In addition to airworthiness certification, basas, MoUs and WAs offer bilateral cooperation in other areas of aviation, including maintenance, air operations and environmental certification. BASA is a bilateral aviation safety agreement that facilitates the technical evaluation process of two signatory states. For example, an importing country can avoid double inspections by accepting inspections and certifications by an exporting country. These agreements were concluded following extensive discussions between the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the Department of Transport (DfT) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). They give airlines and aerospace companies in both countries the certainty that transatlantic trade can continue in a non-agreement scenario, with minimal changes to the current surveillance regime. The United Kingdom currently concludes similar bilateral security agreements with aviation authorities in Canada and Brazil. Details of the new implementation procedures agreed under the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreements (BASA) between the United Kingdom and the United States were discussed today with representatives of the aerospace industry at an event at the U.S. Embassy in London. The agreements ensure that the level of cooperation between the two authorities and their systems remains the same when the UK leaves the European Union (EU) without a negotiated exit. Bilateral airworthiness agreements are executive agreements reached prior to 1996 through an exchange of diplomatic notes between the U.S.
State Department and its foreign counterpart, based on the FAA`s technical recommendations. (Note: U.S. no longer enters into bilateral airworthiness agreements)) Richard Moriarty, head of the British Civil Aviation Administration, told the U.S. Embassy in London: “We thank the Federal Aviation Administration for the positive way it approached our conversations. These agreements are an important part of our comprehensive contingency plans to ensure a smooth transition for consumers and industry when the UK leaves the EU. To learn more: www.caa.co.uk/Commercial-industry/Aircraft/Airworthiness/Organisation-and-maintenance-programme-approvals/Bilateral-agreements/What-is-a-bilateral-agreement/ In theory, this agreement will facilitate the acceptance of chinese-built aircraft within the European Union.