EC Approves Single Engine Commercial Operations in IMC or at Night

The European Commission Thursday published a new regulation allowing commercial air transport (CAT) operations with single-engine turbine (SET) airplanes in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) or at night (CAT SET-IMC) in Europe. The new regulation, amending the Air Operations regulation, was drafted by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and published in the European Union’s (EU) Official Journal. The new regulation took effect Thursday, and EASA plans to publish the associated acceptable means of compliance and guidance material next week, the agency said.

“This is a significant development since several attempts in the past failed to amass sufficient consensus among EU states,” EASA said in a news release. The new regulation establishes a framework for CAT SET-IMC operations applicable in 32 European states.

“The EU’s acceptance of CAT operations has been a long-awaited moment for general aviation,” said Pete Bunce, president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. “We are very pleased to see Europe joining other regions in permitting this important form of transport.”

EASA said the new regulation “meets and exceeds” the relevant International Civil Aviation Organization standards.