The European General Aviation Safety Team (EGAST) was established in late 2006 as part of the European Strategic Safety Initiative (ESSI). This initiative, launched by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), aimed to improve aviation safety over a ten-year period. However, EGAST concluded its operations on April 20, 2016, with its responsibilities transferred to other groups.
EGAST served as a voluntary safety partnership among general aviation (GA) associations, industry stakeholders, EASA, and various authorities across Europe. Its primary goal was to enhance safety within general aviation operations. In Europe, as in many parts of the world, general aviation is a diverse community that encompasses numerous activities. From air sports to recreational flying, the range includes powered flights, ballooning, gliding, and even newer pursuits like sky-surfing, micro-light flying, and paragliding.
EGAST took into account the latest regulations developed by EASA specifically for general aviation. Gathering safety data and encouraging participation from the GA community posed challenges. To address this, EGAST built upon existing national general aviation initiatives, establishing a platform for sharing safety data and best practices throughout Europe.
To support its mission, EGAST published a series of leaflets and brochures, each targeting different operational themes relevant to general aviation pilots. These resources aimed to provide valuable insights and promote safety awareness among pilots.
