Cooperative Development of Operational Safety Continuing Airworthiness

Cooperative Development of Operational Safety & Continuing Airworthiness

OBJECTIVE • This chapter provides guidance and information relating to the issue of standard Certificates of Airworthiness (Co. As) in particular categories

BACKGROUND • The obligation for Contracting States of ICAO, to issue Co. As, is laid down in Part II, Section 3 of ICAO Annex 8, “Airworthiness of Aircraft”. A Co. A may be issued on the basis of satisfactory evidence that an individual aircraft complies with the appropriate airworthiness requirements, and that the aircraft has been constructed and assembled satisfactorily.

BACKGROUND • Co. As are issued for individual aircraft as one of the preconditions to the aircraft being able to fly legally, in the sense of being fit to fly. • Actual aircraft type approval stops at the issue of the Type Certificate.

BACKGROUND • The C of A issue process involves ensuring that: (a) the aircraft conforms with the type design; this in turn ensures that the aircraft meets: – a design standard; and – the specified airworthiness requirements; (b) the aircraft is free from defects; (c) the required modifications, have been embodied; (d) the required operational equipment has been fitted; (e) the aircraft’s airworthiness state is properly reflected in the required documentation.

STANDARD CERTIFICATES OF AIRWORTHINESS • A standard Co. A may be issued in the following categories: · Transport · Normal · Utility · Acrobatic · Commuter · Manned free balloons

STANDARD CERTIFICATES OF AIRWORTHINESS • Standard Co. As are only issued to aircraft which meet prescribed airworthiness standards e. g. Part 23 (a design standard for small aircraft); Part 25 (a design standard for transport category aircraft) or, a one-off standard, prescribed and published by the Authority for special classes of aircraft. • Special Co. As or special flight permits cover all other cases.

OTHER BASIC PREREQUISITES • As well as the aircraft being registered and appropriately marked, in accordance with the regulations, there are two other basic prerequisites for issue of a standard Co. A: (a) the aircraft must have been type certificated; (b) many states require that a fireproof plate is secured to the aircraft. VH-ABC B 727 -138 Ser. No. 12237

THE APPLICATION FORM The form details should include: (a) registration mark, (b) manufacturer, serial number, model: as it appears on the aircraft identification plate or in the aircraft’s flight manual, and/or the type certificate data sheet. (c) place and year of construction: from identification plate or log books (d) aircraft location and maintenance organisation: enter aircraft location and/or where the aircraft is to be processed for Co. A

THE APPLICATION FORM (e) category requested, noting: – (i)a standard Co. A can be issued in more than one category – (ii)two Co. As (for example, one to cover standard Co. A category operation, and one to cover restricted category operation) may be issued for the one aircraft. – (iii) an application for issue of the special Co. A must be made at this time. – (iv) that if a standard Co. A in the special class category is being requested, then the class is entered e. g. airship, etc; (h) C of R holder details: enter the specific details as required.

AIRCRAFT SOURCES • The relevant variables are: (a) whether the aircraft is locally or foreign manufactured; (b) whether the aircraft has been operated locally or is being imported; (c) whether the aircraft is new or used; (d) whether the aircraft is a first-oftype/model. (e) the age of the aircraft; (f) the modification status of the aircraft.

TYPE APPROVAL PROCESS • A Co. A cannot be issued to an aircraft that does not hold a type approval from this state • If an aircraft is one of a type manufactured in this state, type certification data should already be held within the Authority. • If an aircraft of foreign manufacture has been approved for operation in this state, then it will have already been issued with some form of Type Certificate.

TYPE APPROVAL PROCESS • Some states automatically issue a Type Acceptance Certificate (TAC) for an aircraft type that has a current Type Certificate issued to it by one or more recognised overseas authorities. • If a type acceptance certificate cannot, or has not been issued, then a full design validation must be undertaken by the Authority BEFORE a C of A can be issued.

