Avionics News January 2013 - 72

Advertisers Index
Aero Standard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Aircell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Aircraft Electronics Association. . . . 56, 61 ATEQ-Omicron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 AVweb. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Becker Avionics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Bemidji Aviation Services . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Cal Labs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Dallas Avionics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC Device Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 EDMO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BC Express Calibration Services . . . . . . . . 71 Flight Display Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Flying Magazine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Garmin International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Georgetown Instrument Services . . . . . 55 GlobalParts.aero . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Greenwich/DAC International . . . . . . . . 31 Mid-Continent Instruments & Avionics . . 5 Millennium International . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Pacific Southwest Instruments . . . . . . IBC PIC Wire & Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 ProCal Laboratories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Saint Louis University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Sun Aviation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 TangoWare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Tech-Aid Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 TGH Aviation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Tri-Star Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Universal Avionics Systems Corp. . . . . 27

LEGAL EASE

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holders, such as those holding TSOs and PMAs. Inconsistencies exist across the three aviation authorities, as certain instructions may be referred to as manuals or maintenance instructions, and the industry sometimes has problems identifying which of these manuals are ICAs. Inconsistencies among the authorities’ policies must be resolved in this area. The issue of the completeness of ICAs at first delivery also was discussed. The agencies differ somewhat with respect to the degree of completion required. For instance, TCCA allow ICAs to be incomplete at the time of type certification, provided they will be completed prior to delivery of the first aircraft. Limitations are attached to the ICAs to prevent overhaul being performed beyond the limits to which the ICA is complete. EASA does not have requirements to apply limitations to enforce the completion of ICAs; however, new rules may be promulgated requiring enforceable limitations, particularly with respect to STCs, where the holders can go out of business or otherwise disappear before their deferred ICAs are published. The group also recognized the meaning of terms, such as accepted, acceptable and approved, must be clarified and better explained. Both the FAA and TCCA are in the midst of issuing legal opinions to define these terms. The level of involvement of the authorities in verifying and approving maintenance data also is something the agencies determined must be evaluated. The agencies will seek to develop a level of involvement allowing for flexibility depending on the complexity of a

given project. The extent to which agencies are involved in approving ICA data is a variable with the potential to affect the introduction of products, particularly if the agencies seek greater involvement. The Maintenance Review Board process also was discussed to determine the extent to which coordination and integration of the MRB process and ICA approval is possible. Both the FAA and TCCA are developing guidance to address these processes. EASA will need to produce a new rule to explain the MRB process and its relation to ICAs. Finally, the group discussed the extent to which an organization, other than the regulatory authority itself, may accept or approve ICAs. In the U.S., ODAs will have the authority to accept ICAs once the FAA finalizes procedures for acquiring the delegation. EASA has a similar status known as design organization approval, although it is not technically a delegation. DOAs may be privileged to approve structural repair manuals for the initial certification process and for major changes. DOAs also may issue minor changes and corresponding ICAs. No similar delegations are issued by TCCA. While the group was able to resolve some issues, such as a common definition of ICA, substantial areas for harmonization still exist among the authorities, and considerable work remains. A number of rules are in the process of being developed by each agency, and some legal interpretations from the authorities are pending. However, the working group was able to identify issues of common interest and those where there is a need for harmonization. Those harmonization efforts will continue in the coming year. q

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january

2013
Avionics News January 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News January 2013
