Cross-Atlantic Cooperation Will Make Certification Processes More Efficient

In both Europe and the United States, some exciting progress is taking place as regulators seek to promote appropriate design requirements for business jet interiors. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are actively working toward a harmonized, common-sense approach that will make it easier and less costly for manufacturers to certify some of the unique features found in these aircraft.

I want to first provide some background. The airworthiness standards published in CS/Part-25 for transport airplane interiors are largely based on typical large commercial airline configurations; they simply don’t apply to the customized design features of many business jet interiors. As a result, the certification process for business jet interiors has been largely ad-hoc, burdensome, and costly for both industry and regulators. Too often, there have been inadequate solutions, variability in the interpretation of requirements, inconsistent application of policy, and overall unpredictability in terms of schedule and cost for interior completion programs.

So in 2012, EASA established a rulemaking drafting group to develop proposed specifications appropriate to executive interiors. In its work, the group has sought to establish design specifications that will amend and/or complement CS-25 by introducing new provisions and acceptable means of compliance and guidance material for business jet interiors. The goal is to establish appropriate safety standards to decrease the cost of certifications and reduce the resources required for both government and industry while continuing to ensure safety.

The rulemaking drafting group submitted its proposal last fall to EASA, which is currently reviewing the draft language and is expected to publish a Notice of Proposed Amendment for public comment later this year. EASA will then consider the comments before issuing a final rule.

Fortunately, the rulemaking group didn’t just include representatives from EASA but also from the FAA to facilitate coordination and harmonization. The FAA is also planning to develop a rulemaking proposal that is in sync with EASA’s rule after it is published.

GAMA understands that the FAA intends to revise its Special Federal Aviation Regulations (SFAR) 109, which addresses business aircraft configurations including the removal of the existing private use limitation. This will promote a harmonized approach to improve the certification process for the interiors of business jets.

Smart cooperation between EASA and the FAA on an issue like business jet interiors makes it easier for manufacturers to ensure their products can adhere to the same set of rules even if they’re produced, modified, or operated in different parts of the world. GAMA will continue to work with policy makers and regulators around the globe to promote policies that allow our manufacturers to get products to market safely and quickly, and we look forward to seeing even more cooperation on other issues important to general aviation manufacturers.