21.A.243 Handbook

GENERAL

(a)All personnel should be familiar with those parts of the handbook that are relevant to their tasks.

(b)The handbook should provide the following information for each product that is covered by the design organisation approval (DOA).

(1)A description of the tasks that can be performed under the approval, according to the following classification:

(i)general areas, like subsonic turbojet aeroplanes, turboprop aeroplanes, small aeroplanes, rotorcraft, etc.;

(ii)technologies handled by the organisation (composite, wood or metallic construction, electronic systems, etc.);

(iii)a list of types and models for which the design approval has been granted and for which privileges may be exercised, supported by a brief description for each product; and

(iv)for repair design, classification and (if appropriate) approval activities. it is necessary to specify the scope of activity in terms of structures, systems, engines, etc.

(2)A general description of the organisation, its main departments, their functions and the names of those in charge; a description of the line management and of the functional relationships between the various departments.

(3)A description of the assigned responsibilities and delegated authority of all parts of the organisation, which, taken together, constitute the organisation’s design management system, together with a chart indicating the functional and hierarchical relationship of the design management system to the management and to other parts of the organisation; also the chains of responsibilities within the design management system, and the control of the work of all partners and subcontractors.

(4)A general description of the way in which the organisation performs all the design functions in relation to airworthiness, operational suitability and environmental protection approvals, including:

(i)the procedures followed and forms used in the certification process to ensure that the design of, or the change to the design of, the product as applicable, is identified and documented, and complies with the applicable type certification basis, operational suitability data (OSD) certification basis, and the environmental protection requirements, including specific requirements for import by importing authorities;

(ii)the procedures for classifying design changes as ‘major’ or ‘minor’ and for the approval of minor changes;

(iii)the procedures for classifying and approving unintentional deviations from the applicable design data occurring in production (concessions or non-conformity); and

(iv)the procedure for classifying and obtaining approval for repairs.

(5)A general description of the way in which the organisation performs its functions in relation to the continuing airworthiness and continued operational suitability of the product it designs, including cooperation with the production organisation when dealing with any continuing airworthiness action that is related to the production of the product, part, or appliance, as applicable.

(6)A description of the human resources, facilities, and equipment, which constitutes the means for design and, where appropriate, for ground and flight testing.

(7)An outline of a system for controlling and informing the personnel of the organisation of current changes in engineering drawings, specifications, and design management procedures.

(8)A description of the recording system for:

(i)the type design, including relevant design information, drawings and test reports, including inspection records of test specimens;

(ii)the means of compliance; and

(iii)the compliance documentation (compliance checklist, reports, etc.).

(9)A description of the record-keeping system to comply with point 21.A.5.

(10)A description of the means by which the organisation collects, monitors, analyses and responds to reports of problems that cause or might cause an adverse effect on the airworthiness or operational suitability of its product, part, or appliance during design, production, and in service, in particular to comply with point 21.A.3A (see also AMC3 21.A.3A(a) and AMC1 21.A.239(d)).

(11)The names of the design organisation (DO)-authorised signatories. Nominated persons with specific responsibilities such as those mentioned in points 21.A.33 and 21.A.35 should be listed as well.

(12)(Reserved).

(13)A clear definition of the tasks, competency, and areas of responsibility of the Office of Airworthiness.

(14)A description of the procedures for the establishment and the control of the manuals and instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA) (see points 21.A.6, 21.A.7 and, where applicable, 21.A.609).

(15)A description of the means by which the continuing evaluation (system monitoring) of the design management system will be performed in order to ensure that it remains effective.

(16)A description of the procedures for the establishment and control of the OSD (see points 21.A.5, 21.A.62, 21.A.108, and 21.A.120B).

(17)A description of the organisation’s safety policy and objectives, as required by point 21.A.239(c)(1).

(18)A description of the internal safety reporting scheme, as required by point 21.A.3A(a)(1).

(19)A description of the safety management procedures (including identification of safety hazards, evaluation, and associated risks management), safety assurance procedures, and safety promotion processes.

(20)A statement, signed by the head of the design organisation (HDO) (and countersigned by the senior company manager, if different), which confirms that the design management handbook and any associated manuals are complied with at all times. This statement should read as follows, or embrace the intent of the following text: ‘This handbook defines the organisation and procedures upon which EASA’s DOA is based. These procedures are approved by the undersigned, and must be complied with, as applicable, to ensure that all design activities are performed on time and to an approved standard. It is understood that the approval of the DO is based on the organisation’s continuous compliance with the applicable requirements of Part 21, and with the organisation’s procedures that are described in this handbook. EASA is entitled to limit, suspend, or revoke the approval if the organisation fails to fulfil the obligations that are imposed by Part 21, or any conditions according to which the approval was issued. Signed ..................................... Dated ...................................... HDO and ...................................... (quote the position of the signatory) Senior company manager For and on behalf of ..................................... (quote the organisation’s name)’ The statement should be reissued at the earliest opportunity when the HDO changes.