IMPORTED AIRCRAFT • It is desirable for an application for a standard Co. A for aircraft being imported into this state to be supported by a foreign export Co. A or equivalent document (as discussed in more detail later in this chapter), and that local format logbooks and other documentation have been raised

USED AIRCRAFT • Used aircraft obviously have a “history” of operation, and some data in regard to this will be required

FIRST-OF-TYPE, DEFINITION “TYPE” means a design and make of aircraft and refers to a group of essentially similar aircraft which, although possibly existing in different models or variants, stem from a common basic design and are certificated under the same type certificate;

FIRST-OF-MODEL, DEFINITION • “MODEL’ means a particular version of an aircraft type, such as would be distinguished from another version of the same type by a change of sufficient effect on the weight and balance, structural strength, operational characteristics, or other characteristics as would require a separate entry on the type certificate identifying and approving the particular version as distinct from the identification and approval of other models.

GROUND INSPECTION REPORT • the Authority may produce a Ground Inspection Report (GIR), based on the Co. A issue exercise for a First of Type (FOT) or First of Model (FOM) aircraft. • Any condition identified during the ground inspection will be included as a condition on the Co. A for all aircraft of this type and model.

AGE AND MODIFICATION STATUS Old aircraft and those incorporating major modifications usually incur some extra time and effort in terms of documentary requirements, as discussed on the following slides.

SUPPLY OF DATA All aircraft The following data should be made available at the time of application: • the Certificate of Registration • evidence that the particular aircraft complies with the type design; • the logbooks or equivalent maintenance records for the aircraft; • the current weight and balance report • a copy of the Aircraft Flight Manual.

SUPPLY OF DATA Used aircraft • total hours and flights/landings of the aircraft/engines and all life limited components; • statement describing the past operational uses of the aircraft; • record of all major structural and life-limited component changes such as those of wings, rotor blades, tailplanes etc. , and the individual histories; • record of all major structural repairs.

SUPPLY OF DATA aged aircraft: • Special requirements may be imposed where the aircraft are older than 14 years: • details regarding previous operators of the aircraft and where operated, and details of all structural repairs to the aircraft not carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s approved data; and • a copy of the relevant Structural Inspection Document.

SUPPLY OF DATA imported aircraft: One of the following documents should be supplied: • a current export Co. A for export to this state, or current Co. A. , or • a written statement from the aircraft manufacturer, or from a maintenance organisation, that all applicable ADs, have been complied with, and that the aircraft conforms to Type Certificate requirements.

SUPPLY OF DATA modified aircraft: • For aircraft incorporating major modifications: • written evidence that the modifications were incorporated in accordance with approved data – manufacturer’s data approved by a recognised authority; or – data approved by a recognised authority in the country of manufacture

THE AIRCRAFT INSPECTION • The physical inspection involves the completion of detailed checklists, and encompasses: (a)inspection of structure, systems and engines, to verify the aircraft is in a safe condition for flight, and to correlate physical aspects with the aircraft’s documentation; (b) checking the correctness of registration markings and fireproof plate;

THE AIRCRAFT INSPECTION (c) correlation of aircraft data plate details with documentation; (d) checking all placards as called up by the AFM, MM or ADs; (e) ensuring the role equipment is correctly installed; and (f) operational equipment as required by the aircraft’s intended role e. g. instrumentation, communication and navigation equipment, oxygen provisions, survival equipment etc. is correctly installed.

THE AIRCRAFT INSPECTION Non conformance • Formal non-compliance documents are not raised. Non-compliances may be pursued in different ways: • rectified before the Co. A can be issued; • the applicant accepting operational restrictions • transferred to the flight and technical log as deferred defects.

