Press Release

Issued by European Business Aviation Association.

July 27, 2010

The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) welcomes the announcement by US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano that US-bound international operators will now benefit from a simplified procedure for in-bound flights to the United States, signalling the end of the current, onerous TSA International Waiver process.

The EBAA, in concert with the National Business Aviation Association and other business aviation stakeholders, has been in discussions with US government officials over the past five years in order to introduce a modified waiver procedure that would ease the high administrative burden of filing for flights to the US, while still safeguarding the integrity of US security policy.

"The EBAA is pleased with this final outcome of our many meetings with US officials, in partnership with the NBAA. The streamlining of procedures for flying into the United States will not only alleviate the previously difficult – and costly - task of filing multiple forms and completing complex paperwork, but also demonstrates that officials recognize that having straightforward, yet secure, ease of access for international executives to US markets is very much in the interest of the US economy and thus US citizens," says Pedro Vincinte Azua, Chief Operating Officer, European Business Aviation Association.

The new simplified procedure is based on the web-based Electronic Advance Passenger Information System (e- APIS) overseen by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Under this system, each time an operator sends data through the eAPIS, the CBP will forward a copy to the TSA providing them with the required information. For its part, the undemanding eAPIS system, which collects electronic traveller manifest information for international travel both in to and out of the United States, has been widely received by the aviation community since its introduction.

"This latest achievement underlines the fact that with business aviation associations on both sides of the ocean united in their efforts, finding acceptable resolutions to the many transatlantic issues that confront us is more than possible," says Brian Humphries, President and CEO, European Business Aviation Association.

The new TSA procedure based on the eAPIS is expected to be implemented by September 1 of this year.