This annual conference was arranged under the auspices of the Military Airworthiness Authorities (MAWA) Forum and brought together delegates from industry and governmental organisations of both EU and non-EU nations. The delegates represented a diverse range of expertise in civil and military aviation.
Over the past decade, significant progress has been made in the implementation of European Military Airworthiness Requirements (EMAR) on behalf of EDA's participating Member States. In their scope, EMARs are used as a common benchmark for Military Airworthiness regulations which lay in their respective national responsibilities. This way, however, mutual recognition by competent authorities is facilitated.
The conference began with an opening address by Emilio Fajardo, the EDA Industry Synergies and Enablers Director, followed by a keynote speech by Major-General Kuebart, the Director of the German Military Aviation Authority. The two-day event featured 12 presentations covering various topics and challenges facing the military airworthiness community, both within Europe and globally.
The presentations were grouped into four main themes:
- EMARs as Critical Enablers for Cooperation
- Wider views on Cooperation Opportunities
- Experience of EMAR Implementation
- Challenges for further Evolution
Extended Questions & Answers sessions and discussion periods allowed delegates to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and approaches taken by aviation stakeholders regarding these subjects.
Several nations presented their approaches to implementing EMARs, whether starting from scratch, migrating from legacy systems, or applying them to newly procured aircraft. The conference also addressed opportunities for enhancing interoperability and flight safety by further harmonizing military regulatory requirements across various aviation domains. The emphasis was on EMARs as the foundation for a comprehensive European Airworthiness dialogue. This goes beyond translating regulations into practice and moreover invokes a developing culture.
The need for further progress in cooperation between European national military airworthiness authorities was identified, and the MAWA Forum initiated activities to harmonize practices and procedures, enhancing standardization and cooperation in organizations providing military airworthiness services.
The conference provided valuable networking opportunities, allowing delegates to engage in in-depth discussions on best practices and solutions. In the networks communalities were found even if topics were related to specific national issues. The European Defence Agency expressed gratitude to all presenters from participating Member States, as well as New Zealand, EASA, NATO, ASD and OSAC for sharing their views and expertise, providing valuable insights into military airworthiness.
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Presentations