TEST FLIGHT • Some overseas regulatory authorities require a test flight as a routine part of the Co. A issue procedure, or • the need for some particular form of check test flight may arise during the course of the Co. A

MULTIPLE AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATION • All the requirements for multiple category operation should be checked during the Co. A inspection, as well as ensuring the conversion from one category to the other by removing or adding equipment (as applicable) can be undertaken using simple mechanical means. • This sub-process will be completed when the Special Co. A in the restricted category is issued concurrently with the standard Co. A. A similar process applies for other multiple airworthiness certifications.

CONDITIONS APPLIED TO A C of A • The Authority is permitted to place any condition on the issue of a Co. A considered necessary in the interests of aviation safety. This may include operational limitations. • Any condition will be in writing attached to the Co. A. • The AWI should fully discuss all proposed Co. A conditions with the applicant prior to issue of the Co. A. The aircraft must be subsequently operated and/or maintained under the terms of the Co. A conditions.

STATUS OF THE CERTIFICATE OF AIRWORTHINESS • Duration Some states do not require that standard Co. As be renewed on a periodic basis, although the Co. A can be issued for a specific period. However the prevailing philosophy is to ensure ongoing airworthiness of aircraft through prescribed maintenance requirements, surveillance and other continuing airworthiness controls.

TRANSFER • A Co. A is transferred with the aircraft as the Co. A is issued to the particular aircraft. Thus the Co. R holder may change, but this does not invalidate the Co. A. However, a Co. A ceases to be in force if the aircraft ceases to be registered in this state.

CANCELLATION/SUSPENSION • The Authority has the power to suspend or cancel a Co. A by notice in writing to the holder of the Co. A in the interests of safety. Such action can be taken if maintenance on the aircraft is not carried out in accordance with the CARs, and/or, in the case of RPT aircraft, if type certification support, in the sense of continuing airworthiness obligations, ceases from an overseas source. • If a Co. A has been cancelled through the above action, or after an aircraft ceases to be on the Register, then a new Co. A will be required.

VARIATION & SURRENDER • If a condition on a Co. A is to be varied by the Authority, then the Co. A should be reissued. • If a Co. A stops being in force, expires or is suspended or cancelled, the holder of the Co. A must surrender it to the Authority, on written request from the Authority.

OVERSEAS ISSUE OF A C. of A. • The ‘Authority’ may not issue a Co. A overseas, for the following reasons: (a) diversion of limited Authority resources for the additional travel time involved; (b) the administration of tasks normally carried out by persons whose qualification privileges do not extend to work carried outside of this state e. g. the issue of a MR; (c) the degree of preparation prior to departure, necessary for the Co. A documentation; (d) the management and administrative tasks associated with overseas travel

SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATES An STC formally identifies a major modification normally carried out on an aircraft by a party other than the type certificate holder, and is supported by an approved data package.

SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATES • A STC incorporated into an aircraft for which Co. A issue is required will fall into one of three groups: – an STC of local design, approved by the Authority; – a foreign STC which has been previously accepted by the Authority; or issued by an authority of a recognised country and automatically accepted; – STCs which have not been approved or accepted by the Authority as per (a) and (b) above

SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATES • An STC must be applicable to the particular aircraft by serial number and be in accordance with the Type Certificate or TAC certification basis. • In the case of an STC that has not been approved by the local authority, it will be the responsibility of the applicant to furnish to the Authority the design data package for the STC, so that the Authority may carry out a design validation. The package required, consisting of drawings, test reports, flight manual supplement, is that lodged by the STC holder to the regulatory authority which issued the STC.

NOISE CERTIFICATION • Noise certification for individual aircraft is required before the aircraft can legally be operated in some countries. Aircraft noise limits may be regulated. Noise certification or lack of such has no legal impact on type approval, or individual Co. A issue. However, if an individual aircraft does not meet the noise requirements, then it may be illegal for that aircraft to operate in some countries, even though the aircraft may have a valid Co. A.

Maintenance release • A maintenance release is not issued prior to Co. A issue. However, an aircraft operating on a standard Co. A cannot legally fly until a maintenance release has been issued