Concerns grow over air safety as watchdog struggles to cope.

EUROPE'S main aviation regulatory body has major problems that could threaten UK air safety, MPs were told yesterday.

The European Air Safety Agency (EASA) has difficulties with its structure, management and resources, the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) told the House of Commons Transport Committee.

Conservative MP David Wilshire, whose Spelthorne constituency lies close to Heathrow airport, asked about the safety implications of the CAA's assessment of EASA.

CAA chairman Sir Roy McNulty said he was not aware of anything that would cause Mr Wilshire's constituents concern today or tomorrow, but said that he could predict safety problems "somewhere along the road" if EASA was allowed to continue in its present vein. Mr Wilshire asked if he was correct in thinking that Sir Roy was saying that, if something was not done about this problem, the safety of Spelthorne constituents would be compromised. Sir Roy replied that that was right.

Sir Roy said that about 5-10 other EU countries were now equally worried about EASA.