M.A.901 Airworthiness review — General

KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE AIRWORTHINESS REVIEW The following is a summary of the requirements , as well as the associated AMC and Appendices, in relation to the airworthiness review : — Airworthiness review staff are responsible for the accomplishment of both the documental and the physical survey. — Procedures must be established by the CAMO or CAO in order to perform the airworthiness review, including the minimum sample size and the depth of the investigations. — Procedures must make very clear that the airworthiness review staff may increase the sample size and/or extend the depth of the investigations beyond that established in the CAME or CAE if they find it necessary. This also includes determining whether a partial or complete repetition of the airworthiness review is required. For example, this may be the case if findings are not corrected within a reasonable time frame, which could lead to a discrepancy between the status represented by the airworthiness review certificate (ARC) and the actual condition of the aircraft. In the end, it is the responsibility of the airworthiness review staff to be satisfied that the aircraft is airworthy, and the organisation must ensure that no pressure is put or restrictions are imposed on the airworthiness review staff when performing their duty. — An airworthiness review report must be produced by the airworthiness review staff, detailing all items checked and the outcome of the review. — Airworthiness review staff are responsible for the items checked during the airworthiness review. However, they do not take over the responsibilities of the CAMO, maintenance organisation, design organisations, production organisations or any other organisations, not being responsible for problems not detected during the airworthiness review or for the possibility that the approved maintenance programme AMP may not include certain recommendations from the design approval holder. Obviously, if the airworthiness review staff are not independent of the airworthiness management process and were nominated on the basis of the option of having overall authority on such a process, they will be responsible for the full continuing airworthiness of aircraft. Nevertheless, this responsibility will be a consequence of their position in the organisation and not of their function as airworthiness review staff. — The issuance of the (ARC) by the airworthiness review staff only certifies that the aircraft is considered airworthy in relation to the scope of the airworthiness review performed and the fact that the airworthiness review staff are not aware of instances of non-compliance which may compromise the airworthiness of the aircraft. Furthermore, it only certifies that the aircraft is considered airworthy at the time of the review. It is the responsibility of the person or organisation responsible for the aircraft continuing airworthiness in accordance with point M.A.201 to ensure that the aircraft is fully airworthy at any time.

RECOMMENDATION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF AN AIRWORTHINESS REVIEW CERTIFICATE (ARC)

(a)The application for the issuance of an ARC should be made in a form and manner established by the competent authority of the Member State of registry.

(b)The recommendation should be in English or in any of the official languages of the European Union acceptable to the competent authority of the Member State of registry.

(c)The recommendation should include the airworthiness review report, as defined in AMC1 M.A.903(h), and the following:

(1)Aircraft information — in case of import of an aircraft, the previous aircraft registration and reference to the airworthiness statement issued by the authority that was responsible for the oversight of the aircraft, or reference to the evaluation programme; — reason(s) for not fulfilling the conditions set out in point M.A.901(b)(1), such as: import of used aircraft from a third country; aircraft previously operated as State aircraft; the former airworthiness certificate has been revoked or surrendered; or transfer of oversight responsibilities in accordance with ICAO Article 83 bis.

(2)Aircraft documentation — copy of the approvals of the flight manual and its supplements; — approved AMP developed in accordance with point M.A.302; — aircraft continuing airworthiness records specified in points (c) and (d) of M.A.305.

(3)Maintenance — a copy of the work packages requested by the person or organisation that manages the aircraft’s continuing airworthiness, including details of any bridging check to comply with the new maintenance programme.

(4)Aircraft maintenance check flight — if applicable, a copy of the maintenance check flight report.

(5)Coordination details — contact details of the organisation that issues the recommendation, such as email address and phone number; — the period and place in which the aircraft can be surveyed by the competent authority, as part of the recommendation assessment specified in point (c) of point M.B.902.

(6)Statement A statement signed by the airworthiness review staff recommending the issue of an airworthiness review certificateARC. The statement should confirm that the airworthiness review has been performed in accordance with point M.A.903, and that the aircraft is considered airworthy at the time the review was completed.

Suitable accommodation should include:

(a)an office with typical office equipment, such as desks, internet access, photocopying machines, etc., where the documented review of the aircraft continuing airworthiness records can be performed.

(b)a hangar, when needed, for the physical survey. The assistance of appropriate certifying staff is necessary when the airworthiness review staff is not appropriately qualified as specified in point M.A.903(d).

(a)‘Without loss of continuity of the airworthiness review pattern’ means that the new expiry date is set up one year after the previous expiry date. As a consequence, when the airworthiness review is anticipated, the validity or the ARC airworthiness review certificate is longer than one year (up to 90 days longer).

(b)The anticipation may be applied whether the airworthiness review is carried out by an approved organisation or by the competent authority. The 90-day anticipation period allows for the airworthiness review to be properly planned and performed before the expiry of the ARC. This includes ensuring that all necessary resources can be planned and made available, such as the availability of the aircraft for the physical survey, the airworthiness review staff, and, if applicable, any staff assisting the airworthiness review staff.

(c)If the airworthiness review is anticipated by more than 90 days, the expiry date of the ARC will be set to one year from the date of issuance, regardless of the previous airworthiness review pattern.

AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATES An airworthiness certificate refers to either a certificate of airworthiness or a restricted certificate of airworthiness issued in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 748/2012.

‘CONTINUOUSLY MANAGED’ For the purpose of point M.A.901(b)(1)(i), ‘continuously managed in accordance with point M.A.201 of this Annex or point ML.A.201 of Annex Vb’ means that the continuing airworthiness of an aircraft has been managed, without interruptions, by one or more persons or organisations as specified in point M.A.201 or point ML.A.201, as applicable. Interruptions in the continuing airworthiness management could have a significant impact on the overall condition of the aircraft; for example, due to a lack of control over the tasks required for preservation. Whenever responsibility for the continuing airworthiness management of an aircraft is transferred between persons or organisations, care should be taken to ensure that no interruption occurs in the continuing airworthiness management process. The period during which an aircraft should be continuously managed starts from the issuance of the last ARC, regardless of whether it remained valid during that period or not. For example, in the case of an aircraft with an expired ARC that has remained in preservation (i.e. storage or parking), the condition in point (b)(1) of point M.A.901 is considered met if the aircraft’s continuing airworthiness has been continuously managed in accordance with point M.A.201 or point ML.A.201, as applicable.

The ARC certifies that an airworthiness review has been performed in accordance with point M.A.903 and that, at the time of the review, the aircraft was considered airworthy. Although an airworthiness review is not required to be performed when extending the validity of the ARC, it should only be extended if there is no reason to believe that the aircraft is not airworthy. Therefore, the ARC should not be issued or extended when the aircraft is in a condition significantly different from that required for flight — for example, with major components such as engines or wings removed during heavy maintenance (e.g. C-check level activities), or as a result of modification work or long-term storage. Once the necessary maintenance has been completed or is near completion (for example, if only minor maintenance or the certificate of release to service remains outstanding), and there is no reason to question the aircraft’s airworthiness, the ARC may be issued or extended, provided that all other applicable requirements are met. The same principle applies if a recommendation for the issuance of the ARC is to be issued.