CAA to implement EASA Part-M on original schedule

Airline Industry Information, August 27, 2008

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The UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced on 26 August that it has decided not to delay implementation of EASA Part-M despite a draft resolution due to be considered in Brussels to allow member states to delay implementation for a further 12 months.

Part-M is designed to regulate aircraft maintenance across the European Union and is due to be adopted by all member states from 28 September 2008. The draft resolution, if approved, would mean that Part-M would not come into force until 28 September 2009.

However the CAA said that steps already taken to prepare UK aviation organisations for the implementation of the regulation mean that those organisations might incur "otherwise avoidable costs" with a one-year delay.

If the proposed regulatory change is adopted, the CAA will however take the opportunity to offer relief to those yet to complete the approval process by using an exemption to defer full implementation of Part-M for non-commercial air transport until 5 January 2009.

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