21L.A.127 Obligations of the declared production organisation

WORK CARRIED OUT IN ACCORDANCE WITH DEFINED PROCEDURES, PRACTICES AND PROCESSES The establishment of a declared production organisation exposition (DPOE) (if chosen to be utilised by the organisation (see AMC1 21L.A.124(d))) or the equivalent processes and procedures are a prerequisite for the registration of a declaration for production capability and for maintaining such registration. The declared production organisation should make the DPOE or the equivalent processes and procedures available to its personnel, where necessary, for the performance of their duties. A distribution list should, therefore, be established. If utilised, and if the DPOE mainly refers to separate manuals or procedures, the distribution of the DPOE could be limited. The declared production organisation should ensure that personnel have access to and are familiar with that part of the content of the DPOE or the referenced documents, at the latest revision level, which covers their activities. Monitoring of compliance with the DPOE or the equivalent processes and procedures is normally the responsibility of the independent monitoring function.

FLIGHT TEST OPERATIONS MANUAL (FTOM)

(a)General

(1)Scope: The FTOM covers flight-test operations. The FTOM complexity should be proportionate to the organisation complexity’s as well as to the complexity of a particular aircraft.

(2)Format The FTOM may: be included in the declared production organisation’s (DPO) / declared design organisation’s (DDO) documents; or be a separate manual. The FTOM may make reference to other documents to cover the contents listed in point (b) below (e.g. for record-keeping).

(3)Use by subcontractors When flight tests are performed by subcontractors, they should comply with the FTOM of the declared production or design organisations, unless they have established an FTOM in compliance with Part 21 or Part 21 Light, the use of which has been agreed between the two organisations.

(b)The FTOM should contain the following elements:

(1)Exposition If the FTOM is presented as a separate document, it should include a chart indicating the structure of the organisation and, more specifically, the functional links of the staff in charge of flight-test activities. It should also mention the coordination between all departments affecting flight test, e.g. design office, production and maintenance, in particular the coordination for the establishment and update of flight-test programmes.

(2)Risk and safety management The FTOM should describe the organisation’s policy in relation to risk and safety assessment, mitigation, and associated methodologies. (e.g. see additional guidance on the EASA webpage at https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/general-aviation/documents-guidance-and-examples)

(3)Crew members According to the flight-test category, the FTOM should describe the organisation’s policy on the composition of the crew and the competence and currency of its flight-test pilots, including procedures for appointing crew members for each specific flight. Note: For flight tests performed for demonstration-of-compliance activities required by points 21L.A.25 and 21L.A.44, the flight crew conditions or restrictions are part of the flight conditions approved by EASA. As part of the investigations required under point 21L.B.242, EASA will also check the flight crew qualifications to ensure that the flight testing can be conducted safely. All crew members should be listed in the FTOM. A flight time limitation policy should be established.

(4)Carriage of persons other than crew members According to the flight-test category, the FTOM should describe the organisation’s policy in relation to the presence and safety onboard of people other than crew members (i.e. with no flying duties). People other than crew members should not be allowed on board for Category 1 flight tests (for the definition of the flight categories, refer to Appendix XII to Annex I (Part 21) to this Regulation).

(5)Instruments and equipment The FTOM should list, depending on the nature of the flight, the specific safety-related instruments and equipment that should be available on the aircraft or carried by people on board. The FTOM should contain provisions to allow flights to take place in case of defective or missing instruments or equipment.

(6)Documents The FTOM should list the documents to be produced for flight testing, and include (or refer to) the procedures for their issuance, update and follow-up to ensure the documents’ configuration control:

(i)documents associated with a flight-test programme: flight order for a given flight, which should include: a list of the tests to be performed and associated conditions; safety considerations relevant to the flight; category of the flight (e.g. certification flight, production flight); composition of the crew; names of persons other than crew members; aircraft configuration items relevant to the test to be highlighted to the crew; loading of the aircraft; reference to approved flight conditions; and restrictions relevant to the flight to be highlighted to the crew; flight crew report;

(ii)documentation and information to be carried on board the aircraft during flight test;

(iii)record-keeping: the FTOM should describe the policy relative to record-keeping.

