The safety of civil aircraft is regulated through a process of airworthiness certification and the application of operational regulations. The main elements of airworthiness are:

• (i) certification of the design,

• (ii) compliance with airworthiness requirements,

• (iii) maintenance and reaction to service problems -continued airworthiness.

The airworthiness requirements are developed through a process of discussion and consultation with all interested parties. Whilst the result is largely a consensus view, the ultimate authority rests with the airworthiness authority. In recent years there have been increased efforts to reduce national differences with the aim of producing a single international code. At present there are two, with European and US international pressures tending to work against ‘improving’ requirements unless there is a clearly recognised need.