ARA.FSTD.120 Continuation of an FSTD qualification

GENERAL

(a)Objective Testing. During recurrent evaluations, the competent authority should wish to see evidence of the successful running of the QTG between evaluations. The competent authority should select a number of tests to be run during the evaluation, including those that may be cause for concern. Again adequate notification would be given when special equipment is required for the test.

(b)Essentially the time taken to run the objective tests depends upon the need for special equipment, if any, and the test system, and the FSTD cannot be used for subjective tests or other functions whilst testing is in progress.

(c)For a modern FSTD incorporating an automatic test system, four hours would normally be required. FSTDs that rely upon manual testing may require a longer period of time.

(d)Subjective Testing. Essentially the same subjective test routine should be flown as per the profile described in AMC1 ARA.FSTD.100(a)(3) with a selection of the subjective tests taken from CS-FSTD(A) or CS-FSTD(H), as appropriate.

(e)Normally, the time taken for recurrent subjective testing is about 4 hours, and the FSTD should not perform other functions during this time.

(f)To ensure adequate coverage of subjective and objective tests during a recurrent evaluation, a total of 8 hours should be allocated, (4 hours for a BITD). However, it should be remembered that any FSTD deficiency that arises during the evaluation could necessitate the extension of the evaluation period.

COMPOSITION OF THE EVALUATION TEAM

(a)The composition of the evaluation team for a recurrent evaluation should be the same as for the initial evaluation (see AMC4 ARA.FSTD.100(a)(1). On a case-by-case basis (except for BITD), when a specific FSTD in operation by a specific organisation is being evaluated, the competent authority may reduce the evaluation team to:

(1)the competent authority’s flight inspector; and

(2)a type rated instructor (or class rated instructor for FNPT) from a main FSTD user.

(b)Evaluations with a reduced evaluation team in line with (a) may only take place if:

(1)this composition is not being used prior to the second recurrent evaluation;

(2)such an evaluation is followed by an evaluation with a full competent authority evaluation team;

(3)the competent authority’s flight inspector performs some spot checks in the area of objective testing;

(4)no major change or upgrading has been applied since the directly preceding evaluation;

(5)no relocation of the FSTD has taken place since the last evaluation;

(6)a system is established enabling the competent authority to monitor and analyse the status of the FSTD on a continuous basis; and

(7)the FSTD hardware and software has been working reliably for the previous years. This should be reflected in the number and kind of discrepancies (technical log entries) and the results of the compliance monitoring system audits.

(c)In the case of a BITD, the recurrent evaluation may be conducted by one suitably qualified flight inspector only, in conjunction with the inspection of any ATO, using the BITD.

EXTENDED EVALUATION PERIOD — GENERAL

(a)The competent authority should determine the length of the extended recurrent evaluation period of an FSTD, taking into consideration the information listed in point (a) of AMC2 ORA.FSTD.225(b). The extended evaluation period should be 24 or 36 months.

(b)The extension of the recurrent evaluation period should be driven by a risk-based approach as part of the continuous oversight. As such, the performance of the organisation, as well as the performance of the device, should be monitored.

(c)Once the competent authority has granted an extended recurrent evaluation period, it may plan all subsequent recurrent evaluations of the relevant FSTD with the extended time interval of 24 or 36 months, as applicable, until it decides to revert again to a shorter recurrent evaluation period, should the conditions of point ARA.FSTD.120(c) be no longer fulfilled.

(d)The audit of the management system elements, described in point ARA.FSTD.120(c)(3), may be performed remotely, at the discretion of the competent authority, considering the performance of the organisation. [Figure or form omitted from this preview — available in the Avioverse workspace library.]