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CAO.A.020 Terms of approval

Annex Vd (Part-CAO) · Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 · EAR revision 2 Sep 2025

IRImplementing rule

CAO.A.020Terms of approval

(a)The CAO shall specify the approved scope of work in its combined airworthiness exposition (CAE), as provided for in point CAO.A.025.

(1)For aeroplanes of more than 2 730 kg maximum take-off mass (MTOM) and for helicopters of more than 1 200 kg MTOM or certified for more than four occupants and for other aircraft which are not ELA2, the scope of work shall indicate the particular aircraft types. Changes to this scope of work shall be approved by the competent authority in accordance with point (a) of point CAO.A.105 and point (a) of point CAO.B.065.

(2)For engines other than piston or electric, the scope of work shall indicate the engine manufacturer or group or series or type or the maintenance task(s). Changes to this scope of work shall be approved by the competent authority in accordance with point (a) of point CAO.A.105 and point (a) of point CAO.B.065.

(3)A CAO which employs only one person for both planning and carrying out of all maintenance tasks cannot hold privileges for the maintenance of:

(a)aeroplanes, helicopters and other aircraft which are not ELA2, if their power plant is other than electric or piston engine(s) (in the case of aircraft-rated organisations);

(b)helicopters equipped with more than one piston engine (in the case of aircraft-rated organisations);

(c)complete engines other than piston engines with output power below 450 HP or electric engines (in the case of engine-rated organisations).

(4)For aircraft other than those mentioned in point (1), for components different from complete turbine engines and for non-destructive testing (NDT)-specialised services, the scope of work shall be controlled by the CAO in accordance with the procedure set out in point (a)(11) of point CAO.A.025. For maintenance of components different from complete engines, the scope of work shall be classified in accordance with the following system ratings:

(i)C1: air conditioning and pressurisation;

(ii)C2: auto flight;

(iii)C3: communications and navigation;

(iv)C4: doors and hatches;

(v)C5: electrical power and lights;

(vi)C6: equipment;

(vii)C7: engine;

(viii)C8: flight controls;

(ix)C9: fuel;

(x)C10: helicopter and rotors;

(xi)C11: helicopter transmission;

(xii)C12: hydraulic power;

(xiii)C13: indicating and recording system;

(xiv)C14: landing gear;

(xv)C15: oxygen;

(xvi)C16: propellers;

(xvii)C17: pneumatic and vacuum systems; (xviii) C18: protection from ice/rain/fire;

(xix)C19: windows;

(xx)C20: structural;

(xxi)C21: water ballast;

(xxii)C22: propulsion augmentation; (xxiii) C23: other. Organisations obtaining an approval in accordance with this Annex on the basis of an existing organisation approval issued in accordance with Subpart G or Subpart F of Annex I (Part-M) or Annex II (Part-145) in accordance with paragraph 4 of Article 4, shall include in the scope of work all the necessary details to ensure that the privileges are identical to the ones included in the existing approval.

(b)The CAO approval shall be issued on the basis of the template set out in Appendix I to this Annex.

(c)A CAO may fabricate, in conformity with maintenance data, a restricted range of parts for use in the course of undergoing work within its own facilities, as indicated in their CAE.

IR · CAO.A.020 — Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 · Continuing Airworthiness Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 2 Sep 2025

GMGuidance material

GM1 CAO.A.020Terms of approval

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SCOPE OF WORK — AIRCRAFT CLASS In the combined airworthiness exposition (CAE), the following guidance can be used as a minimum aircraft information to be indicated while specifying the scope of work of an organisation in the aircraft class.

(a)For aeroplanes above 2 730 kg maximum take-off mass (MTOM): The particular aircraft types included (the use of the list of type ratings contained in the AMC to Part-66 is acceptable).

(b)For aeroplanes up to 2 730 kg MTOM: The type of propulsion (turbine engine, piston engine) The category (ELA1, ELA2, up to 2 730 kg)

(c)For helicopters above 1 200 kg MTOM and four occupants: The particular aircraft types included (the use of the list of type ratings contained in Appendix I to AMC to Part-66 is acceptable).

(d)For helicopters up to 1 200 kg MTOM and four occupants: The type of propulsion (turbine engine, piston engine)

(e)For sailplanes: ELA1

(f)For balloons: Hot-air balloons Gas-balloons Roziere balloons

(g)For airships: The particular airship type for those which are not classified as ELA2 For ELA2 airships, whether it covers hot-air airships or gas-airships Each category or type of aircraft specified in the scope of work is to be completed with the privileges held (maintenance, continuing airworthiness management, airworthiness review, permit to fly) for that aircraft category or type.

