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ACTIVITIES:
As summer comes to a close, the Aircraft Electronics Association has been busy representing our European membership, and we have two more meetings scheduled with the European Aviation Safety Agency later this year.
As was reported at the AEA Europe Connect conference in January, the EASA has reorganized its Safety Standards Consultative Committee (SSCC) and its subcommittees. Moving forward, the SSCC will migrate to the EASA Stakeholder Advisory Body (SAB) and the subcommittees will become Technical bodies (STeBs).
The Engineering and Maintenance subcommittee that the AEA has participated in for the past decade will transition to the Engineering and Maintenance Technical Body. Other than a name change, we do not anticipate any significant changes at the subcommittee level.
As a result of the changes, the AEA will be making multiple visits to Brussels and Cologne later this year. If the AEA can be of assistance to you, please let Ric Peri know as soon as possible so that he can potentially schedule a visit to your facility if possible.
It was good to see a lot of you at the AEA International Convention & Trade Show in April in Orlando, and also at the EAA AirVenture a few weeks ago.
BREXIT
What does it mean for aviation? Mostly, at this point, a lot of questions. One issue is that the FAA/EASA Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement is not between the FAA and the EASA, but rather between the United States and the European Union. As such, when Great Britain secedes from the European Union, it will no longer be covered under the U.S./EU BASA. It may choose to remain an EASA signatory, which will smooth any pan-European issues; however, it will need its own U.S./GB BASA, similar to the agreement between the U.S. and Switzerland.
At this point, it is too early to speculate; however, the AEA is watching the events unfold with a keen eye toward their effect on aviation.
EASA Agency Decisions
There are eight new Agency Decisions published on 02 August 2016 that address revision of operational approval criteria for performance-based Navigation -- air operations.
ED Decision 2016/011/R -- Acceptable Means of Compliance and Guidance Material to Annex I (Part-M), Annex II (Part-145), Annex III (Part-66) and Annex Va (Part-T) to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014.
Specific to the revisions to Annex II (Part 145). The following changes to the AMC/GM guidance have been added and worthy of review:
GM 145.A.48 Performance of maintenance
- AUTHORISED PERSON
- SIGN-OFF
AMC1 145.A.48(b) Performance of maintenance
AMC2 145.A.48(b) Performance of maintenance
- CRITICAL MAINTENANCE TASKS
AMC3 145.A.48(b) Performance of maintenance
- ERROR-CAPTURING METHODS
AMC4 145.A.48(b) Performance of maintenance
- INDEPENDENT INSPECTION
- REINSPECTION:
AMC 145.A.48(c) Performance of maintenance
GM 145.A.48(c) Performance of maintenance
GM 145.A.48(d) Performance of maintenance -- critical design configuration control limitations (CDCCL)
GM 145.A.65(b)(1) Safety and quality policy, maintenance procedures and quality system
ED Decision 2016/013/R -- CS-ETSO - Amendment 11
This decision addresses an economic and harmonisation issue related to the regular update of European Technical Standard Orders (ETSOs) due to new or updated and improved standards for parts and appliances. More specifically, the main objectives of this decision are as follows:
- To modify a number of ETSOs in order to harmonise them with the corresponding FAA TSOs.
- To introduce new ETSOs (Index 1), which are technically similar to existing FAA TSOs.
- To introduce a new ETSO (Index 2), not existing in the FAA TSO series (i.e. ETSO-2C515 Aircraft halocarbon Clean Agent - Handheld fire extinguisher).
The changes are expected to reduce the regulatory burden for validation of FAA TSO authorisations by the EASA and vice versa, to increase cost-effectiveness, and to align CS-ETSO to the state of the art.
Notice of Proposed Amendments
The EASA currently has 12 active Notice of Proposed Amendments open for comment. The comment period for nine of the 12 will end mid-September. Three of the NPAs specifically dealing with fuel planning and management will close on 11 November 2016.
Six of the nine NPAs deal with a technical review of the theoretical knowledge syllabi, learning objectives, and examination procedures for pilot licences. (NPA 2016-03(A); (B); (C); (D); (E); (F). One of the nine address technical requirements and operational procedures for aeronautical information services (NPA 2016-02).
Two of the nine NPAs have a bearing on the AEA's membership. NPA 2016-05 addresses the reorganisation of CS-23 with a comment closing date of 23 September 2016; and, NPA 2016-07 addressing a regular update of CS-25 with a comment closing date of 27 September 2016.
NPA 2016-05 proposes a reorganisation of Certification Specifications 'CS-23' -- Certification Specifications for Normal, Utility, Aerobatic, and Commuter Category Aeroplanes. Through this reorganisation of the current CS-23, a new concept will be introduced. The EASA certification specifications will be replaced by objective requirements that are design-independent. These objective requirements, due to their higher abstract level, will also become suitable for current CS-VLA aeroplanes. Therefore, the proposed new CS-23 also will replace CS-VLA.
NPA 2016-07 proposes to amend CS 25.1309 and AMC 25.1309 in order to clarify the provisions related to the exception of cabin safety equipment from CS 25.1309(b); and amend AMC 25.1309 in order to reflect the current aircraft and systems development practices that make use of development assurance levels (DALs) assignments; the proposal introduces the relationship between the severity of a failure condition and the DAL.
For more information on EASA updates, contact Ric Peri, AEA vice president of government and industry affairs, at ricp@aea.net.
QUESTIONS/COMMENTS:
As always, the AEA welcomes your questions and comments. If you need more information on a specific membership benefit or would like to offer ideas for program topics at the next AEA Europe Connect Conference, please do not hesitate to contact us! You may use the general mailbox at info@aea.net or contact a staff member directly. All staff contact information can be found on the AEA website at www.aea.net.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact Ric Peri, AEA vice president of government and industry affairs, by email at ricp@aea.net or by phone at 202-589-1144.