New EASA Boss Pledges Fair Treatment for Genav, Bizav

Patrick Ky, the new executive director at the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), is willing to take into account peculiarities of general aviation, which includes business aviation and helicopters, in future regulation. Prompted to react to the industry’s unease at often being lumped with the airline world, Ky confirmed that EASA is carrying on with its efforts, with the FAA, toward less restrictive and more performance-based certification rules, he told AIN.

Such rulemaking, to start within weeks, could allow manufacturers more freedom in aircraft design. A new Part 23 standard could be achieved within 18 months, he said.

Asked about a perceived over-complexity of certification rules for equipment, such as night-vision goggles for helicopters, Ky said he is aware of the problem but was also considering some rules for iPads when used for navigation. When he took the helm of EASA last month, Ky said he made a decision that the agency should make “fewer, but better, rules.”