A new proposal from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is likely to signal the direction of upcoming Part 23 reforms from the FAA.
EASA released its advanced notice of proposed amendment, which is similar to an FAA advanced notice of proposed rulemaking, on March 27. The amendment on “Reorganisation of Part 23 and CS-23” supports a move toward less prescriptive regulations designed to make it easier to introduce safety-enhancing features into general aviation aircraft while reducing the time and cost needed to certify aircraft and equipment.
The FAA, EASA, the aviation industry, and other national aviation agencies have been working to develop the consensus standards through ASTM Committee F44 on General Aviation Aircraft. The proposed standards are similar to the recommendations put forward in June 2013 by the FAA’s Part 23 Reorganization Aviation Rulemaking Committee and reflect close coordination with the FAA. AOPA was an active participant in that group and helped develop the recommendations with the goal of generating “twice the safety at half the cost.”
The release of the EASA advanced notice of proposed amendment allows the agency to receive formal comments, including input from the FAA. Public comments are also being accepted through May 27 and can be filed using the automated comment-response tool available at EASA’s website.
The FAA is expected to release its own notice of proposed rulemaking on Part 23 changes for public comment later this year.
