European Aviation Safety Agency

EASA is the centrepiece of the European Union’s strategy for aviation safety. Our mission is to promote the highest common standards of safety and environmental protection in civil aviation.

A common strategy
Air transport is one of the safest forms of travel. As air traffic continues to grow a common initiative is needed at the European level to keep air transport safe and sustainable. The Agency develops common safety and environmental rules at the European level. It monitors the implementation of standards through inspections in the Member States and provides the necessary technical expertise, training and research. The Agency works hand in hand with the national authorities who continue to carry out many operational tasks, such as certification of individual aircraft or licensing of pilots.

Towards a single aviation market
The European Aviation Safety Agency also carries out executive responsibilities in the area of type-certification: the certification of specific models of aircraft, engines or parts approved for operation in the European Union. The aviation industry benefits from common specifications, cost-efficient services and a single point of contact.

Executive and regulatory tasks
The main tasks of the Agency currently include:

• Rulemaking: drafting aviation safety legislation and providing technical advice to the European Commission and to the Member States;
• Inspections, training and standardisation programmes to ensure uniform implementation of European aviation safety legislation in all Member States;
• Safety and environmental type-certification of aircraft, engines and parts;
• Approval of aircraft design organisations world-wide as and of production and maintenance organisations outside the EU;
• Authorization of third-country (non EU) operators;
• Coordination of the European Community programme SAFA (Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft) regarding the safety of foreign aircraft using Community airports;
• Data collection, analysis and research to improve aviation safety.

In a few years, the Agency will also be responsible for safety regulations regarding airports and air traffic management systems.