JAA Has Failed to Deliver on SE-IFR: Pilatus

"The JAA has failed in its own mandate. The time for change has arrived."

So suggested Pilatus Aircraft Ltd at EBACE yesterday in reference to protracted negotiations aimed at achieving approval for commercial single-engine IFR (SE-IFR) operations in Europe.

In 1996, the European Joint Aviation Authorities set out to draft rules that would allow turbine singles to operate commercially under instrument conditions in European skies. Such approval has been granted in recent years in Australia, Canada and the United States.

"Today the approval is still not in place and the JAA continues to debate," says the Swiss airframer. "It has wasted large sums of taxpayers' money, it has damaged industry by restricting sales and operation of European manufactured aircraft, and it has prevented the European public from enjoying economical and safe air transport readily available to the rest of the world.

'This has to be sorted now, and forever," declared Ignaz Gretener, Pilatus's vp general aviation business unit.

SE-IFR approval is now thought to be at least a year away. Pilatus plans to voice its protest in writing to the JAA.

By Mike Vines