AMC 21.A.15(b) Content of the certification programme
CAA ORS9 Decision No. 1
The certification programme is a document that allows the applicant and the CAA to manage and control the evolving product type design or OSD, as well as the process of compliance demonstration by the applicant and its verification by the CAA when required.
The certification programme may be based on modules that may be updated independently.
The level of detail in the certification programme depends on the complexity of the product and its intended use.
In particular, the following information should typically be expected:
General
1. Identification of the relevant personnel who make decisions affecting airworthiness, operational suitability and environmental protection, and who will interface with the CAA, unless otherwise identified to the CAA (e.g. within the DOA procedures).
2. A project schedule including major milestones.
3. Subcontracting arrangements for design, operational suitability, environmental protection and/or production as well as design organisation approval (DOA) responsibility sharing.
21.A.15(b)(1) ‘a detailed description of the type design, including all the configurations to be certified’ An overview of the:
4. architecture, functions, systems;
5. dimensions, design weights, payloads, design speeds;
6. engines and power/thrust rating;
7. materials and technologies;
8. maximum passenger seating capacity, minimum flight and cabin crew;
9. cabin configuration aspects;
10. options (e.g. weight variants, power/thrust rating variants, optional avionics equipment items, auxiliary power unit (APU) choices, brake options, tire options, floats, skids);
11. noise/emissions level; and
12. other items, if considered to be more appropriate, that address the specific aeronautical product.
21.A.15(b)(2) ‘proposed operating characteristics and limitations’
13. Operating speed limitations.
14. Service ceiling, maximum airfield elevation.
15. Cabin pressure.
16. Limit load factors.
17. Number of passengers, minimum crew, payload, range.
18. Weight and centre-of-gravity (CG) envelope and fuel loading.
19. Performance.
20. Environmental envelope.
21. Runway surface conditions.
22. Other items, if considered to be more appropriate, that address the specific aeronautical product.
21.A.15(b)(3) ‘the intended use of the product and the kind of operations for which certification is requested’
23. Category A or B (relevant for CS-27 and CS-29), ditching, take-off and landing on water, emergency floatation equipment.
24. Extended overwater operation, high-altitude operation (above 41 000 ft).
25. High-airfield operation, steep approach, short take-off and landing, extended-range twin- engine operations (ETOPS), all-weather operations (AWO), visual flight rules (VFR)/instrument flight rules (IFR), reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM), required navigation performance (RNP) type, increased bank angles, single-pilot operation, flight into known icing conditions.
26. Flight in ice crystal icing.
27. Engine operations in ice-forming conditions, helicopter hoist operations, operation on unpaved runway, operation on narrow runway.
28. Take-off and landing in tailwind.
29. Volcanic-ash operation (limitation or operation as per CS 25.1593 and CS-E 1050).
30. Design service goal (DSG)/limit of validity targets.
31. Fatigue missions (general description of assumptions for flight durations, main phases, and parameters, as appropriate).
32. Other items, if considered to be more appropriate, that address the specific aeronautical product.
21.A.15(b)(4) ‘a proposal for the initial type-certification basis, operational suitability data certification basis, where applicable, and environmental protection requirements, considering the requirements and options specified in 21.B.80, 21.B.82 and 21.B.85’
The proposed certification basis should include applicable certification specifications, proposed special conditions, proposed equivalent safety findings, as well as a proposed ‘elect to comply’ and proposed deviations, as applicable.
21.A.15(b)(5) ‘a proposal for a breakdown of the certification programme into meaningful groups of compliance demonstration activities and data, hereinafter referred as “compliance demonstration items” (CDIs), including references to their proposed means of compliance and related compliance documents’
See AMC 21.A.15(b)(5) for the determination of the compliance demonstration items (CDIs).
21.A.15(b)(6) on information relevant for the determination of the level of involvement (LoI)
The applicant should provide sufficient detailed information about the novelty, complexity, and criticality aspects of each proposed CDI.
It is recommended to provide this information at the level of each CAA panel or discipline affected by a proposed CDI. Further interpretative material on the necessary level of details is provided in AMC 21.B.100(a) and 21.A.15(b)(6).
The applicant should provide detailed information about the proposed means of compliance with the applicable requirements identified under 21.A.15(b)(4). The information provided should be sufficient for the CAA to determine its (initial) LoI. This should include the following, as far as this information is available at the time of submission to the CAA:
33. a compliance checklist addressing each requirement, the proposed means of compliance (see Appendix A to AMC 21.A.15(b) below for the relevant codes), and the related compliance document(s);
34. identification of industry standards (Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE), AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD), etc.), methodology documents, handbooks, technical procedures, technical documents and specifications specified in the type certificate data sheet, certification memoranda, policy statements, guidance material, etc., that should be followed in the demonstration of compliance;
35. when the compliance demonstration involves testing, a description of the ground and flight test article(s), test method(s), test location(s), test schedule, test house(s), test conditions (e.g. limit load, ultimate load), as well as of the intent/objective(s) of the testing; and
36. when the compliance demonstration involves analyses/calculations, a description/identification of the tools (e.g. name and version/release of the software programs) and methods used, the associated assumptions, limitations and/or conditions, as well as of the intended use and purpose; furthermore, the validation and verification of such tools and methods should be addressed.
For every aspect mentioned above, the applicant should clearly identify whether the demonstration of compliance involves any method (analysis or test) which is novel or unusual for the applicant. This should include any deviations from the published AMC to the relevant CS.