Question

1. What is ABNORMAL EVENTS?

2. What is MODIFICATIONS?

3. What is CERTIFICATE OF RELEASE TO SERVICE?

4. Who is TYPE DESIGN ORGANIZATION? GIVE SAMPLE

5. What is the difference between CONFIGURATION DEVIATION LIST and MINIMUM EQUIPMENT list?

Answer 1

Abnormal events-

All aircraft are designed to go through with normal flight and landing loads expected during flight cycle. During the design process of an aircraft the designer and manufacturer normally have anticipated the nature of some of disturbing occurrences which are required some special checks for these abnormal events. Like the load on aircraft is expected that much for its normal manoeuvres although designer have already considered safety factor to compensate for load slightly larger than normal but sometime extreme circumstances occur which cause stress over normal design limits. So an inspection should be made for such abnormalities that may cause damage to aircraft.

Aircraft Modifications-

Modifications that are likely to affect an aircraft’s performance or handling characteristics, which include:

a. any piece of equipment that protrudes into the airflow or any alteration to the basic shape of the airframe

b. wing or profile modifications that may alter the aerodynamic qualities of the aircraft

c. changes to flight control systems

d. changes to engines and propellers

e. changes to weight and/or center of gravity.

Certificate of release to service-

It’s a license for an aircraft to fly you can say.

After the manufacturing and all work that is carried out on an aircraft, components and working systems those all should be certified as good to fly high, on completion and prior to return to service. Therefore, certificate must be issued before flight at verge of its maintenance completion.

According to Commission Regulation (EU) 748/2012, organisations that design aircraft; changes to aircraft; repairs of aircraft; and parts and appliances need to fulfil the requirements as defined in Annex 1 (which is called “Part 21”). Such organisations need to demonstrate that they have the right organisation, procedures, competencies and resources.

This demonstration of capability can be done by:

• holding a Design Organisation Approval
• having specific procedures called Alternative Procedures to DOA
• by providing the Agency with a certification programme for a specific project (CP)

For organisations located outside EASA Member States (EU Member States, plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland), derogation to this demonstration of capability is possible, either through bilateral agreements or use of article 8.2 of Commission Regulation (EU) No 748/2012.

The following table describes the available options for specific design projects:

Configuration deviation list-

It is a listing approved by federal aviation administration (FAA) for external parts that may be missing but aircraft is capable to remain fly. It also lists the penalties associated with missing parts.

Minimum equipment list-

It is the lists of sub-system, system or components within system that are present in aircraft but may be inoperative for safe flight.