FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
International air transport is one of the most
dynamic and fastest-changing industries in the world. It needs a responsive,
forward-looking and universal trade association, operating at the highest
professional standards. IATA is that association.
IATA brings together approximately 265 airlines,
including the world's largest. Flights by these airlines comprise 94 percent of
all international scheduled air traffic.
Since these airlines face a rapidly changing
world, they must cooperate in order to offer a seamless service of the
highest possible standard to passengers and cargo shippers. Much of that
cooperation is expressed through IATA, whose mission is to "represent, lead and
serve the airline industry".
Continual efforts by IATA ensure that people,
freight and mail can move around the vast global airline network as easily as if
they were on a single airline in a single country. In addition, IATA helps to
ensure that Members' aircraft can operate safely, securely, efficiently and
economically under clearly defined and understood rules.
For consumers, IATA simplifies the travel
and shipping process. By helping to control airline costs, IATA contributes to
cheaper tickets and shipping costs. Thanks to airline cooperation through IATA,
individual passengers can make one telephone call to reserve a ticket, pay in
one currency and then use the ticket on several airlines in several countries
– or even return it for a cash refund.
IATA is also a collective link between third
parties and the airlines. Passenger and cargo agents are able to make
representations to the industry through IATA and derive the benefit of neutrally
applied agency service standards and levels of professional skill. Equipment
manufacturers and third-party service providers are able to join in the airline
meetings which define the way air transport goes about its business.
IATA allows airlines to operate more
efficiently. It offers joint means – beyond the resources of any single
company – of exploiting opportunities, reducing costs and solving
problems. Airlines knit their individual networks into a world-wide system
through IATA, despite differences in language, currencies, laws and national
customs.
IATA is a useful means for governments to
work with airlines and draw on their experience and expertise. Working standards
within the aviation industry are developed within IATA. In fostering safe and
efficient air transport, IATA serves the stated policies of most of the world's
governments.
Convention
on International Civil Aviation
(also known as Chicago Convention), was signed on 7 December 1944
by 52 States. Pending ratification of the Convention by 26 States, the
Provisional International Civil Aviation Organization (PICAO) was
established. It functioned from 6 June 1945 until 4 April 1947. By 5
March 1947 the 26th ratification was received. ICAO came into being on 4
April 1947. In October of the same year, ICAO became a specialized
agency of the United Nations linked to Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
The Convention
on International Civil Aviation set forth the purpose of ICAO:
"WHEREAS
the future development of international civil aviation can greatly help
to create and preserve friendship and understanding among the nations
and peoples of the world, yet its abuse can become a threat to the
general security; and
WHEREAS
it is desirable to avoid friction and to promote that co-operation
between nations and peoples upon which the peace of the world depends;
THEREFORE,
the undersigned governments having agreed on certain principles and
arrangements in order that international civil aviation may be developed
in a safe and orderly manner and that international air transport
services may be established on the basis of equality of opportunity and
operated soundly and economically;
Have
accordingly concluded this Convention to that end."
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[This is the answer to the question.]
Is to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world.
Iis to improve the safety and efficiency
of aviation, while being responsive to our customers and accountable to
the public.
- Safety is our passion. We're world
leaders in aerospace safety.
- Quality is our trademark. We serve
our country, our customers, and each other.
- Integrity is our character. We do the
right thing, even if no one is looking.
- People are our strength. We treat
each other as we want to be treated.
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The Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) is
an associated body of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC)
representing the civil aviation regulatory authorities of a number of
European States who have agreed to co-operate in developing and
implementing common safety regulatory standards and procedures.
This co-operation is intended to provide high and consistent standards
of safety and a "level playing-field" for competition in
Europe. Much emphasis is also placed on harmonising the JAA
regulations with those of the USA.
The JAA Membership is based on signing the "JAA Arrangements"
document originally signed by the then current Member States in Cyprus
in 1990. Based on these Arrangements and related commitments, the
JAA's objectives and functions may be summarised as follows:
- "Aviation Safety":
To ensure, through co-operation amongst Member States, that JAA
members achieve a high, consistent level of aviation safety.
- "Transition from JAA to
EASA":
To ensure the highest level of contribution to the European Union
for establishing a European Aviation Safety Agency that would absorb
all functions and activities of the JAA in as short a period as
possible and would ensure the full participation of the JAA non EU
Member States.
- "Business
Effectiveness":
To achieve a cost effective safety system in order to contribute to
an efficient civil aviation industry.
- "Consolidation of Common
Standards":
To contribute, through the uniform application of common standards
and through regular review of existing regulatory situation, to fair
and equal competition within Member States.
- "Worldwide Aviation Safety
Improvement":
To co-operate with other regional organisations or national
authorities of States who are playing an important role in Civil
Aviation, in order to reach at least the JAA safety-level and to
foster the world-wide implementation of harmonised safety standards
and requirements through the conclusion of international
arrangements.
- To develop and adopt Joint Aviation
Requirements (JARs) in the fields of aircraft design and
manufacture, aircraft operations and maintenance, and the licensing
of aviation personnel.
- To develop administrative and
technical procedures for the implementation of JARs.
- To implement JARs and the related
administrative and technical procedures in a co-ordinated and
uniform manner.
- To adopt measures to ensure, whenever
possible, that pursuance of the JAA safety objective does not
unreasonably distort competition between the aviation industries of
Member States or place companies of Member States at a competitive
disadvantage with companies of non Member States.
- To provide a centre of professional
expertise in Europe on the harmonisation of aviation safety
regulations.
- To co-operate on the harmonisation of
requirements and procedures with other safety regulatory
authorities, in particular the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA).
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Our Mission
EASA promotes the highest common standards of
safety and environmental protection in civil aviation. We are the centrepiece
of a new, cost-efficient regulatory system in Europe and a reliable partner
for our counterpart authorities throughout the world.
Our Vision
A safe and sustainable aviation system.
Our Values
People. EASA invests in the best qualified
professionals to build a European centre of excellence in aviation safety.
Performance. We aim to reach our regulatory and advisory goals with the
highest level of efficiency and integrity.
Accountability. EASA is fully accountable to the European Union and the
public through a system of checks and balances involving national governments
and the European institutions.
What we do
EASA is an independent European Community body
with a legal personality and autonomy in legal, administrative and financial
matters. Our main tasks are:
- To assist the European
Commission in preparing legislation, and support the Member States and
industry in putting the legislation into effect;
- To adopt our own certification
specifications and guidance material, conduct technical inspections and
issue certificates where centralised action is more efficient;
- To assist the European
Commission in monitoring the application of European Community
legislation.
More details on these tasks can be found in our
Safer Skies for European Citizens brochure.
Our partners
We work closely with representatives of other
organisations to ensure that we take their views into account:
- Interested parties in industry,
which are subject to rules drafted by EASA, are key to ensuring the
success of civil aviation safety standards by assisting in the drafting
and correct application of European Community and EASA rules;
- European aviation authorities
perform a critical role in assisting EASA with the performance of its core
rulemaking, certification and standardisation functions;
- International aviation
organisations such as the Joint Aviation Authorities, Eurocontrol and the
International Civil Aviation Organisation work together with EASA to
promote international civil aviation standards;
- International aviation
authorities such as the Federal Aviation Administration, Transport Canada,
DAC/CTA (Brazil) and the Interstate Aviation Committee (Russia) work with
EASA to ensure compliance with international standards and to facilitate
trade in aeronautical products.
- Accident investigation bodies
issue safety recommendations and analysis that guide our safety strategy