The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) have announced the signature of an implementing agreement under the U.S.-China Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) recognizing each other’s regulatory systems with respect to the airworthiness of aviation products and articles.

The so-called Implementation Procedures for Airworthiness (IPA) document allows each authority to rely on approvals completed by the other with respect to design, production, and airworthiness as well as continued airworthiness. The agreement uses the compatibilities of the two authorities’ certification systems and fulfills the commitment that the U.S. and China made in 2005 with the establishment of a BASA.

This IPA also allows both the FAA and the CAAC to submit applications for validation for all categories of aviation products and addresses globalization challenges such as complex business models separating design and production.

The FAA says the agreement supports the FAA Aircraft Certification Service’s overhaul of certification strategy by responding to stakeholder needs and promoting the seamless transfer of products and approvals globally.

Across the Atlantic, the European Commission has launched negotiations with China (and Japan) in view of concluding Bilateral Air Safety Agreements.