The U.S. and European Union today formally signed an agreement under which aviation authorities on both sides of the Atlantic will recognize approved components covered by Technical Standard Orders (TSOs). The agreement was signed by the FAA and the European Commission on behalf of the European Aviation Safety Agency.
The move was welcomed by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. “By removing unnecessary bureaucracy, we improve safety by facilitating the flow of approved components both ways across the Atlantic,” said GAMA president Pete Bunce. “This agreement promises to translate into increased availability of the latest modern avionics in general aviation cockpits, and the resultant benefits this brings with it. This is the first step in a longer process of maximizing the use of our bilateral agreements, with authorities freeing up their limited resources to focus on pressing safety issues, and simultaneously facilitating our manufacturers’ development of innovative, safer technologies.”