12/09/2016 (Agence Europe) – In an opinion published on Wednesday 7 September, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) proposes simplifying European training standards for recreational flight pilots. In its opinion (11/2016) on General Aviation (GA), EASA states that it wants to introduce a new regulatory framework that would enable pilot training for non-commercial flights to be offered in a framework other than that of Approved Training Organisations (ATO). These ATOs are currently approved in accordance with Annex II to Commission Regulation 1178/2011, the arrangements of which were defined on the basis of large-scale training bodies for commercial flight pilot licences. EASA believes that these arrangements are unfairly demanding for smaller bodies, such as private flight clubs, and it is therefore proposing a new Annex VIII as part of the regulation establishing Declared Training Organisations (DTO). DTOs will be able to propose training simply by declaring their activity to the appropriate authority, without having to wait for formal authorisation. (PH)