The EU-China Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) went into effect 1 September, giving a boost to the regions’ aviation manufacturers by simplifying the process of gaining product approvals from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), while also ensuring high safety and environment standards will continue to be met.

The agreement is the result of several years of successful efforts by experts from the European Commission, EASA and the CAAC.

“I am confident that, thanks to this bilateral agreement, the relations between Europe and China in aviation will be taken to the next level,” said EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky. “This further strengthens EASA’s commitment to work closely with international partners on building a safe and environmentally sustainable industry.”

The entry into force of the BASA was marked by EASA and CAAC holding the first joint Certification Oversight Board (COB) last week. The parties adopted the Technical Implementation Procedures (TIP) which will support the BASA and its Annex on Airworthiness. These administrative and technical procedures describe in detail how EASA and CAAC will conduct the validation and reciprocal acceptance of civil aeronautical product approvals.

The entry into force of the BASA will require some previous arrangements to be revised and the two parties have agreed to make this transition as smooth as possible.