The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have signed a Declaration of Intent to continue to “foster and enrich” their partnership to support safe and secure civil aviation activities.
FAA and EASA leaders discussed the renewed commitment during the 80th anniversary of the signing of the Convention on International Civil Aviation in Chicago, which occurred on December 7, 2024.
“Aviation safety and modernization is a joint effort that requires collaboration with our international partners,” said Mike Whitaker, FAA Administrator. “Emerging technologies are transforming the global aviation system and require constant collaboration to reevaluate and adapt our strategic direction as new challenges and opportunities present themselves. Efforts like this Declaration of Intent help bring it all together.”
Under the declaration, the FAA and EASA agree to share knowledge and best practices on safety data and risk management, cybersecurity and emerging technologies, innovation, research, and sustainability, as well as seek regulatory alignment where possible.
Both organizations will also collaborate to provide technical support to different regions across the world.
“Building on the EU-US Agreement on cooperation in the regulation of civil aviation safety, this Declaration of Intent will generate a new momentum in our EASA-FAA relationship and allow for better alignment on the priorities voiced by the global aeronautical industry,” said Florian Guillermet, Executive Director of EASA.
In June 2024, the FAA and EASA pledged to work together to meet the challenges of a “fast-changing and evolving aviation industry and the increasing speed of development of future technologies.”
Through their collaboration, the FAA and EASA plan to prioritize enhancing cooperative efforts between organizations, strengthen the focus and information exchange on safety oversight, deepen proactive collaboration on innovative technologies, reinforce cooperation on the analysis and mitigation of systemic safety risks, exchange information on emerging risks facing aviation safety.