Military Airworthiness Mutual Recognition

Korea-US Military Airworthiness Mutual Recognition Case

Background

The US military airworthiness authority requested mutual recognition to verify the airworthiness of a foreign military aircraft to ensure flight safety when US military members board foreign military aircraft during combined exercises such as Korea-US Combined Exercise and training.

U.S. Department of Defense Directive (DoDD 5030.61) / MAY 24, 2013

US military aviation authorities shall verify and approve the airworthiness certification procedures of the relevant country in advance when US Department of Defense personnel board a foreign military aircraft

  • Performing a pre-inspection of each aircraft for boarding of a US military member is mandatory unless the sovereign nation’s military airworthiness authority of the aircraft has already signed the military airworthiness mutual recognition certificate with the US military airworthiness authority.
  • Historically, followed by the Iraqi military aircraft crash during a US-Iraq combined exercise, the US military introduced pre-flight safety assessment system for boarding a foreign military aircraft by US military members
Signing the Korea-US Military Airworthiness Mutual Recognition Agreement (September 26, 2016)
Signing the Korea-US Military Airworthiness Mutual Recognition Agreement(September 26, 2016) - Tier, Definition, Etc.
Tier Definition Etc.
Tier 1 Recognition of the organization and system of the military airworthiness authority Mutual boarding of a military aircraft
Tier 2 Recognition of the ability to perform military airworthiness certification work Mutual maintenance of a military aircraft
Tier 3 Recognition of the type certification of military aircraft Mutual recognition of military airworthiness certificates

<Mutual Recognition Level>

Mutual Recognition Case in Civil Aviation

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) convention requires countries to recognize each other's aviation safety standards. An example of this is the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) of Korea.

When two countries determine that they have equivalent safety systems in the field of civil aviation safety, they cooperate to accept and simplify the certification process for aircraft-related products of the other country, based on mutual trust

Mutual Recognition Process (percentage of completion basis)

  1. Mutual recognition decision

    10%

  2. Organizing a recognition evaluation team

    15%

  3. Signing recognition plan

    25%

  4. Exchange Military Airworthiness Recognition Question set

    35%

  5. Reviewing counterpart's MARQ answers

    50%

  6. On-site inspection and face-to-face discussion

    65%

  7. Preparing an evaluation report

    85%

  8. Review and approval of evaluation report

    95%

  9. Signing and exchanging certificates of recognition

    100%

Mutual Recognition Agreement(MRA) Signed Countries

Korea-France DSAE Mutual Recognition Certification Signing Ceremony

Korea-France DSAE Mutual Recognition Certification Signing Ceremony (’22. 9. 20.)

  • U.S. (2016, renewal of 2020)
  • Spain (2019, renewal of 2023)
  • France DSAE (2022)
  • Australia (2022)

Countries in progress of negotiating the MRA

Korea-NATO Mutual Recognition Plan Signed

[Korea-NATO Mutual Recognition Plan Signed (’23. 6. 21.)]

  • Korea - NATO
  • Korea - France DGA
  • Korea - Colombia
  • Korea - Indonesia
  • Korea - Poland