Introduction
Agreement was reached in relation to the extension of 145 certification approval between the European Community (European Aviation Safety Agency – EASA) and the USA (Federal Aviation Administration – FAA) and between EASA and Canada (Transport Canada Civil Aviation – TCAA).
Details of the agreements are issued in the form of two separate guidance materials known as Maintenance Annex Guidance and hereinafter referred to as the MAG.
Maintenance Annex Guidance
Is sub-divided into three Sections;
Section A: Competent Authority Interaction,
Section B: Approval process for US & Canadian Approved Maintenance Organizations and
Section C: Approval process for EU Maintenance Organizations. It details the actions required by FAA, TCCA, EASA, the competent National Aviation Authorities (NAA) and Applicants to be taken in order for an EU – EASA Part-145 maintenance organization to maintain civil aeronautical products under the jurisdiction of FAA & TCAA.
Concerning TCCA & EASA
TCCA and EASA have determined that the regulatory systems between EASA Part-145 and CAR Subparts 571 and 573 are sufficiently equivalent.
This led to the establishment of Specific Regulatory Requirements listed in Appendix B1 to Annex B to the Agreement.
Any maintenance organization of one Party that has been certified by a Competent Authority of that Party to perform maintenance functions shall be required to have a MAG supplement to its manual in order to comply with the Specific Regulatory Requirements.
When it is satisfied that the MAG supplement meets the requirements set out in Appendix B1 to Annex B of the Agreement, the respective Competent Authority shall issue an approval attesting compliance with the applicable requirements. Ratings and limitations shall not exceed that contained in its own certificate.
Concerning FAA & EASA
The United States (U.S.) requirements for maintenance are contained in the Code of:
Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 14, part 145 (hereinafter referred to as 14 CFR part 145). Guidance material, policy, and procedures are contained in FAA advisory circulars, orders, notices, and policy memoranda.
The European Union (EU) requirements for maintenance are contained in the regulation (EC) No. 216/2008; of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 February 2008, Regulation (EU) No. 1321/2014, Annex II, (hereafter referred to as EASA Part-145) and EASA Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC), and Guidance Material.
The FAA and EASA have established the differences between EASA Part-145 and 14 CFR part 145. These differences are listed as Special Conditions in the Maintenance Annex as agreed between the EU and the U.S.
As a result, An EU-based EASA Part-145 approved maintenance organization, when in compliance with published FAA maintenance special conditions, may apply for a 14 CFR part 145 approval. In accordance with the Agreement between the United States of America and the European Community on Cooperation in the Regulation of Civil Aviation Safety (the Agreement).
Next Steps
Sofema Aviation Services and SofemaOnline offer classroom and online training for EASA & FAA subjects for both regulatory compliance and vocational training purposes.
Please see the websites or email team@sassofia.com or online@sassofia.com
