Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) www.sassofia.com considers the EASA Process to manage Type Certificate (TC) or Restricted TC (RTC).
Introduction
The approval of aeronautical Products (aircraft, engines, and propellers) in accordance with Part 21 is ratified by the issue of a Type Certificate (TC) or Restricted TC (RTC).
In general, there will be a Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) associated with each TC or RTC issued.
The TCDS records the basis of certification, the designation of each approved variant and general information concerning the design.
The type certificate (TC) implies that aircraft manufactured according to the approved design can be issued an airworthiness certificate.
What Does a Type Certificate Demonstrate?
- The TC implies that aircraft manufactured according to the approved design can be issued an airworthiness certificate.
- To meet those requirements the aircraft and each sub-assembly must also be approved.
o For example, in the U.S. these sub-assemblies must meet requirements in the applicable Technical Standards Order (TSO).
o To meet those requirements the design documents are examined for compliance with the applicable Minimum Operating Performance Standards (MOPS) applicable to that sub-assembly.
NOTE – MOPS are published by expert industry groups such as RTCA Inc., EUROCAE, and SAE.
When aircraft are produced to meet a given TC, each one need not be tested as rigorously but the confidence demonstrated by the TC is conferred, when the aircraft has been assigned a certificate of airworthiness (CoA).
- A CoA is issued for each aircraft that is properly registered if it conforms to its type design and is ready for safe operation. The CoA is valid and the aircraft may be operated as long as it is maintained in accordance with the rules issued by the regulatory authority.
What is the purpose of a type certificate data sheet?
A TCDS is an FAA or EASA document that records the type certification data of a product (such as control surface movement limits, operating limitations, placards, and weight and balance) that may also be available in the flight manual or maintenance manual in accordance with FAA Order 8110.4. (EASA Part 21 Regulation 748/2012 – Subpart D — changes to type-certificates and restricted type-certificates)
21.A.90A Scope – Regulation (EU) No 69/2014
This Subpart establishes the procedure for the approval of changes to type-certificates and establishes the rights and obligations of the applicants for, and holders of, those approvals. This Subpart also defines standard changes that are not subject to an approval process under this Subpart. In this Subpart, references to type-certificates include type-certificate and restricted type-certificate.
Aircraft Certificate Data Sheet – Further Considerations
The type certificate data sheet (TCDS) is like a birth certificate and provides a formal description of the aircraft, engine or propeller that has received type certification by the FAA and or EASA.
Restricted Type Certificate
A restricted category special airworthiness certificate is issued to operate aircraft that have been type certificated in the restricted category. Operation of restricted category aircraft is limited to special purposes identified in the applicable type design.
The type certificate (TC) implies that aircraft manufactured according to the approved design can be issued an airworthiness certificate.
Changes to Type Certificate
Major changes beyond the authority of the service bulletins require amendments to the type certificate.
- For example, increasing (or decreasing) an aircraft’s flight performance, range, and load-carrying capacity by altering its systems, fuselage, wings, or engines resulting in a new variant may require re-certification.
- Again the basic process of type certifications is repeated (including maintenance programs). However, unaltered items from the basic design need not be retested.
- Normally, one or two of the original prototype fleet are remanufactured to the new proposed design.
- As long as the new design does not deviate too much from the original, static airframes do not need to be built. The resultant new prototypes are again subjected to flight tests.
Upon successful completion of the certification program, the original type certificate is amended to include the new variant (normally denoted by a new model number additional to the original type designation). Typical examples are; the Boeing 737NG (737-600, 737-700, 737-800 and 737-900) which replaced the 737 Original family (737-100 and 737-200), and the 737 Classic family (737-300, 737-400 and 737-500).
Supplemental Type Certificate
- Any additions, omissions, or alterations to the aircraft’s certified layout, built-in equipment, airframe, and engines, initiated by any party other than the type certificate holder, need an approved supplementary (“supplemental” in FAA terminology) type certificate, or STC.
- The scope of an STC can be extremely narrow or broad. It could include minor modifications to passenger cabin items or installed instruments.
- More substantial modifications for example may involve engine replacement.
- STCs are applied due to either the type certificate holder’s refusal (frequently due to economics) or its inability to meet some owners’ requirements.
o STCs are frequently raised for out-of-production aircraft types conversions to fit new roles.
o Before STCs are issued, procedures similar to type certificate changes for new variants are followed, likely including through flight tests.
o STCs belong to the STC holder and are generally more restrictive than type certificate changes.
Certification Basis (See example from referenced B737 TCDS)
1. FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet: No. A16WE
2. FAA Certification Basis: Refer to FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) No. A16WE
3. JAA/EASA Airworthiness Requirements: In accordance with Regulation (EC) 1702/2003 FAR Part 25 as defined in FAA TCDS A16WE
4. Special Conditions: for adopted special conditions refer to FAA TCDS A16WE, as supplemented by the following:
- CRI PTC/E-10 Flammability Reduction System.
- INT/POL/25/12: Affected requirement FAR 25.981 (c), JAR 25.1309, NPA 10-2004, JAR 21.16(a)(1) (not applicable to the 737-100).
- CRI E-15 PTC Fuel Tank Safety – Including Lightning Protection for Structure.
- INT/POL/25/12: Affected requirement CS 25.981 Amdt 1.
- CS 25.981(a)(3), CS 25.954 (applicable ot the 737-300/-400/-500 only).
- CRI E-16/PTC Fuel Tank Safety.
- INT/POL/25/12: Affected requirement CS 25.981 Amdt 1 (not applicable to 737-600).
- CRI F-GEN10 PTC Non-rechargeable Lithium Batteries Installations CS 25.601, 25.863, 25.869, 25.1301, 25.1309, 25.1353(c), 25.1529, 25.1360 (b).
- CRI H-01 “Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) on Electrical Wiring Interconnecting Systems (EWIS)”.
- Affected requirement Part 21A.16(b)(3), 21A.21(c)(3), CS 25.1529 & Appendix H
5. Adopted FAA Exemptions: Refer to FAA TCDS A16WE
6. Adopted FAA Equivalent Safety Findings: Refer to FAA TCDS A16WE supplemented by the following:
- CRI F-GEN9-1 Minimum Mass Flow of Supplemental Oxygen “Component Qualification” Equivalent Safety with JAR 25.1443(c) (not applicable to the 737-100/-200C).
- CRI F-GEN9-3 Crew Determination of Quantity of Oxygen in Passenger Oxygen System (Equivalent Safety with JAR 25.1441(c) (not applicable to the 737-100/-200/-200C)).
Next Steps
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(R)TC, (Regulation (EU) No 69/2014), aviation, EASA Type Certificate, MOPS, Part 21, Restricted Certificate, Restricted type-certificate, SAS blogs, supplemental type Certificate, TC, TCDS, Type Certificate Data Sheet
