Brussels, 13/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 12 December, the Transport Council reached a general orientation on the proposal adopted in November 2005 by the European Commission and aiming to extend the regulatory and certification competencies of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), instituted by regulation 1592/2002, in three areas: granting licences for flight crews, aviation operations and monitoring third-country aircraft. The Council agreed to extend the regulatory competencies of the EASA in these three areas. However, it reduced its new certification duties, limiting them to the certification of third-country operators operating flights to and from the Community, and the accrediting of bodies based outside the territory of the member states. The first reading of the European Parliament is expected in February 2007.
It is also worth noting that on the same day, the EASA and the authorities of the American Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), attended a ceremony in Toulouse, where they awarded Airbus a navigability certificate for its giant aircraft A380, the first of which will be delivered within 10 months. The certificate granted by the EASA certifies that the design of the craft is in line with the environmental and safety standards of the EU. This certificate allows the A380 to be legally registered and operated commercially throughout the whole of the European territory, plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. (dt)