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.

FMI: www.faa.gov/aircraft/repair/media/MAG.pdf, www.aea.net/regional