The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) today praised the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for issuing an Advanced Notice of Proposed Amendment (A-NPA) to modernise the way smaller aeroplanes are certified. The proposed rule, which contains the most mature and complete draft of the airworthiness standards to date, is largely based on the work of the FAA's Part 23 Aviation Rulemaking Committee, which was co-chaired by GAMA's Greg Bowles and included participation of international aviation authorities and global industry.

During the next 90 days, EASA is requesting public comments to the A-NPA, which discusses the concepts for restructuring the CS-23 standards and draft language being developed for a Notice of Proposed Amendment (NPA).

The CS/Part 23 initiative seeks to increase the safety of general aviation aeroplanes and promote the introduction of new technologies while reducing the burden and costs of certification by focusing on safety performance requirements. The prescriptive means of compliance are being set through globally agreed-upon consensus standards within the ASTM Committee, which brings together international regulators, manufacturers, and the global aviation community. Under the initiative, each of the world's aviation authorities will modernise its design certification rules.

“The CS/Part 23 rulemaking continues to be a top priority for general aviation manufacturers, and we are pleased to see EASA take this important step forward,” GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce said. “Our industry has strongly advocated that EASA and the FAA issue a concurrent NPA and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), respectively, and seek to craft final CS/Part 23 airworthiness standards that ensure the highest degree of harmonisation possible. We will continue to work with both European and U.S. authorities closely on this issue, and look forward to seeing a NPA and NPRM this summer.”