On the occasion of his visit to Brussels yesterday (Wednesday 13th November), US Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Michael Huerta signed an amendment to the existing agreement, alongside Permanent Representative of Estonia to the EU Ambassador Kaja Tael and European Commission Directorate General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) Director General Henrik Hololei.

The amendment paves the way to expand cooperation to cover pilot licensing and Flight Simulator Training Devices in the future - two key areas where reciprocal acceptance will deliver pragmatic, safety-enhancing improvements for pilots and the industry. The next step in the process is to conclude negotiations on both the technical annexes, which have already been prepared.

“We welcome this long-awaited broadening of the EU-US partnership to enable collaboration on simulators and pilot licensing,” said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce. “Both sides must now reach agreement and begin implementing these two annexes in the very near future so that the tangible benefits can be realised without delay.”

“In particular, there is an urgent need to allow private pilots to easily transfer their existing skills between authorities without undue burden,” Bunce continued. “Similarly, improving the availability of simulators to facilitate their expanded use will directly contribute to general aviation safety.”