2. European Aviation Safety Agency
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
is an agency of the
European Union (EU)
with regulatory and executive tasks
in the field of civilian aviation safety.
Based in Cologne, Germany,
the EASA was created on 15 July 2003,
and it reached full functionality
in 2008, taking over functions of the
Join Aviation Authorities (JAA).
European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
countries have been granted participation
in the agency

3. RESPONSIBILITIES OF EASA
The responsibilities of EASA include to
conduct analysis and research of safety,
authorizing foreign operators, giving advice for
the drafting of EU legislation,
implementing and monitoring safety rules
(including inspections in the member states),
giving type-certification of aircraft
and components as well as the approval
of organizations involved in the design,
manufacture and maintenance of
aeronautical products

4. Member states In addition to the member states of the union,
the countries part of the
European Free Trade Association (EFTA),
Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Iceland,
have been granted participation
under Article 66 of
the Basic Regulation and are members of
the Management Board without voting rights.
There are also numerous working
relationships with other authorities

5. REGULATIONS
In Europe, Aircraft Maintenance Certifying Personnel have to
comply to Part-66 Certifying Staff of the EASA.
Part-66 was based on the older JAR system and the required training level
followed the ATA 104 system. There are 3 levels of authorization:
Category A (Line Maintenance Mechanic): Basic A category License +
( Task Training (Level depends on Task Complexity) +
Company Certification Authorization for specific Tasks
("A category A aircraft maintenance license permits the holder to issue certificates of
release to service following minor scheduled line
maintenance and simple defect rectification within the limits of
tasks specifically endorsed on the authorization.
The certification privileges shall be restricted to work that the license
holder has personally performed in a Part-145 organization"),
Category B1 (Mechanical) and/or B2(Avionics) (Line Maintenance Technician):
Basic B1/B2 category License + Type Training
(i.e. Line and Base Maintenance I.A.W. Part-66 Appendix III Level III)
+ Company Certification Authorization
("a category B1 aircraft maintenance license shall permit the
holder to issue certificates of release to service
following maintenance, including aircraft structure,
power plant and mechanical and electrical systems.

6. Replacement of avionic line replaceable units, requiring simple tests
to prove their serviceability, shall also be included in the privileges.
Category B1 shall automatically include the appropriate 'A' subcategory",
a Category B2 aircraft maintenance license
shall permit the holder to issue certificates of release to
service following maintenance on avionic and electrical systems").
Category C (Base Maintenance Certifying Engineer): Basic C category license +
Type Training (Line & Base Maintenance i.a.w. Part-66 Appendix III,
Level III for the first Type Rating and
Part-66 Level I training for subsequent Aircraft Types of similar technology,
otherwise Level III training) + Company Certification Authorization
("a category C aircraft maintenance license shall permit
the holder to issue certificates of release to service following base maintenance on aircraft.
The privileges apply to the aircraft in its entirety in a Part-145 organization").
A significant difference between the US and
the European systems is that in the United States,
aircraft maintenance technicians (Part 65 Airframe and Power plant Mechanics) are
permitted to work under their own certificates and approve their own work for
return to service. European Part 66 certificate holders are
required to perform their functions under the
aegis of a Part 145 organization for Transport Category and Large (MTOM>5700 kg) Airplanes.
The part 145 organization in the EASA system has the authority to
approve for return to service. Many non-European countries
have been moving toward the European approach, most notably Canada
(See Part 571 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations

7. Maintenance organization approval
To obtain approval to be an aeronautical repair station,
an organization must write, submit and keep updated
a Maintenance Organization Exposition (MOE).
To support their MOE they must have a documented set of procedures.
Thirdly the organization must have a compliance matrix to
show how they meet the requirements of Part-145

8. Design organisation approval
Design Organisation means an organisation responsible for the design of
aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, auxiliary power units,
or related parts and appliances, and holding,
or applying for, type-certificates, supplemental type-certificates,
changes or repairs design approvals or ETSO Authorizations.
A design organisation holds DOA (Design Organisation Approval)
or, by way of derogation, Alternatives Procedures to DOA.
A DOA-List enlisting all companies holding DO
Approval with their capabilities can
be downloaded from the EASA web-site.
Part 21 requirements for Design Organisation Approvals and
Production Organisation Approvals,
as described in Regulation (EC) 1702/2003 on 'Implementing Rules'
the safety of aircraft should be tested every
flight course and the engineers should be
educated in every three months with strong courses

9. Safety analysis and research activities
The work of the European Aviation Safety Agency centers
on ensuring the highest levels of
civil aviation safety, through certification of
aviation products, approval of organizations to provide aviation services,
development and implementation of a standardized
European regulatory framework. These tasks are supported by:
coordination of internal and external safety improvement initiatives.
For instance the European Strategic Safety Initiative (ESSI)
is an aviation safety partnership between EASA,
other regulators and the industry aiming to
further enhance safety for citizens in Europe and
worldwide through safety analysis, implementation of
cost effective action plans, and coordination with
other safety initiatives worldwide.
providing reports concerning the safety of
European and worldwide aviation,
focal point for coordination of
aviation accident investigation safety recommendations

10. Certification
On 28 September 2003, the EASA took over responsibility for
the airworthiness and environmental certification of
all aeronautical products, parts, and appliances designed, manufactured,
maintained or used by persons under the
regulatory oversight of EU Member States.
The Certification work also includes all post-certification activities,
such as the approval of changes to,
and repairs of, aeronautical products and their components,
as well as the issuing of airworthiness directives to
correct any potentially unsafe situation.
All type-certificates are therefore now issued by
the EASA and are valid throughout the European Union.
It also carries out the same role for foreign organizations involved in
the manufacture or maintenance of such products.
The EASA relies on national aviation authorities
who have historically filled this role and
concludes contractual arrangements to this effect