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Aviation glossary

EASA

European Union Aviation Safety Agency · Also: European Aviation Safety Agency, European Union Aviation Safety Agency

Registration and rules

European Union agency responsible for civil aviation safety, which certifies aircraft, engines and components and harmonises rules across Europe.

What it is

EASA was established in 2002 and is based in Cologne, Germany. Its rules apply in the EU member states and also in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. As the authority of the state of design for Airbus and other European manufacturers, it issues their type certificates, and its certification specifications, such as CS-25 for large aeroplanes, are a global benchmark alongside those of the FAA.

EASA does not entirely replace national authorities: in France, for example, the DGAC still keeps the aircraft register, issues licences and oversees airlines, but under common European rules. The agency also publishes airworthiness directives, approves design, production and maintenance organisations, and assesses airlines from outside Europe that wish to fly there. It was called the European Aviation Safety Agency until 2018.

Related terms

FAAUnited States government agency that regulates the country's civil aviation, certifies aircraft and provides air traffic control services. Civil aviation authorityPublic body that regulates and oversees a country's civil aviation: it registers aircraft, issues licences and certifies airlines and airports. Type certificateDocument in which an aviation authority declares that the design of an aircraft, engine or propeller model meets the applicable airworthiness requirements. Airworthiness directiveMandatory instruction issued by an aviation authority to correct an unsafe condition found in a type of aircraft, engine or component. ICAOSpecialised agency of the United Nations that sets the standards and recommended practices for international civil aviation.
Whole glossary

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This page was last updated on October 9, 2026

APA

Vuelopedia. (2026, October 9). EASA. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/easa

MLA

“EASA.” Vuelopedia, Fundación Poderia, 9 Oct. 2026, vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/easa. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Vuelopedia. “EASA.” Fundación Poderia. Last modified October 9, 2026. https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/easa.

Harvard

Vuelopedia (2026) EASA. Available at: https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/easa (Accessed: 17 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{vuelopedia_en_glossary_easa,
  author       = {{Vuelopedia}},
  title        = {{EASA}},
  publisher    = {Fundación Poderia},
  year         = {2026},
  date         = {2026-10-09},
  url          = {https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/easa},
  howpublished = {\url{https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/easa}},
  urldate      = {2026-10-17},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-17}
}

Wikipedia

{{cite web |url=https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/easa |title=EASA |website=Vuelopedia |publisher=Fundación Poderia |date=2026-10-09 |access-date=2026-10-17 |language=en}}

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