Press Release

Issued by European Business Aviation Association.

July 7, 2016

Last week an important milestone was passed in the implementation of SET-IMC CAT Operations in Europe. An EASA committee meeting chaired by the European Commission voted to approve a proposal that will allow SET-IMC CAT operations throughout EASA territories.

The proposal will now undergo scrutiny in the European parliament, before being published as a regulation within the next 5-6 months.

The EBAA and its members worked with both EASA and the European Commission to ensure that all safety concerns surrounding SET-IMC CAT were comprehensively addressed in the draft legislation. The association is now confident that European SET-IMC CAT operations will be the standard-bearer for safe operations in this category throughout the world.

Although permitted in the U.S., Canada and Australia, the use of single-engine turbine (SET) aeroplanes for commercial operations (CAT) in Instrument Metrological Conditions (IMC) has been controversial in Europe since the JAA first published a report on this topic back in 1991. However, after more than two decades of research and debate, including wide-ranging consultations between the JAA and then EASA, with operators, manufacturers, pilots and national aviation authorities, EASA published Opinion 06/2015 which proposes a common rule permitting SET-IMC CAT throughout Europe.

In formulating this Opinion, the agency analyzed over 24 million hours of single-engine turbine flight data, which points to safety rates that are in line with the safety rates of aircraft, such as twin-turboprops, currently used for commercial operations in Europe. Safety concerns have been raised with respect to SET-IMC CAT, but the EBAA is confident that EASA's Opinion comprehensively addresses them, and proposes appropriate mitigation measures, ensuring that European SET-IMC CAT operations will be the standard-bearer for safe operations in this category throughout the world.

SET-IMC CAT in Europe will open new low-density routes, improving the lives of people living in remote locations. It will create economic opportunities and foster regional development, while ensuring safety. And it will give operators a clear incentive to retire older, less efficient twin-turbine aircraft in favour of newer, safer and more environmentally friendly single-engine models. The EBAA applauds EASA's work on this topic and urges the European Commission, to formulate and approve legislation which respects, if not the letter, then at the very least the spirit of EASA's proposals on SET-IMC CAT.

Safety

In the two decades that SET-IMC CAT has been discussed either at JAA or EASA level, some concerns have been raised concerning the perceived specificity of SET operations. In response to these concerns EASA has either:

1) Shown that these concerns are not supported by the available data on SET-IMC CAT operations worldwide.

2) Introduced risk mitigation measures to ensure that SET-IMC CAT will either meet or exceed the current safety standards for commercial air transport operations in Europe.

Having analysed these risk mitigation measures the EBAA is confident that they will ensure that SET- IMC CAT operations in Europe will meet a safety level that is above adequate.

These measures include the requirement that operators should perform an analysis for each route to be operated, according to a defined methodology which needs to be approved under the general approval granted to an operator for CAT SET-IMC operations.

EASA also provides new guidance related to the use of a methodology for the assessment of the risk associated with CAT SET-IMC on specific routes and new guidance related to the assessment of the weather conditions on landing sites for which no weather information is published.

Harmonization

Although Regulation (EU) 965/2012 does not permit SET-IMC CAT, countries including Finland, France, Greece, Norway, Spain and Sweden have approved, under exemptions to EU-OPS, domestic CAT SET- IMC operations under specific conditions. In all other EU countries this type of operation is today not permitted. The situation has clearly created a lack of harmonisation and market distortions across Europe. Indeed, the playing-field is not level even for those companies that operate SET-IMC CAT, as the exemptions under which they operate are based on different sets of conditions. Additionally, some EU operators face competition from TCO operators coming from countries where CAT SET-IMC is permitted. Finally it is worth noting that Member States willing to allow one of their operators to operate CAT SET-IMC flights must notify the European Commission of the exemption. If the rules were harmonized in Europe this administrative burden would disappear.

ICAO compliance

Amendment 29 to ICAO Annex 6, which allows single-engine turbine-powered aeroplane commercial operations at night and/or in IMC under specific conditions, has been in effect since 2005. The ICAO standards and recommended practices (SARPs) related to CAT SET-IMC operations have not been brought into effect in Europe meaning that the European regulatory framework is misaligned with ICAO standards and out of sync with the other major third countries such as the U.S., Canada and Australia.

Environmental Perspective

The current regulatory status quo does not promote the use of modern aeroplanes with a lighter environment footprint. Based on data from Engine manufacturers, it is clear that overall SET aircraft have relatively low fuel consumption, and low noise emissions.

When one considers that the combustion characteristics of a typical air-cooled piston engine, it is plain that SET aircraft have a lighter environmental footprint. And so on a general basis, the operation of single-engine turbine aeroplanes is expected to lead to a better fuel and oil consumption compared to the old twin-engine piston aeroplanes that they will replace, and therefore a positive environmental impact is expected.

Social Perspective

One of the main advantages of the single-engine turboprop is that it can offer air services to remote regions and cities with small airfields that are just not available by road or rail transport or by using other types of aircraft. If you take into account various performance and operating cost considerations, there are many low-density routes in Europe which can only be operated safely and efficiently by single-engine turbine aircraft. Opening up these routes would improve both the mobility and the quality of life of people living in remote areas.

When investigating the potential economic benefits of SET-IMC CAT, the JAA already acknowledged (JAA NPA OPS 29 Rev 2) that at least half of sales in Europe resulting from the introduction of this rule would be for new markets, e.g. on routes or for operations not currently economically feasible, or where runways are not adequate for twins but usable for SETs. Such operations will provide vital new communications for remote communities not presently served, will reduce the outward drift of the population from such areas, and provide new employment opportunities.

Economic Perspective

It is an irony that two of the most successful manufacturers of aircraft designed for SET-IMC CAT

operations, Pilatus and Daher-Socata, are based in Europe, where this operation is by-and-large not permitted. Due to the current regulatory environment, Europe has recently seen a decline in its single- engine commercial turboprop aeroplane fleet. In 2006, there were approximately 30 single-engine turboprop aeroplanes involved in CAT operations in Europe. In 2013 there were only 13 known aeroplanes in CAT operations in Europe.

Introducing SET-IMC CAT in Europe will not only be a boon for European aircraft manufacturers it will also stimulate commercial opportunities through the opening of new routes to serve remote communities. These new routes would enhance the economic viability of these communities and will provide opportunities for airfreight and tourist operations in all areas.