JOINT AVIATION AUTHORITIES
3.12 JAA is an informal grouping
of the national aviation regulatory authorities of 33 States.
It was originally set up as a design standards authority at the
request of European aircraft manufacturers who were beginning
to build aircraft with components sourced from different European
countries which had varying aviation rules and regulations (Q
344). JAA aims to secure common safety standards across Europe
by means of Joint Aviation Requirements (JARs). Currently it is
largely concerned with airworthiness certification, but is working
towards standardisation of operational and pilot licensing requirements.
3.13 JAA standards are implemented mainly through
the domestic legislation of each Member State, although some have
been incorporated into European Union law. The standards are concerned
primarily with the safety of aircraft, crew and passengers. JARs
are concerned directly with passenger health only in relation
to minimum medical first aid provisions but bear indirectly on
health and comfort through standards dealing with environmental
conditions including ventilation, heating and pressurisation.
3.14 The European Union has
a range of legislation on the economic and safety aspects of the
Common Air Transport policy, and more limited measures in the
field of consumer protection. It does not have legislation specifically
related to passenger health.
3.15 In the light of responses
to a January 2000 Consultation Document on Air Passenger Rights
in the European Union, the European Commission sent a Communication
to the European Parliament and the Council in June 2000 entitled
Protection of Air Passengers in the European Union.
This indicated plans for an assessment of the impact of cabin
conditions on passengers' health, and also for legislation to
improve the information available to passengers to make well-founded
choices and to create new rights for passengers and improve the
balance of contracts in their favour.