Rulemaking

Section 02: Regulatory Vocabulary

Definition

The formal process by which an aviation authority develops, proposes, consults on, and adopts new or amended regulations. In the United States, FAA rulemaking follows the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) notice-and-comment process. EASA rulemaking follows a structured process involving Notices of Proposed Amendment (NPA), public comment, and adoption of Implementing Rules or Certification Specifications. Rulemaking is the mechanism through which regulatory requirements evolve in response to safety data, technological developments, and harmonization needs.

Primary Sources

5 U.S.C. ยง 553 โ€” Rulemaking (Administrative Procedure Act)FAA

The US statutory basis for the notice-and-comment rulemaking process.

EASA MB Decision 18-2015 โ€” EASA Rulemaking ProcedureEASA

The EASA Management Board decision governing the EASA rulemaking process.

Related Terms

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)Final RuleAmendment (Regulatory Amendment)

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