industry BREXIT IS OFFICIAL WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? S T O R Y T B Y L I N D S E Y he long-awaited and often controversial Brexit finally occurred earlier this year when the United Kingdom left the European Union at midnight Jan. 31, 2020. Considering the number of aviation regulatory and safety topics established and overseen by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and other issues such as customs and taxes managed by different EU agencies, what does Brexit mean for aviation organizations and individuals in the aviation industry, including pilots and mechanics? A number of aviation-related issues hang in the balance. * Will airman licensing be impacted by the split? * Will aircraft type certificates or approvals of parts or appliances be impacted? * How will aircraft transactions be impacted? * How will VAT (value added tax) be calculated in the U.K. and what agency will be responsible for oversight and collection? 28 avionics news * may 2020 * M C F A R R E N Will third-country operator approvals for charter operators by EASA be honored in the U.K., or will new TCO approvals be required for operations in the U.K.? * How will customs practices and fees change? * Will cabotage prohibition restrict operations of an EASA-based commercial operator within the U.K. or vice versa? (See sidebar.) "There are two important relationships to consider - the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority relationship with the EASA and the U.K. CAA's relationships with all other aviation authorities, including the U.S.," said Ric Peri, AEA vice president of government and industry affairs. Peri explained concerns regarding the U.K. CAA's relationship with the U.S. were mostly addressed with a Federal Aviation Administration statement informing the industry that during the transition period, the FAA will consider U.K. aviation products and services covered under the U.S.-EU Safety Agreement on an equivalent