
-- 28th November 2003: EASA became operational for continuing airworthiness.
-- 2nd December 2003: Service contract signed between EASA and the CIAA.
-- 11th December 2003: First EASA Type Certificate delivery.
-- Early 2004: Appointment of Directors and first technical staff.
-- From early 2004: Proposals on Essential Requirements and Implementing Rules for Air Operations and Flight Crew Licensing.
EASA PART-145: EASA Part-145 previously known as JAR-145 is a set of requirements, to approve / accept maintenance organisations to maintain any aircraft used for commercial air transport.
Originally they were published in 1991. Recently EASA has issued its latest issue of EASA Part-145 requirements which are enforced to all EASA Part-145 approved organisations.
Organisations located within the EU countries maybe granted approval, when in compliance with Part-145.
Organisations located outside EU countries may be granted approval if EASA in satisfied, that there is a need. Then EASA designate the civil aviation authority of one of its full member states to evaluate and assess the compliance of the organisation requested the approval. Based on their recommendations, EASA decides the grant of approval.
In our region, almost all major airlines have acquired JAR-145 Approval eg. Emirates, Air India (limited scope of Engine Overhaul Facility), Qatar Airways, Uzbekistan Airways, Jordanian Airlines etc.
PIA ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE - SAFETY AND QUALITY POLICY: Airworthiness and Quality Maintenance of aircraft and aircraft components is our highest priority. We are committed to continuously improve the quality of all our products and services to our customers' satisfaction. This includes safety, reliability, performance and customer values.
Recognising safety as a prime consideration at all times, we will ensure good maintenance practices through the application of human factor principles, and encouraging personnel to report maintenance related errors/incidents.
Compliance with procedure, regulations, quality and safety standards and co-operation with the quality auditors is the responsibility of all personnel of PIA Engineering & Maintenance.