21.A.147 Changes in the production management system

APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGES OR VARIATIONS IN THE SCOPE OR TERMS OF A PRODUCTION ORGANISATION APPROVAL

(a)An application for approval of significant changes or variations in the scope or terms of a production organisation approval (POA) should be submitted in writing to the competent authority. The production organisation (PO) should demonstrate to the competent authority, on the basis of the submission of any proposed changes to the production organisation exposition (POE), and before the implementation of the changes, that it will continue to comply with Part 21 after the implementation.

(b)The approved PO should submit to the competent authority an application for any significant change(s), or for a variation in the scope or terms of its POA, using an EASA Form 51 (see below).

EASA Form 51 Block 1: The name should be entered as written on the current approval certificate. If a change in the name is to be announced, state the old name and address here, while using Block 5 for the information about the new name and address. The change of name and/or address should be supported by evidence, e.g. by a copy of the entry in the register of commerce. Block 2: State the current approval reference number. Block 3: State the location(s) for which changes in the terms of approval are requested, or state ‘not applicable’ if no change is anticipated. Block 4: This block should include further details for the variation of the scope of approval for the addresses indicated in Block 3. The ‘General’ block should include overall information for the change (including changes e.g. in workforce, facilities, etc.), while the ‘Scope of approval’ block should address the change in the scope of work and products/categories, following the principles laid down in GM 21.A.151. The ‘nature of privileges’ block should indicate a change in the privileges as defined in points 21.A.163(b)-(d). State ‘not applicable’ if no change is anticipated. Block 5: This block should state the changes to the organisation as it is defined in the current POE, including changes to the organisational structure, functions, and responsibilities. This block should therefore also be used to indicate a change in the accountable manager in accordance with point 21.A.145(c)(1) or a change in the nomination of the responsible managers in accordance with point 21.A.145(c)(2). State ‘not applicable’ if no change is anticipated. Block 6: State the position and name of the accountable manager. Where there is a change in the nomination of the accountable manager, the information should refer to the nominee for that position. State ‘not applicable’ if no change is anticipated. In case of an application for a change of the accountable manager, EASA Form 51 should be signed by the new nominee for that position. In all other cases, EASA Form 51 should be signed by the accountable manager.

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES Changes to be approved by the competent authority include: significant changes to the production capacity or methods; changes in the organisation’s structure, especially those parts of the organisation in charge of the safety management element or the quality management element of the organisation’s production management system; a change of the accountable manager or of any other person that is nominated under point 21.A.145(c)(2); changes in the production management system that may have an important impact on the conformity orairworthiness of any product, part, or appliance, including in the reporting lines between the personnel that is nominated in accordance with point 21.A.145(c)(2) and the accountable manager; and changes in the placement or control of significant subcontracted work or supplied parts. To ensure that changes do not result in non-compliance with Part 21, it is in the interest of both the competent authority and the approval holder to establish a relationship and exchange information that will permit the necessary evaluation work to be conducted before the implementation of a change. This relationship should also permit agreement on the need for variation of the terms of approval (refer to point 21.A.143(a)(9)). Where a change of name or ownership results in the issue of a new approval the investigation will normally take account of the competent authority’s knowledge and information from the preceding approval. Changes of location are addressed in point 21.A.148, changes of ownership in point 21.A.149, and the change of scope of the approval in point 21.A.153.