Industry
EASA's Push for Common Standards in Electronic Licensing
EASA has proposed EU rules for electronic personnel licences so pilots and other aviation staff can show licences on a phone. Here is how it works and what is still pending.
Updated 3 min read
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has proposed rules that would let pilots and other aviation professionals hold their licences in electronic form and show them on a phone or tablet. The proposal was published as Notice of Proposed Amendment 2024-08 in December 2024. This page explains what an electronic personnel licence (EPL) is, how EASA plans to introduce it and what is still to be decided.
What an electronic personnel licence is
An EPL is a licence issued, shown and checked digitally instead of only on paper or a plastic card. It could be stored on a mobile device and shown to an inspector, for example during a ramp check. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) allowed this in Amendment 178 to Annex 1, which sets the international standards for personnel licensing. EASA's task is to bring those standards into EU law.
What EASA proposes
According to EASA's NPA 2024-08 and reporting by AIN:
- EU rules would allow EPLs to be issued, displayed, validated and verified on mobile devices, in addition to the traditional physical format.
- EPLs would be optional. A pilot who prefers a plastic licence could keep one.
- National authorities would have to recognise electronic licences issued by other EU member states and by other ICAO countries.
- Technical specifications would follow the ISO/IEC 18013-5 standard, which is also used for mobile driving licences, and ICAO Document 10190.
- An EPL system (EPLSYS) would handle issuing and verification.
Why common standards matter
When EASA first described the work, no EU member state issued electronic aircrew licences, though there were isolated pilot projects in airworthiness and air traffic control. Without common rules, each country could build its own tools. An inspector in one country might then be unable to check a licence from another, and the problem would grow with licences from non-EU countries. EASA warned that missing harmonisation could lead to fragmented tools and a global lack of interoperability.
The agency also stresses a coordinated approach so that every area of aviation staff licensing, including pilots, air traffic controllers and maintenance personnel, moves forward together.
What it means in practice
- For pilots and engineers: easier proof of licence when travelling, and fewer replacement cards after loss or renewal.
- For authorities: faster checks and lower printing and posting costs.
- For companies: software providers will need to build secure verification apps and databases.
- For security: licences must be hard to forge and checked against an official record.
Firms that build this kind of tooling appear in our aviation software and IT service categories. If you are looking for training, see flight schools, and for licensed engineers see maintenance providers.
What happens next
An NPA is a consultation step. After it, EASA writes an Opinion, which the European Commission can turn into law. Check the EASA site for the current status, as dates have not been fixed in the sources we reviewed.
How a digital licence is checked
The ISO/IEC 18013-5 standard was designed for mobile driving licences. It lets a phone show a licence by short-range wireless link or QR code, so that an inspector's reader can check that the data is genuine, even without an internet connection, by verifying a digital signature from the issuing authority. The holder chooses which data to share. Applied to aviation, an inspector could check that a pilot's licence is valid, which ratings it includes and when the medical certificate expires, without handling a card.
Which licences could be affected
The NPA concerns personnel licences issued under EU rules. Pilot licences are the main example, and the proposal is built to cover other areas as they are brought in, such as air traffic controllers and maintenance engineers. Each group has its own rules and databases, which is why EASA wants a coordinated approach and not separate projects.
Frequently asked questions
Will paper or plastic licences disappear?
No. EASA proposes that EPLs are optional.
Is an electronic licence valid in other countries?
Under the proposal, EU authorities must recognise EPLs from other EU states and ICAO states.
Can I already use one?
Not under EU rules yet. The framework is still being developed.
