Whilst I agree there are still discussions on trying to extend this beyond April next year or even make it permanent, at the moment it is not making much progress.
Discussions are certainly ongoing, not least because of the EASA Management Board's endorsement of Principle 4.2 of the “European General Aviation Safety Strategy” which states:
‘Accept flexibility for continuation of specific local activities under NAA responsibility when they have not proven harmful to safety, to fair competition or to free circulation.’
This principle was endorsed by the EASA MB and at the meeting of the Board on 11 December its importance was specifically attested to by a number of Board Members.
EASA rulemakers
could have made things easier for everyone by agreeing to IAOPA Europe's FCL.600(b) proposal - which would restore the flexibility of JAR-FCL 1.175(b). We haven't seen the draft opinion yet, but reactions to the CRD (including from the UK CAA) have renewed calls for such flexibility.
If there has to be an 'all or nothing' vote on FCL.008 as it now stands, the UK might have to vote against it, delaying the EIR, C-BM IR and SCR. Which would be a pity, but the blame would rightly fall on EASA's rulemakers for their intransigence. Hopefully they will be given firm political direction and revise their position before the draft opinion is released, otherwise lobbying will have to continue.
Incidentally, we already know that the IAA is firmly against the EIR and I suspect that at least one other NAA is too.....
