Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) www.sassofia.com considers the treatment of Articles created through the Technical Standard Order (TSO) process as well as the treatment of PMA articles.
Introduction to FAA TSO
A TSO is a minimum performance standard for specified materials, parts, and appliances used on civil aircraft. When authorized to manufacture a material, part, or appliances to a TSO standard, this is referred to as TSO authorization. Receiving a TSO authorization is both design and production approval.
Note: The difference under the FAA TSO can be a stand-alone approval – Whereas with the UK CAA & EASA the approval is contained within the Part 21 environment with some differences.
Introduction to UKTSO
Equipment used in aircraft may be eligible for a stand-alone approval or ‘authorisation’. These authorisations do not constitute an approval to install on an aircraft, but credit may be claimed from the equipment authorisation towards the showing of compliance with the aircraft Certification Specifications (CS) when certificating its installation.
The equipment approvals issued by the CAA using CS-ETSO will be UK Technical Standard Order Authorisations (UKTSOAs).
The UKTSOA is granted in accordance with Part 21 Subpart O when the manufacturer (Applicant) can demonstrate to CAA that the equipment meets a prescribed Minimum Operational Performance Specification (MOPS).
- The MOPS acceptable to CAA include those within or referenced from CS-ETSO (Certification Specifications for European Technical Standard Order).
- Applicants may apply for Deviations to the MOPS.
- Deviations are based on a determination of an equivalent level of safety and are subject to industry consultation before acceptance.
- Deviations agreed by one Applicant may be used by any subsequent Applicant.
UKTSOA holders may classify and approve minor design changes (within an agreed scope) to approved equipment without further authorisation by CAA.
Equipment with a UKTSOA is eligible for release on a UK Form 1.
Note: CAA issued thousands of Equipment Approvals prior to the formation of EASA. Those approvals have been grandfathered and are considered equivalent to ETSOAs/UKTSOAs and remain valid.
CAA also issued a small number of Equipment Approvals since the formation of EASA and prior to the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union (EU). These approvals are valid only for use on aircraft registered in the UK.
Eligibility
An Applicant for a UKTSOA must have a Production Organisation Approval (POA) in accordance with Part 21 Subpart F or Subpart G and a design organisation approval (DOA or ADOA) that are acceptable to CAA.
The scope of the equipment approval project must be within the approved scope and Terms of Approval (TOA) of the POA and DOA/ADOA.
Applications are also accepted in cases when the project is simultaneously being used to demonstrate applicant competence for the issue of or extension to the scope or ToA of the POA and/or DOA/DOA.
TSO/UKTSO Articles
Acceptance requires that the Importing Authority (IA) shall accept the Exporting Authority (EA) TSOA or UKTSOA, as applicable, and will not issue its own design approval.
Acceptance will be applicable to all current and future TSOAs and UKTSOAs issued by the FAA or the CAA, except for UKTSOAs for Auxiliary Power Units (APU).
Note: This acceptance is also applicable to ETSO Article authorizations issued by EASA under the provisions of the FAA-EASA Technical Implementation Procedures (TIP).
The TSOA or UKTSOA is an approved article within the respective FAA or CAA system, but does not imply installation approval.
When the EA does not have a corresponding TSO or UKTSO to that of the IA, an applicant may obtain an approval from the EA using the provisions of 14 CFR section 21.8(d) or (UK) Part 21.A.305.
If the EA’s approval is based on assessment of the TSO or UKTSO of the IA, and the production system and marking requirements are assured by the EA’s approval, then the EA’s approval is eligible for Acceptance.
Acceptance of such articles under these Implementation Procedures shall be based on the following conditions:
- The article meets the TSOs or UKTSOs, as evidenced by a statement or declaration of conformity by the TSOA or UKTSOA; and declaration of conformity by the TSOA or UKTSOA; and
- If applicable, deviations or exemptions from the TSO or UKTSO or other standard accepted by the FAA and the CAA are substantiated and have been approved by the EA.
- All accepted TSOAs and UKTSOAs and validations issued by the IA prior to the acceptance of TSOAs and UKTSOAs remain valid unless the approval holder surrenders or the responsible Authority suspends or revokes the respective approval.
Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) Articles
PMA is a combined FAA design and production approval for modification and replacement articles. It allows a manufacturer to produce and sell these articles for installation on type certificated products. Federal Aviation Administration Orders 8110.42 and 8120.22 prescribe the approval procedures for FAA personnel and guides applicants in the approval process.
The UK CAA shall directly accept all FAA PMA approvals, without further showing, for modification and/or replacement articles for installation on products certified or validated by the CAA in the following cases:
- The PMA part is not a “critical component” (see definition, paragraph 1.12.19) and the PMA design was approved via:
o Identicality without a licensing agreement per 14 CFR section 21.303; or
o Test reports and computations per 14 CFR section 21.303.
o The PMA part conforms to design data obtained under a licensing agreement from the TC or STC holder according to 14 CFR section 21.303 and the TC or STC has been validated by the CAA.
- The PMA holder is also the holder of an FAA-issued STC, and;
- An equivalent CAA – issued STC.
- A CAA – issued STC for a critical component and the PMA design was approved via identicality without a licensing agreement per 14 CFR section 21.303; or
- A CAA – issued STC for a critical component and the PMA design was approved via test reports and computations per 14 CFR section 21.303.
Next Steps
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14 CFR, aviation, EASA, easa part 21, European Technical Standard Order, FAA TSO, Federal Aviation Administration, Minimum Operating Performance Standards (MOPS), MOPS, Part 21, Parts Manufacturer Approval, PMA, sasblogs, TSO, UK CAA, UK Transmission System Operators Association, UKTSO
