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Continued Airworthiness Initiatives in the United States

This presentation discusses the Federal Aviation Administration's ongoing efforts to enhance airworthiness initiatives, including streamlined processes for mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), AD-friendly service bulletins, and instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA).

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Continued Airworthiness Initiatives in the United States

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  1. Federal Aviation Administration Continued Airworthiness Initiatives in the United States Presentation to: Europe/U.S. International Aviation Safety ConferenceName: Dave Hempe; Ali Bahrami Date: June 9, 2005

  2. Anticipated Outcome • Collaboration with aviation authorities, manufacturers, and other stakeholders on FAA continued airworthiness initiatives • Streamlined AD process for mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) • “AD-Friendly” service bulletins – Transport Airplane Directorate • Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) • Exchange of information and new ideas for future actions to enhance these initiatives

  3. Streamlined MCAI AD Process • Goal • Issuance of FAA MCAI-related ADs in a more expeditious manner by simplifying how we assess and write them • Key elements • Preamble will include no technical discussions, only a reference and link to the MCAI through the electronic docket management system (i.e., fixed boilerplate requiring no creative writing) • Rule portion of AD will contain text from the MCAI, copied into boilerplate headings to conform to Federal Register drafting requirements • FAA will continue to work with the State-of-Design to resolve our technical and legal differences

  4. Streamlined MCAI Process (cont’d) • Information needed to draft a FAA MCAI-related AD • MCAI that provide adequate notice for public comment • Correct applicability • Clear and enforceable compliance times • Clear explanation of the unsafe condition and corrective actions • Adequate information for economic cost impact • Cost of replacement parts • Time associated with performing each corrective action • Service bulletins with accurate and complete corrective actions (i.e., “AD friendly” effort)

  5. Streamlined MCAI Process (cont’d) • Docket Management System • Contains official DOT dockets for rulemaking • Allows the public to view dockets and comment on rules electronically • Service bulletins and un-scannable (e.g. too large) documents are retained in supplemental dockets at Directorate locations • There have been concerns raised on technology transfer issues/export licensing and transport security • Can access DMS website at http://dms.dot.gov

  6. Streamlined MCAI Process (cont’d) • Bottom Line on MCAIs • FAA still owns Unsafe Condition Decision • Streamlined effort relies on state of design for details of corrective action • Minimum differences can streamline the time to corrective action which has a direct impact on safety

  7. “AD-Friendly” Service Bulletins:Transport Airplane Directorate • Goal • Collaboration between the Transport Airplane Directorate and major airframe manufacturers to improve the level of safety of transport airplanes by analyzing and improving our respective products (i.e., ADs and SBs) to promote timely, accurate accomplishment and verification of safety actions • Provide clear statement of the unsafe condition and effect on products • Define clear and specific compliance times that meet the enforceability requirements for U.S. ADs • Ensure complete and accurate corrective actions • Consider customer feedback and needs

  8. “AD-Friendly” Service Bulletins:Transport Airplane Directorate • Service Bulletin Enhancements for more timely improvement: • Describe precipitating event, cause, unsafe condition and end-level effect on the aircraft • Use table formats for specifying complex compliance times • Always provide corrective actions • Compliance times should try to be precise

  9. “AD-Friendly” Service Bulletins:Transport Airplane Directorate (cont.) • Benefits • Reduced paperwork and resources for airlines—no need to correlate between a SB and an AD • Fewer questions among stakeholders (i.e., airlines, manufacturers, and authorities) • Easier for operators to demonstrate compliance • Less time to develop ADs

  10. “AD-Friendly” Service Bulletins:Transport Airplane Directorate (cont.) • Future activities • Continue collaborating with stakeholders to identify and implement concepts - stay on course • Expand to involve other manufacturers • Solicit additional operator feedback • Continue collaborative effort to document guidance and processes for reviewing transport service bulletin for compatibility with ADs

  11. Instructions for Continued Airworthiness • Goal • Document instructions and requirements for maintenance that are essential to the continued airworthiness of an aircraft, engine, or propeller • Developed guidance • Clarification when ICA is required (14 CFR § 21.50 ) • Defined procedures and responsibilities for reviewing and accepting ICA • Guidance for accurate and complete ICA content • Policy for Component Maintenance Manuals • Identification of conditions upon which a design approval holder must make available the ICA to a third party

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