The European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the UK Civil Aviation Authority have agreed on Technical Implementation Procedures (TIP) as a basis for their future working relationship following the UK’s exit from the EU. Signed on May 17, the TIP gives the two parties oversight of the Air Safety Agreement signed between the UK and European Union in December and sets out the measures the aerospace sector must take to design and produce aerospace parts that move between the UK and the EU.

The TIP also gives clarity to design and production organizations and addresses any differences between aviation standards, rules, practices, procedures, and systems related to implementing the annex. In addition, it regulates the relationship between the two organizations now that the UK has left the European regulatory system. 

The Air Safety Agreement in the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) includes an annex that addresses aircraft design certification and production. The TIP, on which EASA and the UK CAA have negotiated since January, provides the procedures for implementing this annex, including defining the requirements and activities between EASA and the UK CAA as the relevant competent authorities and oversight of the agreement.

Specifically, the document establishes approval procedures for design certificates, continuing airworthiness, production, the issuance of export certificates, and technical support and information exchange for certification activities.

“This agreement [on Monday] provides the clarity aerospace organizations need to allow them to operate efficiently under the post-EU regulatory landscape,” said UK CAA chief executive Richard Moriarty in a written statement. “While the UK system is now independent of the EU regulatory system, both sides recognize the importance of close collaboration to overseeing the highest standards of aviation safety.”

UK aerospace industry group ADS welcomed the agreement, which it said would give its members "much-needed clarity" as to how they can compete in international markets and partner with EU companies. "UK industry can now apply through the CAA for the approvals they need to bring products to market and maintain products that are already on the market today," said ADS chief executive Kevin Craven. "There is more scope to develop the relationship between the CAA and EASA in the future, but the agreement announced this week provides a foundation to build on."