GM · GM1 CAO.A.020 — Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 · ED Decision 2020/002/R · Continuing Airworthiness Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 2 Sep 2025

GMGuidance material

GM1 CAO.A.020(a)Terms of approval

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EXAMPLES OF CHANGE TO THE SCOPE OF WORK In the case of helicopter Bell 206B model (above 1 200 kg MTOM) with regard to the scope of work, adding Bell 206L model to the scope of work would require approval by the competent authority in accordance with point CAO.A.020(a)(1). If the scope of work contains the Rotax 912 A Series complete piston engine, the combined airworthiness organisation (CAO) shall control changes to the scope of work for additional complete piston engines (e.g. Rotax 914 series or LOM M 332 Series) in accordance with CAO.A.105(b) through an approved procedure.

GM · GM1 CAO.A.020(a) — Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 · ED Decision 2020/002/R · Continuing Airworthiness Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 2 Sep 2025

AMCAcceptable means of compliance

AMC1 CAO.A.020(c)Terms of approval

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FABRICATION

(a)The agreement by the competent authority for the fabrication of parts by the maintenance organisation should be formalised through the approval of a detailed procedure in the CAE. This AMC contains principles and conditions to be taken into account for the preparation of an acceptable procedure.

(b)Fabrication, inspection, assembly and test should be clearly within the technical and procedural capability of the approved maintenance organisation.

(c)The approved data necessary to fabricate the part is that approved by either the Agency, the type certificate (TC) holder, the Part 21 design organisation approval holder, or the supplemental type certificate (STC) holder. Alternatively, the data can be declared by the declarant of a declaration of design compliance (in accordance with Part 21 Light Subpart C).

(d)Items fabricated by an approved maintenance organisation may only be used by that organisation in the course of overhaul, maintenance, modifications, or repair of aircraft or components undergoing work within its own facilities. The permission to fabricate does not constitute approval for manufacturing, or for supplying externally and the parts do not qualify for certification on EASA Form 1. This also applies to the bulk transfer or surplus inventory, in that locally fabricated parts are physically segregated and excluded from any delivery certification.

(e)Fabrication of parts, modification kits, etc. for onward supply and/or sale may not be conducted under a CAO approval.

(f)The data specified in point (c) may include repair procedures involving the fabrication of parts. Where the data on such parts is sufficient to facilitate fabrication, the parts may be fabricated by an approved maintenance organisation. Care should be taken to ensure that the data includes details on part numbering, dimensions, materials, processes, and any special manufacturing techniques, special raw material specification or/and incoming inspection requirement and that the approved organisation has the necessary capability. That capability should be defined within the CAE. Where special processes or inspection procedures are defined in the approved or declared (in accordance with Part 21 Light Subpart C) data, which are not available at the approved maintenance organisation, that organisation cannot fabricate the part unless the TC/STC holder or the declarant of a declaration of design compliance gives an approved alternative.

(g)Examples of fabrication under the scope of a CAO approval can include but are not limited to the following:

(1)fabrication of bushes, sleeves and shims;

(2)fabrication of secondary structural elements and skin panels;

(3)fabrication of control cables;

(4)fabrication of flexible and rigid pipes;

(5)fabrication of electrical cable looms and assemblies; and

(6)formed or machined sheet metal panels for repairs. It is not acceptable to fabricate any item to pattern unless an engineering drawing of the item is produced which includes any necessary fabrication processes and which is accepted to the competent authority.

(h)Where a TC holder or declarant of a declaration of design compliance or an approved or declared (in accordance with Part 21 Light Subpart G) production organisation, or a production organisation using Part 21 Light Subpart R is prepared to make available complete data which is not referred to in aircraft manuals or service bulletins, but provides manufacturing drawings for items specified in parts lists, the fabrication of these items is not considered to be within the scope of a CAO approval unless agreed otherwise by the competent authority in accordance with a procedure specified in the CAE.

(i)Inspection and identification Any locally fabricated part should be subject to an inspection stage before, separately, and preferably independently from, any inspection of its installation. The inspection should establish full compliance with the relevant manufacturing data, and the part should be unambiguously identified as fit for use by stating conformity to the approved or declared (in accordance with Part 21 Light Subpart C) data. Adequate records should be maintained of all such fabrication processes including heat treatment and the final inspections. All parts, except those with inadequate space, should carry a part number which clearly relates them to the manufacturing/inspection data. Additionally to the part number, the approved maintenance organisation’s identity should be marked on the part for traceability purposes.

AMC · AMC1 CAO.A.020(c) — Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 · ED Decision 2023/013/R · Continuing Airworthiness Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 2 Sep 2025

All rules in SECTION A — ORGANISATION REQUIREMENTS

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 2 Sep 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.

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