WRITTEN QUESTION E-1846/00 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Licensing and supervision of aircraft pilots.
Date: 2000-06-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: common transport policy, crew, transport licence

C 72 E/130

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.3.2001

(2001/C 72 E/163)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1846/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(9 June 2000)

Subject: Licensing and supervision of aircraft pilots

Does the Commission regard the present arrangements for the licensing and supervision of aircraft pilots
in the Member States as satisfactory?

In particular, does it see any potential conflict of interest in the fact that examiners responsible for testing
pilots are employed by industry rather than by a government agency (as is normal in connection with the
licensing of car drivers)?

To what extent have qualifications now been mutually recognised by Member States?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(24 July 2000)

There is no Community legislation at the moment on the licensing and monitoring of the professional
ability of aircraft pilots.

The Commission does not consider that there is a gap in the existing arrangement in the Member States in
this area but, rather with a view to introducing joint rules and requirements for the licensing of pilots, it
plans to put forward, during the last quarter of the year, a legislative proposal on the basis of the Joint
Aviation Requirement-Flight Crew Licensing (JAR-FCL), which was developed by the Joint Aviation
Authorities (JAA) and has already been adopted by some Member States. This text is the result of
consultations with the participation of both representatives of the industry and the professions concerned
and also includes provisions on instructors and examiners.

With regard to the specific question of examiners responsible for testing pilots being employed by industry
rather than by a government agency, there might be a certain conflict of interest; however, this situation
arises from the need for such examiners to have the experience and high number of flying hours which
they can only acquire by exercising their profession. When the above specific joint rules are being
considered, care will have to be taken to ensure a fair balance between the two requirements of
independence and expertise by laying down clear, strict rules for the exercise of the profession of
examiner.

With regard to the mutual acceptance of personnel licences for the exercise of functions in civil aviation,
there is Council Directive 91/67/EEC of 16 December 1991 (1), but this is concerned only with personnel
performing duties essential to the operation of an aircraft during flight time. This therefore excludes
examiners and instructors, for whom, depending on the level of training required in the Member States,
recognition of qualifications is dealt with either by Council Directive 89/48/EEC of
the mutual
21 December 1988 on a general system for the recognition of higher-education diplomas awarded on
three years(cid:146) duration (2), or Council
completion of professional education and training of at
Directive 92/51/EEC of 18 June 1992 on a second general system for the recognition of professional
education and training to supplement Directive 89/48/EEC (3).

least

(1) OJ L 373, 31.12.1991.
(2) OJ L 19, 24.1.1989.
(3) OJ L 209, 24.7.1992.