thumb|right|Headquarters of the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt

The (LBA, "Federal Aviation Office") is the national civil aviation authority of Germany headquartered in Braunschweig.

It maintains regional offices in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main (Raunheim), Hamburg, Munich (Airport), Stuttgart, and Berlin and reports directly to the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure.

The LBA is responsible for developing and maintaining aviation safety standards, as well as certifying airlines, airports, and training devices such as simulators and Flight Training Devices (FTDs). Some of these tasks are fulfilled on behalf of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Investigation of accidents is not a responsibility of the LBA but of the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation.

History

In 1918, when the Weimar Republic had been established, matters of aviation were provisionally assigned to the Reichsamt des Inneren (Imperial Ministry of the Interior). In 1918 the Reichsluftamt (Imperial Agency of Aviation) was established.

After World War II, matters of aviation were initially handled by the administration of the Allied occupation powers. Some matters of aviation were transferred to the '"Vorläufige Bundesstelle für Luftfahrtgerät und Flugunfalluntersuchung'" (Provisional Federal Office for Avionic Devices and Investigation of Aviation Accidents) established on 15 September 1953 in Bonn. Eventually, the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt was established by the Gesetz über das Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (Act on the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt) of 30 November 1954 (BGBl. I 354) and commenced operation on 1 February 1955.

On 28 September 2003, substantial competences were formally transferred to the European Aviation Safety Agency established by Regulation (EC) 1592/2002. Lufthansa stated that grounded pilots awaiting decisions were costing the airline millions of euros. Critics also warned that the delays paradoxically undermined flight safety, as pilots were reportedly reluctant to disclose health problems for fear of prolonged grounding.

References

  • Luftfahrt-Bundesamt
  • Luftfahrt-Bundesamt