January 21, 2025

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Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) www.sassofia.com considers the key features of the EASA – TCCA Technical Implementation Procedures (TIP)

Introduction

EASA-TCCA Technical Implementation Procedures for Airworthiness and Environmental Certification Revision 4 (Dated 10 December 2018) governs the certification and airworthiness processes for civil aviation products between the European Union (represented by the European Aviation Safety Agency or EASA) and Canada (represented by Transport Canada Civil Aviation or TCCA).

Purpose of the Document:

The EASA-TCCA Technical Implementation Procedures document serves as a robust framework for bilateral cooperation in civil aviation safety certification.

  • It fosters mutual confidence between TCCA and EASA, facilitates efficient trade of aviation products, and ensures that safety and environmental standards are consistently met in both jurisdictions.
  • By reducing duplicative efforts and embracing technical collaboration, this agreement enhances the overall efficiency and safety of air transport between Canada and the European Union.
  • The key purpose of the TIP document is to outline the collaborative framework that ensures the safe, efficient, and reciprocal recognition of airworthiness certification and environmental standards for civil aviation products between EASA and TCCA.

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

  1. TCCA and EASA as Competent Authorities: Both TCCA and EASA are designated as the Competent Authorities responsible for ensuring civil aviation product certification, validation, and continued airworthiness in their respective jurisdictions. The agreement reflects their mutual trust in each other’s technical capabilities and regulatory systems.
  2. Reciprocal Recognition of Approvals: The procedures facilitate the reciprocal acceptance of design approvals, airworthiness certificates, and other technical certifications issued by either EASA or TCCA. This means that if one party certifies a product (such as an aircraft or component), the other party will generally accept this certification, subject to validation procedures.
  3. Design Approvals: Section II of the document outlines the procedures for design approvals. This includes Type Certificates (TCs), Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs), and repairs. It details how both authorities will validate the original certification, as well as limitations for military or non-civilian uses.
  4. Continuing Airworthiness: Section III addresses the obligations of each authority under ICAO Annex 8. It specifies the roles of TCCA and EASA in monitoring failures, defects, and malfunctions in aviation products. It includes guidance on issuing mandatory continuing airworthiness information, such as airworthiness directives.
  5. Technical Assistance: Section VI defines how TCCA and EASA will provide technical assistance to one another, including witnessing tests, determining compliance, and issuing airworthiness certificates.
  6. Regulatory and Advisory Material: Appendix B lists the applicable regulations, advisory materials, and guidance documents from both TCCA and EASA, helping to align the technical standards between the two agencies.

Key Themes and Subjects:

  1. Validation and Mutual Confidence: The document stresses the high level of trust between the two agencies, focusing on reducing duplication of technical review through the mutual recognition of compliance findings. This principle ensures that each party can confidently accept the technical assessments and approvals made by the other.
  2. Airworthiness and Environmental Certification: It lays out the specific protocols for ensuring that aircraft meet the required safety and environmental standards. These standards include noise emissions, exhaust emissions, and compliance with technical specifications that ensure safe operation.
  3. Reciprocal Acceptance of Parts and Repairs: The procedures also govern the acceptance of replacement parts and repairs. For example, a part or repair design approved by one party is typically accepted by the other, minimizing bureaucratic hurdles for manufacturers and operators.
  4. Role of Joint Committees: The document outlines how oversight is maintained through joint bodies, such as the Joint Sectorial Committee on Certification (JSCC), which manages amendments, procedural revisions, and governance to ensure the continuous improvement of these technical procedures.

Strategic Importance:

  • Harmonization of Standards: The implementation procedures aim to harmonize the aviation safety standards between Canada and the EU, leading to reduced certification costs, faster time-to-market for new products, and simplified regulatory oversight for manufacturers and operators.
  • Continuity of Aviation Safety: By providing a structured framework for recognizing each other’s certificates and technical decisions, the agreement strengthens the overall safety net in civil aviation between the two regions, which benefits the global aviation community.

Next Steps

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Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) and Sofema Online (SOL) provide regulatory training related to Bilateral relationships between EASA – FAA – TCAA and UK CAA. Please see the websites or email team@sassofia.com.

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EASA, Airworthiness, TCCA, SAS blogs, Technical Implementation Procedures (TIP), Canada, European Union, Airworthiness and Environmental Certification, the European Aviation Safety Agency, Transport Canada Civil Aviation, Technical Assistance, Environmental