Britain wants to stay in EU aviation safety body, to maintain flying rights

British PM Theresa May published her blueprint for relations with the EU after Brexit on Thursday, including proposals for the UK to participate in the European Aviation Safety Agency and maintain flying rights. In the whte paper the UK proposes “participation by the UK in those EU agencies that provide authorizations for goods in highly regulated sectors” such as “the European Aviation Safety Agency”. EASA is responsible for issuing safety approvals for all planes and aircraft components. The UK said that under its proposals, it would remain an active participant without voting rights and would make a financial contribution to EASA. It proposes “becoming a third country member via the established route under Article 66 of the EASA basic regulation, as Switzerland has”. The UK’s proposals include “an Air Transport Agreement which seeks to maintain reciprocal liberalized aviation access between and within the territory of the UK and the EU, alongside UK participation in EASA”. “This would permit UK and EU carriers to operate air services to, from and within the territory of both the UK and the EU on an equal basis. This could be supported through an approach to ownership and control that avoids introducing additional barriers to businesses,” the paper said.<br/>