Aviation Safety Regulation within a European Framework

The role of the CAA’s Safety Regulation Group is to develop our UK world-class aviation safety environment, in partnership with industry, by driving continuous improvements in aviation safety in the UK and, in partnership with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), across Europe.
The European Community established EASA with the legal competence to be the rulemaking and standard setting organisation for aviation safety regulation on behalf of all its member states.  The Agency has already taken over the task of aircraft and product certification, and responsibility for rules related to the design and maintenance of aircraft products and parts, plus setting standards for those organisations involved in the design, production and maintenance of these products and parts. Over time, its rulemaking role will include aircraft operations, flight crew licensing and air traffic management matters.  For further information visit the EASA website at www.easa.eu.int.

The Specialist Teams

To monitor the activities of UK’s complex and diverse industry, SRG employs a team of specialists. They have an exceptionally wide range of skills, including pilots qualified to fly in command of current airliners; test pilots able to evaluate all aircraft types; experts in flying training, leisure and recreational aviation activities; aircraft maintenance surveyors; surveyors conversant with the latest design and manufacturing techniques; flight test examiners; aerodrome operations and air traffic control specialists; and doctors skilled in all branches of aviation medicine.  The size and nature of our specialist teams is, of course, being adapted as EASA gradually assumes its growing rulemaking responsibilities.

The Complementary Tasks

As a National Aviation Authority, however, the CAA SRG still has a statutory duty to exercise full rulemaking and oversight responsibility for all those aviation aspects not being adopted by EASA.  Moreover, as a Competent Authority, SRG acts as an executive arm of EASA in delivering safety oversight of UK industry against EASA’s pan-European rules and standards, in addition to its strategic national objective of ensuring that the UK’s aviation good safety performance is, at least, sustained at its present level.  CAA is committed to a strong partnership with the Agency so that the European safety framework will provide the harmonised rules and economic benefits that will flow from a rigorous and consistent regulatory regime for Europe’s aviation industry.
The developing European framework for the regulation of aviation safety has at its heart ‘2 pillars’ - EASA and the National Aviation Authorities of the Community member states.  Collectively, therefore, a maturing European regulatory system will continue to be focused on seeing that aircraft are properly designed, manufactured, operated and maintained; that airlines operate safely; that flight crews, air traffic controllers and aircraft maintenance engineers are suitably skilled; that licensed aerodromes are safe to use and that air traffic services and general aviation activities meet required safety standards.

Safety Regulation Group
Civil Aviation Authority
Aviation House
Gatwick Airport South
West Sussex  RH6 0YR
T: 01293 567171

April 2006