21L.A.175 Resources of the declared design organisation

HEAD OF THE DESIGN ORGANISATION The nominated head of the design organisation should have the direct or functional responsibility for all departments of the organisation that are responsible for the design of products, changes or repairs. If the departments responsible for design are functionally linked, the head of the design organisation still carries the ultimate responsibility for the compliance of the organisation with Subpart J. The head of the design organisation should:

(a)have sufficient knowledge and authority to be able to respond to EASA regarding major issues of the declared design organisation and the product design approval, and to implement any necessary improvements;

(b)have an understanding of this Annex, sufficient to discharge the relevant responsibilities.

NOMINATED MANAGERS The person or group of persons nominated in accordance with point 21L.A.175(b) should represent the management structure of the organisation and be responsible for all the functions as specified in Subpart J. Depending on the size of the design organisation, the functions may be subdivided under individual managers (and, in fact, may be further subdivided) or combined. At least the following key managers should be nominated: the manager responsible for the airworthiness function (chief of the airworthiness function); and the manager responsible for independent monitoring function (chief of the independent monitoring function).

(a)The responsibilities and tasks of each individual manager should be clearly defined in order to prevent uncertainties about the relations within the organisation. If a manager does not directly report to the head of the design organisation, they should have direct access to the head of the design organisation that is formally established.

(b)The chief of the airworthiness function should be able to demonstrate relevant knowledge, background and appropriate experience that are related to product certification and continued airworthiness, including knowledge of, and experience in, managing the design assurance system. The tasks for which the chief of the airworthiness function should be responsible are presented in GM1 21L.A.174(b)(1).

(c)The chief of the independent monitoring function should be able to demonstrate relevant knowledge, background and appropriate experience that are related to the activities of the organisation, including knowledge of and experience in compliance monitoring. The chief of the independent monitoring function should not be responsible for other design or airworthiness function aspects. The role of the chief of the independent monitoring function should be to ensure that:

(1)the activities of the organisation are monitored for compliance with the applicable requirements and any additional requirements as established by the organisation, and that those activities are performed properly under the supervision of the nominated persons that are referred to in point 21L.A.175(b);

(2)an audit plan is properly implemented, maintained, and continually reviewed and improved; and

(3)corrective actions are requested, as necessary, and their implementation is followed up. With due regard to the size of the organisation and the nature and complexity of its activities, the compliance-monitoring-manager function may be exercised by the head of the design organisation.

PERSONNEL, FACILITIES AND ORGANISATION

(a)Personnel The declared design organisation should ensure that the personnel that are made available by the organisation to comply with point 21L.A.175(d) are able, based on their special qualifications and numbers, to provide assurance of the design or modification of a product, as well as of the compilation and verification of all the data that is needed to meet the applicable type-certification basis and the applicable environmental protection requirements, as well as the necessary continued-airworthiness activities to support in-service products. The organisation should have a system in place to plan the availability of staff to ensure that the organisation has sufficient and appropriately qualified staff to plan, perform, supervise, inspect, and monitor the organisation’s activities in accordance with the organisation’s scope of work.

(b)Facilities The declared design organisation should have access to:

(1)workshops and production facilities that are suitable for manufacturing prototype models and test specimens;

(2)accommodation and test facilities that are suitable for carrying out tests and measurements needed to demonstrate compliance with the applicable type-certification basis and the applicable environmental protection requirements.

(c)Organisation The declared design organisation should ensure that:

(1)an airworthiness function has been established and staffed on a permanent basis to act as the focal point for coordinating airworthiness and environmental compatibility matters;

(2)responsibilities for all tasks related to type investigations are assigned in such a way as to exclude gaps in authority; the responsibility for several tasks may be assigned to one person especially in the case of simple projects; and

(3)coordination between the technical departments and the persons in charge of the system monitoring required by point 21L.A.174(c) has been established to:

(i)ensure quick and efficient reporting and resolution of difficulties encountered using the handbook and associated procedures;

(ii)maintain the design assurance system;

(iii)optimise auditing activities.

(d)Competence of staff The declared design organisation should establish and control the competence of the staff that are involved in the activities of the organisation, as detailed in the organisation’s scope of work, in accordance with documented procedures. Adequate initial and recurrent training should be provided in relation to the job function to ensure that staff remain competent. This training should be adapted based on experience that is gained within the organisation.

AIRWORTHINESS AND COMPLIANCE-VERIFICATION PERSONNEL

(a)The declared design organisation should maintain a list of the personnel authorised to perform airworthiness and compliance-verification functions.

(b)For these personnel, the organisation should define a system to select, train, maintain and identify them for all the tasks for which they are needed.

(c)The numbers of these personnel that are needed to sustain the design activities should be identified by the organisation.

(d)These personnel should be chosen on the basis of their knowledge, background and experience.

(e)When necessary, complementary training should be established to ensure that personnel have sufficient background and knowledge in the scope of their authorisation. The minimum standards for new personnel to qualify in the functions should be established. The training should lead to a satisfactory level of knowledge of the procedures that are relevant for each particular role. Training policy forms part of the management system for design.

(f)The organisation should maintain a record of the personnel as defined in AMC 21L.A.7(d).