Flyboy-F33
22nd Dec 2003, 17:14
Found this in Yesterdays Telegraph
"When Graham Colover, a London businessman, tried to make safety modifications to the Piper twin Comanche light aircraft that he jointly owns with two friends at Biggin Hill in Kent, they found themselves amongst the first victims of the the great EU power-grab reported in the story on the left (page 10).
All the changes they wish to make - brighter landing lights, more streamlined engine cowls, a better electrical system - have already been approved by the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA). Until two months ago getting UK approval from the expert officials of Britains Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) would have been routine, taking a few days. But on September 28 the CAA was reduced to the status of a mere branch office ofthe European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) when it took charge of all EU aviation safety regulation.
Mr Colover was told he would now have to get permission from an EASA office in Rome, to which had been allocated all certification powers over Piper Twin Comanches, even though Italy has few aircraft of this type. The nightmare began when it became clear to him that, althought the Italian authorities knew nothing about Twin Comanches, they refused to deal with the manufacturers or the CAA and would talk only to their increasingly bemused counterparts in the American FAA.
Despite the CAA trying to help, emails and messages to the EASA in Rome and Brussels went unanswered. The officials in Rome are unable to say how much certification will cost until they know how much work will be involved. This is whty the parts that would improve the safety of Mr Colover's aircraft are sitting on a shelf in Biggin Hill.
Mr Colover says he has nothing but praise for the Department of Transport in London. The UK Government is lobbying alongside Germany, Sweden and France to get the power of approving minor modifications handed back to national agencies. But one of the cardinal rules of the EU's supranational system is that power can only ever be transmitted in one direction: from nation states to the centre. Mr Colover may be waiting to improve his aircraft's safety for some time to come".
ANyone for the 'N register'?
Flyboy...:*
"When Graham Colover, a London businessman, tried to make safety modifications to the Piper twin Comanche light aircraft that he jointly owns with two friends at Biggin Hill in Kent, they found themselves amongst the first victims of the the great EU power-grab reported in the story on the left (page 10).
All the changes they wish to make - brighter landing lights, more streamlined engine cowls, a better electrical system - have already been approved by the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA). Until two months ago getting UK approval from the expert officials of Britains Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) would have been routine, taking a few days. But on September 28 the CAA was reduced to the status of a mere branch office ofthe European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) when it took charge of all EU aviation safety regulation.
Mr Colover was told he would now have to get permission from an EASA office in Rome, to which had been allocated all certification powers over Piper Twin Comanches, even though Italy has few aircraft of this type. The nightmare began when it became clear to him that, althought the Italian authorities knew nothing about Twin Comanches, they refused to deal with the manufacturers or the CAA and would talk only to their increasingly bemused counterparts in the American FAA.
Despite the CAA trying to help, emails and messages to the EASA in Rome and Brussels went unanswered. The officials in Rome are unable to say how much certification will cost until they know how much work will be involved. This is whty the parts that would improve the safety of Mr Colover's aircraft are sitting on a shelf in Biggin Hill.
Mr Colover says he has nothing but praise for the Department of Transport in London. The UK Government is lobbying alongside Germany, Sweden and France to get the power of approving minor modifications handed back to national agencies. But one of the cardinal rules of the EU's supranational system is that power can only ever be transmitted in one direction: from nation states to the centre. Mr Colover may be waiting to improve his aircraft's safety for some time to come".
ANyone for the 'N register'?
Flyboy...:*