The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) announced a strengthened commitment to working together on certifying new airplanes. This pledge comes after a two-day meeting in Washington D.C. on June 13th, 2024. Both agencies acknowledge the growing importance of global collaboration in ensuring the safety of the future aviation landscape.
FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker emphasized this point, stating a desire to establish a "unified strategic direction" based on information sharing and partnership with international counterparts. The core focus of the collaboration will be on "deepening proactive collaboration on certification activities." This translates to working together more closely throughout the entire design and manufacturing process, rather than relying solely on independent evaluations at the end. This shift is expected to streamline the certification process while maintaining robust safety standards.
The announcement comes at a time when both the FAA and EASA have faced criticism for their roles in certifying the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, which was involved in two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019. While the specific details of the collaboration are yet to be finalized, this initiative signifies a clear intention to improve transparency and information exchange during the certification process.
The long-term effects of this partnership remain to be seen. However, the FAA and EASA's commitment to working together has the potential to expedite the development of new, safe airplanes while fostering a more unified global aviation regulatory system.