CAAS and EASA Expand Collaboration with New Working Arrangement on Airworthiness Certification

Industry to benefit from reduced duplication of regulatory efforts

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have signed a working arrangement that will reduce regulatory compliance cost and facilitate more business opportunities for companies in Singapore and Europe. The Working Arrangement on Airworthiness Certification (WA-AC) was signed by Mr Kevin Shum, Director-General of CAAS, and Mr Patrick Ky, Executive Director of EASA, on the sidelines of the World Civil Aviation Chief Executives Forum[1].

( From left to right) Mr Patrick Ky, Executive Director of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and Mr Kevin Shum, Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), sign a Working Arrangement on Airworthiness Certification that will reduce regulatory compliance cost and facilitate more business opportunities for companies in Singapore and Europe.

The WA-AC establishes a reciprocal arrangement between the two organisations to validate and accept each other’s design certifications and approvals of aircraft parts, aircraft modifications and repairs. In addition, Design Organisation Approval (DOA) holders will no longer need to hold duplicate CAAS and EASA Approvals to operate in both Singapore and Europe. The number of regulatory inspections will be reduced, resulting in time and cost savings for the aviation industry on both sides. Air operators and other industry stakeholders from both Europe and Singapore will benefit from this arrangement.

In addition, the WA-AC facilitates the sharing of work practices and exchange of safety oversight information between CAAS and EASA. This will improve safety, deepen cooperation and pave the way for future collaboration.

This WA-AC was concluded under the ambit of a CAAS-EASA Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signed in February 2012. This WA-AC is the third working arrangement (WA) signed under the MOU. The first WA, concluded in September 2013, pertains to the collection and exchange of information under the European Union (EU) Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft (SAFA) programme. The second WA, signed in August 2015, involves a joint study of aircraft wake turbulence[2], with the aim of safely reducing aircraft separation standards during take-offs and landings, thus boosting runway capacity.

Mr Kevin Shum, Director-General of CAAS, said, “We are pleased to be able to conclude this agreement with our good friends and partners in EASA. This agreement will benefit companies in Europe and Singapore, and strengthen aviation safety.”

Mr Patrick Ky, Executive Director of EASA, added, “We value our long-standing cooperation with CAAS. This agreement and this year’s opening of the EASA Regional Office in Singapore demonstrates how important a partner Singapore is for EASA and for the European Aviation Industry as a whole.”

“With more than 50% of our fleet being Airbus aircraft, this Working Arrangement between the CAAS and EASA will definitely be beneficial to Singapore Airlines in shortening the lead time and reducing the costs of aircraft and cabin modifications”, said Mr Lau Hwa Peng, Senior Vice President Engineering of Singapore Airlines.

Dr Yip Yuen Cheong, Executive Vice President of Aerospace Engineering & Manufacturing, ST Aerospace, added, “As ST Aerospace grows its engineering, design and manufacturing business such as aircraft interiors and seats, reciprocal arrangements on certification between CAAS and EASA will help to shorten the time taken to commercialise new solutions or products, which is important when competing in a fast-paced, global aviation market.”

Dr Bicky Bhangu, Regional Director - South East Asia & Pacific, Rolls-Royce, said, “Singapore is a major hub for Rolls-Royce; we have significant manufacturing, build as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activities. So we appreciate and welcome this working arrangement between CAAS and EASA. We are positive that this arrangement will help reduce cost and time, and therefore help attract new opportunities for the aviation industry in Singapore.”

[1] The World Civil Aviation Chief Executives Forum (WCACEF), organised by CAAS, was held at the Singapore Aviation Academy (SAA) from 11 to 13 July 2017. Since its inception in 2003, the WCACEF has served as a nexus for knowledge sharing, bringing the international aviation community together in Singapore for a global dialogue on the latest issues and challenges facing aviation today as well as opportunities that growth presents.

[2] Wake turbulence is turbulence which is generated by the passage of an aircraft in flight. It will be generated from the point when the nose landing gear of an aircraft leaves the ground on take-off and will cease to be generated when the nose landing gear touches the ground during landing.

About the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore(CAAS)
The mission of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is to grow a safe, vibrant air hub and civil aviation system, making a key contribution to Singapore’s success. CAAS’ roles are to oversee and promote safety in the aviation industry, develop the air hub and aviation industry, provide air navigation services, provide aviation training for human resource development, and contribute to the development of international civil aviation.

About the European Aviation Safety Agency
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is the centrepiece of the European Union’s strategy for aviation safety. Our mission is to promote and achieve the highest common standards of safety and environmental protection in civil aviation. Based in Cologne, the Agency currently employs more than 750 experts and administrators from all over Europe.

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