EASA Seeking JAR 26 Feedback from Bizav Operators

European operators have until October 10 to submit their responses to a questionnaire regarding the implementation of JAR 26 (additional airworthiness requirements for operations) into the EASA rule system. The questionnaire applies to operators from the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Poland, Slovak Republic, the Netherlands, Norway and the UK. According to a spokeswoman for the EASA, the agency “needs to have a clear status on the implementation of JAR 26 in Europe to ensure a smooth transition. It seems that JAR 26 was not implemented in all member states, and in this case we would need to check the level of compliance [with various safety directives] for relevant aircraft.” To date, JAR 26 Amendment 3 applies only to airplane operators that provide scheduled and nonscheduled air transport for remuneration or hire. There is no plan in the near future to include helicopters or general aviation, she said. EBAA COO Pedro Vicente Azua said the organization does not know how the requirements and their subsequent amendments will affect business jet operators. “We just don’t have the transparency to see how this is going to affect them,” he said.