EASA Type Certification Management & Control Considerations – Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) www.sassofia.com looks at the European Certification Process leading to the issue of a Type Certificate.
Introduction Management & Control
The type certificate is a document by which the authority states that an applicant has demonstrated the compliance of a type design to all applicable requirements.
EASA is responsible for the certification of aircraft in the EU and for some European non-EU Countries. This certificate testifies that the type of aircraft meets the safety requirements set by the European Union.
An applicant residing within a European Member State is required to prove eligibility by demonstrating capability in accordance with 21.A.14 (see “Demonstration of Capability”).
Demonstration of Capability
- To be a Design Organisation Approval (DOA) or Alternative Procedures to Design Organisation Approval (APDOA) holder.
An applicant for a type-certificate or restricted type-certificate shall demonstrate its capability by holding a design organisation approval, issued by the Agency in accordance with Subpart J.
By way of derogation an alternative procedure to demonstrate its capability, an applicant may seek the agreement of the Agency for the use of procedures setting out the specific design practices, resources, and sequence of activities necessary to comply with this Annex I (Part 21), when the product is one of the following:
- An ELA2 aircraft;
- An engine or propeller installed in ELA2 aircraft;
- A piston engine;
- A fixed or adjustable pitch propeller.
By way of derogation an applicant may demonstrate its capability by obtaining the Agency’s acceptance of its certification programme where the product to be certified is:
- An ELA1 aircraft; or
- An engine or propeller installed in ELA1 aircraft.
Note: Part 21.A.14(c) provides the possibility for:
- A natural person to apply on an ELA 1 aircraft by demonstrating capability through a certification programme.
o Alternative procedures are not necessary.
o ELA 1 is generally defined as aircraft with a max MTOW of 1200kg or less, including balloons up to 3400m^3 and sailplanes.
The Type-Certification Process:
Technical Familiarisation and Certification Basis
- The aircraft manufacturer presents the project to EASA when it is considered to have reached a sufficient degree of maturity.
- The EASA certification team and the set of rules that will apply for the certification of this specific aircraft type are being established (Certification Basis).
Establishment of the Certification Programme
- EASA and the manufacturer need to define and agree on the means to demonstrate compliance of the aircraft type with each requirement of the Certification Basis.
Note: This goes hand in hand with the identification of EASA’s “level of involvement” during the certification process.
Compliance Demonstration
- The aircraft manufacturer must demonstrate compliance of its product with regulatory requirements: the structure, engines, control systems, electrical systems, and flight performance are analysed against the Certification Basis.
- This compliance demonstration is done by analysis during ground testing (such as tests on the structure to withstand bird strikes, fatigue tests, and tests in simulators) but also by means of tests during flight.
- EASA experts perform a detailed examination of this compliance demonstration, by means of document reviews in their offices in Cologne and by attending some of these compliance demonstrations (test witnessing).
Note: This is the longest phase of the type-certification process. (In the case of large aircraft, the period to complete the compliance demonstration is set at five years and may be extended, if necessary.)
Technical Closure and Issue of Approval
- If technically satisfied with the compliance demonstration by the manufacturer, EASA closes the investigation and issues the certificate.
- EASA delivers the primary certification for European aircraft models which are also being validated in parallel by foreign authorities for operation in their airspaces, e.g. the FAA for the US or TCCA for Canada.
- Conversely, EASA will validate the FAA certification of US aircraft models (or TCCA certification of Canadian models) according to applicable Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreements between the EU and the concerned Third Country.
Type Design (Ref 21.A.31)
The type design shall consist of:
- The drawings and specifications, and a listing of those drawings and specifications, necessary to define the configuration and the design features of the product shown to comply with the applicable type-certification basis and environmental protection requirements;
- Information on materials and processes and on methods of manufacture and assembly of the product necessary to ensure the conformity of the product;
- An approved airworthiness limitations section of the instructions for continued airworthiness as defined by the applicable certification specifications; and
- Any other data allowing, by comparison, the determination of the airworthiness and, if relevant, the environmental characteristics of later products of the same type.
o Each type of design shall be adequately identified.
Next Steps
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Alternative Procedures to Design Organisation Approval (APDOA), aviation safety, Certification Programme, Compliance Demonstration, Demonstration of Capability, Design Organisation Approval (DOA), EASA, EASA Type Certification, ELA1, ELA2, European Certification Process, European Member State, FAA certification, I (Part 21), SAS blogs, TCCA, Technical Closure and Issue of Approval, Type Certificate