(7)Permit to fly The FTOM should describe the involvement of the flight-test organisation or flight-test team (as appropriate) in the process for the approval of flight conditions and the issuance of permits to fly in accordance with Part 21 Light Subpart P (and by reference to Part 21 Subpart P).

(8)Currency and training The FTOM should describe how training for flight test is organised. Currency of the flight-test crew may be ensured either through recent experience or refresher training. The FTOM should specify the requirements for a refresher training in order to ensure that crew members are sufficiently current to perform the required flight-test activity. A system should be established to record the currency of the flight test crew’s training. A valid national document (i.e. licence), issued by an EASA Member State under its national regulations and ensuring compliance with the agreed currency requirements, may be an acceptable means of compliance to demonstrate currency for a pilot that holds a flight-test rating.

AIRCRAFT — CONDITION FOR SAFE OPERATION Before submitting the aircraft statement of conformity (EASA Form 52B) to the competent authority of the Member State of registry, the declared production organisation should make an investigation so as to be satisfied in respect of items listed below (as applicable for the respective type of aircraft). The documented results of this investigation should be kept on file by the declared production organisation. Some of these items may be required to be provided (or made available) to the operator or owner of the aircraft (and in some cases the competent authority of the Member State of registry):

1.Equipment or design changes that do not meet the requirements of the State of manufacture but have been accepted by the competent authority of the importing country.

2.Identification of products or parts that:

(a)are not new;

(b)are furnished by the buyer or future operator (including those identified in point 21L.A.252(b)(1)).

3.Technical records which identify the location and serial numbers of components for which special traceability requirements apply for continued-airworthiness purposes, including those identified in point 21L.A.252(b)

4.Logbook and a modification record book for the aircraft as required by EASA.

5.Logbooks for products identified in point 21L.A.252(b)(1) installed as part of the type design as required by EASA.

6.A weight and balance report for the completed aircraft.

7.A record of missing items or defects which do not affect airworthiness. These, for example, could be furnishings or buyer-furnished equipment (BFE) (items of equipment may be recorded in a technical log or other suitable arrangement such that the operator and EASA are formally aware of).

8.Product support information required by other implementing rules and associated CSs or GM, such as a maintenance manual, a parts catalogue, all of which should reflect the actual build standard of the particular aircraft. Also, an electrical load analysis and a wiring diagram.

9.Records which demonstrate completion of maintenance tasks appropriate to the test flight flying hours recorded by the aircraft. These records should show the relationship of the maintenance status of a particular aircraft to the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance task.

10.Details of the serviceability state of a particular aircraft in respect of:

(a)the fuel and oil contents;

(b)provision of operationally required emergency equipment.

11.An approved flight manual which conforms to the build standard and modification state of a particular aircraft shall be available.

12.Show that inspections for foreign objects at all appropriate stages of manufacture have been satisfactorily performed.

13.The registration has been marked on the exterior of the aircraft as required by national legislation. Where required by national legislation, affix a fireproof owner’s nameplate.

14.Where applicable, there should be a certificate for noise and for the aircraft radio station.

15.The installed compass and/or compass systems have been adjusted and compensated, and a deviation card displayed in the aircraft.

16.A record of rigging and control surface movement measurements.

17.Where maintenance work has been performed under point 21L.A.126(e), issue a release to service that includes a statement that the particular aircraft is in a condition for safe operation.

18.List of all applicable service bulletins (SBs) and airworthiness directives (ADs) that have been implemented.

APPLICABLE SUBPART A REQUIREMENTS The following requirements in Subpart A are applicable to declared production organisations: points 21L.A.3(b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) Reporting system point 21L.A.5 Collaboration between design and production point 21L.A.6(b) Marking points 21L.A.7(b), (c) and (d) Record-keeping point 21L.A.10 Access and investigation point 21L.A.11 Findings and observations point 21L.A.12 Means of compliance

FLIGHT TEST OPERATIONS MANUAL (FTOM)

(a)General

(1)Scope: The FTOM covers flight-test operations. The FTOM complexity should be proportionate to the organisation complexity’s as well as to the complexity of a particular aircraft.

