Harmonization

Steve Prentice reports in the October issue that, recently, the FAA and EASA entered into a bilateral safety agreement, (BASA). As Steve reports there are certain possible incursions into our regulatory process contained in this agreement in the name of safety and harmonization. I recall in the early ‘90s speaking to an FAA person of some rank at a show. We were discussing the oncoming formation of the JAA in Europe. When I asked if the FAA was concerned that it might lose its leadership position in the aviation regulatory world, he said there was no way the Europeans would ever get it together. There were too many cultural, economic, and political differences. Well look where we are now. It appears the United States will be following the lead of our counterparts overseas in many areas including maintenance operations. To say this will have no effect on how you do your job is probably naïve. What do you think of what is going on with EASA and the FAA? Do you think it will or will not have an effect on how you do your job? Will more jobs be outsourced overseas because of this? What can be done to try to right the ship? We look forward to hearing from you.