ORA.FSTD.230 Changes to the qualified FSTD

ANNEX VII (Part-ORA) · Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 · EAR revision 25 Nov 2025

IRImplementing rule

ORA.FSTD.230Changes to the qualified FSTD

(a)The holder of an FSTD qualification certificate shall inform the competent authority of any proposed changes to the FSTD, such as:

(1)major modifications;

(2)relocation of the FSTD; and

(3)any de-activation of the FSTD.

(b)In case of an upgrade of the FSTD qualification level, the organisation shall apply to the competent authority for an upgrade evaluation. The organisation shall run all validation tests for the requested qualification level. Results from previous evaluations shall not be used to validate FSTD performance for the current upgrade.

(c)When an FSTD is moved to a new location, the organisation shall inform the competent authority before the planned activity along with a schedule of related events. Prior to returning the FSTD to service at the new location, the organisation shall perform at least one third of the validation tests, and functions and subjective tests to ensure that the FSTD performance meets its original qualification standard. A copy of the test documentation shall be retained together with the FSTD records for review by the competent authority. The competent authority may perform an evaluation of the FSTD after relocation. The evaluation shall be in accordance with the original qualification basis of the FSTD.

(d)If an organisation plans to remove an FSTD from active status for prolonged periods, the competent authority shall benotified and suitable controls established for the period during which the FSTD is inactive. The organisation shall agree with the competent authority a plan for the de-activation, any storage and re-activation to ensure that the FSTD can be restored to active status at its original qualification level.

IR · ORA.FSTD.230 — Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 · Aircrew Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 25 Nov 2025

AMCAcceptable means of compliance

AMC1 ORA.FSTD.230(b)Changes to the qualified FSTD

Show the text

UPDATING AND UPGRADING EXISTING FSTDs

(a)An update is a result of a change to the existing device where it retains its existing qualification level. The change may be certified through a recurrent inspection or an extra inspection if deemed necessary by the competent authority according to the applicable requirements in effect at the time of initial qualification.

(b)If such a change to an existing device would imply that the performance of the device could no longer meet the requirements at the time of initial qualification, but that the result of the change would, in the opinion of the competent authority, clearly mean an improvement to the performance and training capabilities of the device altogether, then the competent authority might accept the proposed change as an update while allowing the device to retain its original qualification level.

(c)An upgrade is defined as the raising of the qualification level of a device, or an increase in training credits, which can only be achieved by undergoing an initial qualification according to the latest applicable requirements.

(d)As long as the qualification level of the device does not change, all changes made to the device should be considered to be updates pending approval by the competent authority.

(e)An upgrade, and consequent initial qualification according to the latest applicable requirements, is only applicable when the organisation requests another qualification level (recategorisation) for the FSTD.

AMC · AMC1 ORA.FSTD.230(b) — Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 · ED Decision 2012/007/R · Aircrew Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 25 Nov 2025

All rules in SUBPART FSTD – REQUIREMENTS FOR ORGANISATIONS OPERATING FLIGHT SIMULATION TRAINING DEVICES (FSTDs) AND THE QUALIFICATION OF FSTDs

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 25 Nov 2025, extracted 17 Aug 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.

Ask Metis about ORA.FSTD.230 →

Metis opens with Avioverse in October 2026 · request early access.