An Air Safety Agreement between the Republic and the US was signed yesterday by Minister of State for Transport, Mr Emmet Stagg.
The US ambassador to Ireland, Mrs Jean Kennedy Smith, signed on behalf of the US government.
At present, all Irish aviation products and services bound for, the US - the largest aviation market in the world - must be approved by both the Irish Aviation Authority and its US equivalent, the Federal Aviation Administration. The new agreement allows each authority to enter into arrangements to accept reciprocally certification of aircraft manufacturing and maintenance processes.
Mr Jim Lacey, chairman of the Irish Aviation Authority, said the agreement would facilitate Irish based firms supplying the US airline market.