(c)The organisation may document its safety policy, safety objectives, and all the safety management system key processes (as required by point 21.A.239(c)) in a separate manual (e.g. a safety management manual or management system manual) or in its handbook. Organisations that hold multiple organisation approvals, which are issued under Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 and the delegated and implementing acts that are adopted on the basis thereof, may prefer to have a separate manual to avoid duplication.

TYPICAL CONTENT OF HANDBOOK FOR ORGANISATIONS THAT DESIGN MINOR CHANGES TO TYPE DESIGN OR MINOR REPAIRS TO PRODUCTS The following is a typical table of contents for the handbook: Part 1. Organisation

1.1 Objective of the handbook and binding statement

1.2 Responsible person for the administration of the handbook

1.3 Amendment procedure

1.4 List of effective pages

1.5 Distribution list

1.6 Presentation of the design organisation (DO) (including locations)

1.7 Scope of work (with identification of type and models of products)

1.8 Organisation charts

1.9 Human resources

1.10 Management staff

1.11 Certifying personnel (see GM2 21.A.243(d), point 2)

1.12 Independent system monitoring

1.13 Safety management system Part 2. Procedures

2.1 Management of changes to type design and design of repairs: configuration control, classification, and approval of minor changes to type design and minor repairs

2.2 Control of design subcontractors

2.3 Collecting/Investigating of failures, malfunctions, and defects

2.4 Coordination with production

2.5 Documentation control in relation to the changes and repairs, and in relation to failures/malfunctions and defects (i.e. services bulletins)

2.6 Record-keeping

STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

(a)The following statements should be provided:

(1)Other management staff as defined in GM1 21.A.243(d) For each nominated manager, the organisation should provide this data to EASA to show that the nominated managers are suitable in terms of their relevant knowledge and satisfactory experience related to the nature of the design activities that are performed by the organisation.

(2)The staff that make decisions that affect airworthiness, operational suitability, and environmental compatibility. For that staff, no individual statements are required. The organisation should demonstrate that there is an internal authorisation system that allows it to select, train, maintain, and identify them for all the tasks for which they are needed.

(b)The staff that is defined in point (a) should be identified in the handbook or linked to it. This, together with the corresponding procedures, should enable that staff to carry out the assigned tasks and to properly discharge the associated responsibilities.

STATEMENT OF THE QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE — ORGANISATIONS THAT DESIGN MINOR CHANGES TO TYPE DESIGN OR MINOR REPAIRS TO PRODUCTS For organisations that design minor changes to type design or minor repairs to products, the statement of the qualifications and experience that is required by point 21.A.243(d) should be addressed as follows:

(a)The nominated managers should be identified and their relevant knowledge and satisfactory experience related to the nature of the design activities that they perform should be demonstrated. For each nominated manager, the organisation should provide evidence of competency so that they may be considered to be appropriate in terms of relevant knowledge and satisfactory experience related to the nature of the design activities as performed by the organisation.

(b)The persons responsible for: classifying changes to type design or repairs (point 21.A.263(c)(1)); verifying compliance (point 21.A.239(d)(2)); approving minor changes to type design and minor repairs (point 21.A.263(c)(2)); issuing information or instructions (point 21.A.265(h)), should be selected by the organisation in accordance with a procedure and criteria agreed by EASA.

STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE Three different types of functions are named or implicitly identified in the requirements of Part 21, Subpart J or in the associated AMC and GM, when using qualified and experienced personnel: the senior company manager (see AMC1 21.A.245(a), GM1 21.A.249, GM 21.A.265(b)); the other management staff: the head of the design organisation (HDO) (see points 21.A.239(b)(2) and 21.A.245(a)); the chief of the airworthiness function (see point 21.A.245(b)(1)); the chief of the independent monitoring function (see point 21.A.245(b)(2)); the safety manager (see GM1 21.A.239(c)(2), AMC1 21.A.239(c)(2) and AMC1 21.A.245(b), point (g)); and when a safety review board is established, the chairperson of that board, if different from the HDO (see AMC1 21.A.239(c)(2)); and the staff making decisions affecting airworthiness, operational suitability, and environmental compatibility: compliance verification engineers (see AMC1 21.A.239(d), point (c)(1)(iii) and AMC1 21.A.239(c)(2));and staff of the Office of Airworthiness making decisions affecting airworthiness, operational suitability, and environmental compatibility, especially those that are linked with the 21.A.263 privileges (signing documents for release, approving classification of changes and repairs, and granting the approval of minor/major changes, supplemental type certificates (STCs) and minor/major repairs, granting the approval of service bulletins (SBs), and minor revisions to the aircraft flight manual) (see AMC1 21.A.239(d), point (c)(1)(iv)). A statement of the qualifications and experience of the senior company manager is not required. For the other two categories that are identified above, a statement of qualifications and experience should be provided (see AMC1 21.A.243(d) and AMC2 21.A.243(d) respectively).