GM M.A.901 Aircraft airworthiness review    

CAA ORS9 Decision No. 1

Responsibilities of airworthiness review staff:

The following is a summary of the requirements contained in M.A.901 as well as the associated AMC and Appendices, in relation to the responsibilities of the airworthiness review staff:

— Airworthiness review staff are responsible for performing both the documental and the physical survey. First numbered paragraph. Use ListLevel0 style.

— Procedures must be established by the CAMO or CAO in order to perform the airworthiness review, including the depth of samplings.

— Procedures must make very clear that the final word about the depth of the inspections (both documental and physical) belongs to the airworthiness review staff, who can go beyond the depth established in the CAME or CAE if they find it necessary. At the end, it is the responsibility of the airworthiness review staff to be satisfied that the aircraft complies with Part-M and is airworthy, and the organisation must ensure that no pressure or restrictions are imposed on the airworthiness review staff when performing their duty.

— A compliance report must be produced by the airworthiness review staff, detailing all items checked and the outcome of the review.

— Airworthiness review staff are responsible for the items checked during the airworthiness review. However, they do not take over the responsibilities of the CAMO, maintenance organisation, DOA, POA or any other organisations, not being responsible for problems not detected during the airworthiness review or for the possibility that the approved or declared maintenance programme may not include certain recommendations from the design approval holder. Obviously, if the airworthiness review staff are not independent of the airworthiness management process and were nominated on the basis of the option of having overall authority on such a process, they will be responsible for the full continuing airworthiness of such aircraft. Nevertheless, this responsibility will be a consequence of their position in the organisation and not of their function as airworthiness review staff.

— The issuance of the airworthiness review certificate (ARC) by the airworthiness review staff only certifies that the aircraft is considered airworthy in relation to the scope of the airworthiness review performed and the fact that the airworthiness review staff are not aware of instances of non-compliance which endanger flight safety. Furthermore, it only certifies that the aircraft is considered airworthy at the time of the review.

It is the responsibility of the owner or contracted CAMO or CAO to ensure that the aircraft is fully airworthy at any time.