Skip to content

A gradual release of Avioverse begins in October 2026. Request early access →

21L.B.252 Oversight programme

Annex Ib · Regulation (EU) No 748/2012 · EAR revision 27 Nov 2025

IRImplementing rule

21L.B.252Oversight programme

(a)The competent authority shall establish and maintain an oversight programme in order to ensure compliance with point 21L.B.251. This oversight programme shall take into account the specific nature of the natural or legal person, the complexity of their activities and the results of past oversight activities, and it shall be based on the assessment of the associated risks. It shall include, within each oversight planning cycle:

1.assessments, audits and inspections, including as appropriate:

(i)production control system assessments and process audits;

(ii)product audits of a relevant sample of the products and parts that are under the scope of the natural or legal person;

(iii)sampling of the work performed; and

(iv)unannounced inspections;

2.meetings convened between the legal or natural person and the competent authority to ensure that they both remain informed of any significant issues.

(b)The oversight programme shall include records of the dates when assessments, audits, inspections and meetings are due, and when assessments, audits, inspections and meetings have been effectively carried out.

(c)An oversight planning cycle that does not exceed 24 months shall be applied.

(d)Notwithstanding point (c), the oversight planning cycle may be extended to 36 months if the competent authority has established that during the previous 24 months:

1.the natural or legal person has demonstrated that they can effectively identify aviation safety hazards and manage the associated risks;

2.the natural or legal person has continuously demonstrated compliance with point 21L.A.273 and that they have full control over all changes to the management system for production;

3.no level 1 findings have been issued;

4.all corrective actions have been implemented within the time period that was accepted or extended by the competent authority as defined in point 21L.B.21.

(e)Notwithstanding point (c), the oversight planning cycle may be further extended to a maximum of 48 months if, in addition to the conditions provided in point (d), the natural or legal person has established, and the competent authority has approved, an effective continuous system for reporting to the competent authority on the safety performance and regulatory compliance of the natural or legal person themselves.

(f)The oversight planning cycle may be reduced if there is evidence that the safety performance of the natural or legal person has decreased.

(g)At the completion of each oversight planning cycle, the competent authority shall issue a recommendation report on the continuation of the activities conducted by the natural or legal person, reflecting the results of the oversight.

IR · 21L.B.252 — Regulation (EU) No 748/2012 · Regulation (EU) 2022/1361 · Initial Airworthiness Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Nov 2025

AMCAcceptable means of compliance

AMC1 21L.B.252Oversight programme

Show the text

CONTENTS The oversight programme should be built around conformity inspections of products and parts (performed during manufacture and on the final product). The oversight programme should consist of:

(a)planned inspections of each new aircraft produced for the first time and for which a permit to fly has been requested (see point 21L.B.241(a));

(b)planned first-article inspections of every new aircraft, engine, propeller or part that is produced for the first time for which the natural or legal person has issued a statement of conformity (EASA Form 52B) or authorised release certificates (EASA Form 1) (see point 21L.B.251(b));

(c)inspections of further aircraft, engines, propellers and parts produced by that natural or legal person; for this to be performed effectively and efficiently, the competent authority should integrate a sampling plan, as part of the planning of the continued surveillance activities, which is appropriate to the scope and size of the activities of the natural or legal person; this sampling plan should be flexible to accommodate changes in the production rate, and consider the results from other samples or investigation activities; and

(d)specific assessments and audits; these might be triggered by the results of the above inspections of products and parts, and the feedback on in-service products received from other competent authorities’ and EASA teams. Note: For the planned inspections of a new aircraft, engine and propeller produced for the first time (see points (a) and (b) above), the competent authority should coordinate as much as possible the related activities with the EASA team(s) involved in the investigation of the respective aircraft’s declaration of design compliance.

AMC · AMC1 21L.B.252 — Regulation (EU) No 748/2012 · ED Decision 2023/013/R · Initial Airworthiness Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Nov 2025

GMGuidance material

GM1 21L.B.252(d);(e) Oversight programme

Show the text

EXTENSION OF THE OVERSIGHT PROGRAMME PLANNING CYCLE Compliance with the conditions for the extension of the oversight programme planning cycle in point 21L.B.252(d) and (e) would normally be demonstrated using a safety management system. However, it is not expected that the natural or legal person that produces under Subpart R would implement such a system. Consequently, that natural or legal person is not expected to meet the conditions for the extension of the oversight programme planning cycle

GM · GM1 21L.B.252(d) — Regulation (EU) No 748/2012 · ED Decision 2023/013/R · Initial Airworthiness Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Nov 2025

All rules in SECTION B - PROCEDURES FOR COMPETENT AUTHORITIES

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 27 Nov 2025, extracted 17 Aug 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.

Ask Metis about 21L.B.252 →

Metis opens with Avioverse in October 2026 · request early access.