BACA Notes the British Prime Minister’s Statement on the UK’s EASA Membership

With Brexit planned for little over a year away, BACA – The Air Charter Association notes the British Prime Minister’s statement on the UK’s membership of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

BACA, which is the global trade body representing the interests of a number of companies in the Air Charter industry, welcomes further clarity on the operational effect of Brexit on passenger and cargo airlines and business jet operators.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May, in her speech at Mansion House in the City of London on Friday, March 2, 2018 stated that “We will also want to explore with the EU, the terms on which the UK could remain part of EU agencies, such as those that are critical for the chemicals, medicines and aerospace industries: the European Medicines Agency, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), and the European Aviation Safety Agency,”

Richard Mumford, BACA Chairman, said: “BACA’s members include a number of UK-based Passenger and Cargo Airlines and Business Jet Operators and in order to ensure they are able to continue to compete on the international stage, much-needed clarity on how the UK’s aviation industry is likely to function post-Brexit is welcomed.  However, with little more than a year to go, it is imperative that aviation, a market that works seasonally, receives defined clarity to allow it to plan for the future.”

“In addition, our European members demand more certainty on the impact on EASA of the UK’s exit from the European Union.”

“As an industry, aviation has continually sought to remove barriers which prevent our ability to trade, whether they be in the form of Freedoms of the Air, or in terms of regulatory alignment across regions, such as that envisaged by the creation of EASA.“

“The continent of Europe has worked together for many decades to build a common approach to aviation and an aviation market that seeks to maximise close co-operation and the freedom to fly over all European airspace.  Ideally that should be preserved.”

“With just over a year to go until the UK exits the European Union, it is imperative that our industry has as close to a global set of regulations as is possible, and so continued membership of EASA would help with that goal”

“The Air Charter industry generates employment for many people across the UK and Europe, generates many millions of investment into the economies of the region and, most importantly, provides the ability for millions of people and many tonnes of vital cargo, to move seamlessly and easily by air throughout the region.  In the interests of our members, the travelling public and cargo markets, It is vital that this is allowed to continue.”