(2)Format The FTOM may: be included in the declared production organisation’s (DPO) / declared design organisation’s (DDO) documents; or be a separate manual. The FTOM may make reference to other documents to cover the contents listed in point (b) below (e.g. for record-keeping).

(3)Use by subcontractors When flight tests are performed by subcontractors, they should comply with the FTOM of the declared production or design organisations, unless they have established an FTOM in compliance with Part 21 or Part 21 Light, the use of which has been agreed between the two organisations.

(b)The FTOM should contain the following elements:

(1)Exposition If the FTOM is presented as a separate document, it should include a chart indicating the structure of the organisation and, more specifically, the functional links of the staff in charge of flight-test activities. It should also mention the coordination between all departments affecting flight test, e.g. design office, production and maintenance, in particular the coordination for the establishment and update of flight-test programmes.

(2)Risk and safety management The FTOM should describe the organisation’s policy in relation to risk and safety assessment, mitigation, and associated methodologies. (e.g. see additional guidance on the EASA webpage at https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/general-aviation/documents-guidance-and-examples)

(3)Crew members According to the flight-test category, the FTOM should describe the organisation’s policy on the composition of the crew and the competence and currency of its flight-test pilots, including procedures for appointing crew members for each specific flight. Note: For flight tests performed for demonstration-of-compliance activities required by points 21L.A.25 and 21L.A.44, the flight crew conditions or restrictions are part of the flight conditions approved by EASA. As part of the investigations required under point 21L.B.242, EASA will also check the flight crew qualifications to ensure that the flight testing can be conducted safely. All crew members should be listed in the FTOM. A flight time limitation policy should be established.

(4)Carriage of persons other than crew members According to the flight-test category, the FTOM should describe the organisation’s policy in relation to the presence and safety onboard of people other than crew members (i.e. with no flying duties). People other than crew members should not be allowed on board for Category 1 flight tests (for the definition of the flight categories, refer to Appendix XII to Annex I (Part 21) to this Regulation).

(5)Instruments and equipment The FTOM should list, depending on the nature of the flight, the specific safety-related instruments and equipment that should be available on the aircraft or carried by people on board. The FTOM should contain provisions to allow flights to take place in case of defective or missing instruments or equipment.

(6)Documents The FTOM should list the documents to be produced for flight testing, and include (or refer to) the procedures for their issuance, update and follow-up to ensure the documents’ configuration control:

(i)documents associated with a flight-test programme: flight order for a given flight, which should include: a list of the tests to be performed and associated conditions; safety considerations relevant to the flight; category of the flight (e.g. certification flight, production flight); composition of the crew; names of persons other than crew members; aircraft configuration items relevant to the test to be highlighted to the crew; loading of the aircraft; reference to approved flight conditions; and restrictions relevant to the flight to be highlighted to the crew; flight crew report;

(ii)documentation and information to be carried on board the aircraft during flight test;

(iii)record-keeping: the FTOM should describe the policy relative to record-keeping.

(7)Permit to fly The FTOM should describe the involvement of the flight-test organisation or flight-test team (as appropriate) in the process for the approval of flight conditions and the issuance of permits to fly in accordance with Part 21 Light Subpart P (and by reference to Part 21 Subpart P).

(8)Currency and training The FTOM should describe how training for flight test is organised. Currency of the flight-test crew may be ensured either through recent experience or refresher training. The FTOM should specify the requirements for a refresher training in order to ensure that crew members are sufficiently current to perform the required flight-test activity. A system should be established to record the currency of the flight test crew’s training. A valid national document (i.e. licence), issued by an EASA Member State under its national regulations and ensuring compliance with the agreed currency requirements, may be an acceptable means of compliance to demonstrate currency for a pilot that holds a flight-test rating.