EASA Part 145 Repair Stations Must Implement FAA SMS by Oct 2025
Repair stations holding EASA Part 145 certificates will be required to establish, implement, and maintain a Safety Management System (SMS) by October 10, 2025, under a new rule aligning FAA and EASA safety standards. The mandate follows Decision No. 0013, signed by the Bilateral Oversight Board in February 2025, and incorporated into the US-EU Maintenance Annex Agreement (MAG Change 10) signed in June.
The new regulation applies to all US-based FAA repair stations with EASA certification. Any new or reinstated applications for EASA Part 145 approval submitted after February 10, 2025, must demonstrate full SMS compliance before approval. While FAA-only Part 145 facilities are not directly affected, industry experts note that global aviation is trending toward SMS adoption across all organizations.
The FAA defines SMS as a proactive, systemic approach to safety that integrates hazard identification, risk management, and continuous improvement into organizational policies and procedures. Operators may either build their own SMS or adopt third-party systems, provided they align with 14 CFR Part 5 requirements.
To prepare, repair stations should conduct a gap analysis of existing systems, use FAA resources such as InFO24007 and AC 120-92, and consider participation in the FAA SMS Voluntary Program (SMSVP), which satisfies the compliance requirement. By October 10, 2025, repair stations must update their EASA supplement to confirm SMS readiness or submit declarations by December 31, 2025. Inspectors will then focus oversight on SMS-related compliance during audits.
This rule underscores a growing global emphasis on integrating SMS into aviation maintenance operations.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, aviationpros.com