Adds Specifics To Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement
The Maintenance Annex Guidance (MAG), similar to the various
maintenance implementation procedures (MIP) between the FAA and the
EASA, became effective on May 3, 2011. While the widely reported
Safety Agreement between the U.S. and EC, commonly referred to as a
Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement, is an important document, the
MAG is the document that specifies when, where and how the BASA
will be utilized for maintenance operations.
Section A - Authority interaction (not applicable to
industry).
Section B - Certification process for U.S.-based repair
stations.
Section C - Certification process for EC-based maintenance
organizations.
The MAG details EASA, FAA and applicant actions required to be
taken in order for an FAA-certificated 14 CFR Part 145 repair
station primarily located in the U.S. to be approved to EASA Part
145; and for an EASA Part 145 approved maintenance organization to
be approved to 14 CFR Part 145, in accordance with the agreement
between the U.S. and the European Community on cooperation in the
Regulation of Civil Aviation Safety (the agreement).
According to the document, the FAA and EASA have established
the differences between EASA Part-145 and 14 CFR part 145. These
differences are listed as Special Conditions in the Maintenance
Annex as agreed between the EC and the U.S. As a result, a
U.S.-based FAA-certificated 14 CFR part 145 repair station, when in
compliance with EASA published maintenance special conditions, may
apply for an EASA Part-145 approval. An EC-based EASA Part-145
approved maintenance organisation, when in compliance with
published FAA maintenance special conditions, may apply for a 14
CFR part 145 approval. The Agreement between the FAA and the EC
permits reliance on each other’s surveillance systems to the
greatest extent possible.
The FAA and EASA have agreed to conduct surveillance of each
other’s compliance with the special conditions. For the FAA,
the frequency of surveillance is determined by FAA Performance
Tracking and Reporting System (PTRS). For EASA, the frequency of
surveillance is published in EASA Part-145 Section
“B.”
The AEA said in a statement that it appreciates the efforts of
the EASA and FAA personnel in completing this monumental task. The
association will brief on the impact of the BASA, as well as the
MAG to the membership, at the AEA Europe Regional Meeting, May
11-13, in Copenhagen, Denmark, and all other AEA regional meetings
in 2011.