PPRuNe Forums - N Reg issue over

Government response follows

Looks like they would like to get rif of N reg but can't so will hold on and see what approach EASA take, reference to FAA IR not compatible with airways in Europe is odd !

Government response
6. The Government remains convinced that widespread flagging out of aircraft based in the UK is undesirable and out of line with the internationally accepted system of regulation of civil aviation embodied in the Chicago Convention. Our objective remains that aircraft based in the UK should be required to meet safety standards acceptable within Europe and be subject to verification by the UK and other European aviation authorities that they meet those standards. Taking into account the responses to the consultation, however, and while we will continue to monitor the operation of foreign registered aircraft based here, we conclude that it would not be appropriate at this time to introduce a requirement to place such aircraft on the UK register or impose a time-limit on their activities. We have reached this view in part because it appears to the Government that European proposals published in November 2005 to extend the scope of common European aviation safety rules may provide a better means of achieving our objective in a proportionate way. Stakeholders have been consulted generally on the proposal "to amend Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Aviation Safety Agency". This proposal specifically amends the scope of the EASA Regulation to include a category of aircraft registered in a third country and used into, within or out of the Community by an operator established or residing in the Community. Detailed implementing rules will be needed to give force to this amendment and we would expect the Agency to consult stakeholders on the details of their proposals at the appropriate time.
7. Regarding the widespread desire for a simplified instrument rating, the Government recalls that the current rating was established by the JAA acting on the advice of experts from the national aviation authorities of the JAA member States. Responsibility for future changes will rest with EASA. The Government will support efforts by EASA to address this issue, possibly through the provision of a leisure pilots licence similar to the UK NPPL but recognised across Europe. Respondents should note, however, that EASA will need to establish instrument rating requirements that are appropriate for European operations and weather conditions and that previous work by experts indicates that requirements based on the FAA instrument rating would not be acceptable for an instrument rating which gives access to class A airspace.