EASA grants first design and production approval for ATM equipment
March 27, 2025
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has granted its first-ever Design or Production Organisation (DPO) approval for Air Traffic Management/Air Navigation (ATM/ANS) equipment, a move aimed at enhancing safety, efficiency, and interoperability across Europe’s air traffic network.
The approval was awarded to Dutch company Micro Elektronische Producten (MEP), which specialises in air-ground voice communication systems for air traffic control.
The certification allows MEP’s equipment to be recognised across the EU under a single approval, streamlining regulatory processes and ensuring harmonised standards for ATM/ANS technology.
EASA Flight Standards Director Jesper Rasmussen said: “This approval is a first step on the way to a more modern and harmonised ATM network in Europe. Europe is strong in producing ATM equipment and this new approval system makes it easier for the service providers to adopt solutions already proven as safe in real operations. Innovation also becomes easier, as the approval of an organisation comes with the privilege to improve existing solutions without needing a new full certification.
“We congratulate MEP on the achievement of receiving this first approval and expect many manufacturers to follow in their footsteps.”
MEP CEO Werner van Eck welcomed the milestone, saying: “I am very happy that MEP is the first company to be granted the DPO approval. This is the result and recognition of all the hard work of our MEP project team, receiving great support from the EASA team over the last 12 months. MEP is committed to safety in Air Traffic Control in general and voice communication systems in particular. I am convinced that this approval will further improve cooperation with our customers.”
The approval process required MEP to demonstrate compliance with EU regulations 2023/1769 and 2023/1768, with EASA carrying out a thorough review over the past year.
