AMC-ELA No 1 to 21.A.245 Approval requirements    

CAA ORS9 Decision No. 1

The organisation demonstrates adequate staffing, infrastructure, access to facilities and discharge of responsibilities by means of the continued ability to certify type designs after it has ensured that there is positive compliance with the applicable type-certification basis, the operational suitability data certification basis and the environmental protection requirements. Adequate staffing is observed on the basis of reasonable workload, working time and project completion times.

The applicant should have access to:

1. workshops and production facilities that are suitable for manufacturing prototype models and test specimens; and

2. accommodation and test facilities that are suitable for carrying out the tests and measurements needed to demonstrate compliance with the certification specifications and the environmental protection requirements. The test facilities may be subject to additional technical conditions related to the nature of the tests performed.

The HDO for which an application for approval has been made has the direct or functional responsibility for all the departments of the organisation that are responsible for the design of the product. If the departments responsible for the design are functionally linked, the HDO still has the ultimate responsibility for the compliance of the organisation with Subpart J.

The function of the head of airworthiness (HoA) should be established with a direct reporting line to the HDO, and the person who fulfils this function is required to have a direct contract with the DO.

Responsibilities for all the tasks related to type investigations should be assigned in such a way that there are no gaps in authority.

Combinations of responsibilities are acceptable where:

3. the role of the HDO may be fulfilled by the chief executive (CE) of the legal entity, who may also fill the role of the AM within a parallel POA;

4. the HDO and the HoA are the same person, provided that the person has the competence to fulfil both functions;

5. the HoA and the ISM are the same person, provided that the ISM assessment of working activities that directly affect the person in their second role is conducted by another independent person, on behalf of the ISM;

6. the HDO and the ISM are the same person, provided that the auditing activity is conducted by another independent person, under the responsibility of the ISM;

7. external persons are acceptable for all or for parts of the role of the ISM;

8. a part-time HoA is acceptable, provided that the person is directly involved in the DOA, and not by an agreement between two DOAs, and provided that the availability of the person ensures that response times will be adequate;

9. a CVE may also hold any of the other nominations, as long as there is an independent check of compliance per AMC-ELA No 1 to 21.A.239(b).

Due to the typically small size of the design organisations and the low complexity and criticality of the products within the scope of AMC-ELA, no specific provisions are required to ensure that there is full and efficient coordination between departments and within departments in respect of airworthiness, operational suitability and environmental protection matters, provided that evidence of this coordination can be observed during the surveillance activities.