This biennial event, arranged under the auspices of the Military Airworthiness Authorities (MAWA) Forum, brought together delegates from industry and governmental organisations across both EU and non-EU nations, representing a diverse range of expertise in civil and military aviation.
Opening the conference, the Netherlands Minister of Defence, Ruben Brekelmans, remarked that, in a sense, EMARs are a language: our shared language. “We all speak EMAR”.
EMAR are more than just rules or standards, as they represent a common framework that allows our military aviation partners to operate together, seamlessly and safely.
The commitment to shared standards was a central theme throughout the conference. “Airworthiness underpins airpower,” noted EDA Chief Executive André Denk. “It ensures that every aircraft can deliver combat power when called upon.”
Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Defence Oleksandr Kozenko shared his national insights into maintaining airworthiness under demanding operational conditions.
This year’s motto: ‘Mission first, safety always, and EMARs forever’ reflected the enduring importance of airworthiness in times of crisis. The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has demonstrated that the deployment of air assets in a crisis or war zone poses major challenges to maintaining compliance with standard “peacetime” national airworthiness rules.
Nevertheless, the system of harmonised EMARs must remain applicable even in such circumstances. While declaring a state of crisis for airworthiness is a national decision, the overarching goal is to optimise the availability and sustainability of military aircraft support systems by ensuring continuity through a systematic approach. This includes defining how temporary derogations from EMARs can be applied, that way providing the necessary flexibility in times of crisis.
For nearly two decades, EDA has supported its Member States through MAC, which develops and maintains EMAR: globally recognised reference standards that ensure aircraft can operate safely across borders.
Presentations