AMC No 1 to 21.A.133(b) and (c) Eligibility – Link between design and production organisations    

CAA ORS9 Decision No. 1

An arrangement is considered appropriate if it is documented and satisfies the CAA that co-ordination is satisfactory.

To achieve satisfactory coordination the documented arrangements must at least define the following aspects irrespective of whether the two organisations are separate legal entities or not:

— The responsibilities of a design organisation which assure correct and timely transfer of up-to- date airworthiness data (e.g., drawings, material specifications, dimensional data, processes, surface treatments, shipping conditions, quality requirements, etc.);

— The responsibilities and procedures of a POA holder/applicant for developing, where applicable, its own manufacturing data in compliance with the airworthiness data package;

— The responsibilities of a POA holder/applicant to assist the design organisation in dealing with continuing airworthiness matters and for required actions (e.g., traceability of parts in case of direct delivery to users, retrofitting of modifications, traceability of processes’ outputs and approved deviations for individual parts as applicable, technical information and assistance, etc.);

— The scope of the arrangements must cover Part 21 Subpart G requirements and associated AMC and GM, in particular: 21.A.145(b), 21.A.165(c), (f) and (g);

— The responsibilities of a POA holder/applicant, in case of products prior to type certification to assist a design organisation in demonstrating compliance with CS (access and suitability of production and test facilities for manufacturing and testing of prototype models and test specimen);

— The procedures to deal adequately with production deviations and non-conforming parts;

— The procedures and associated responsibilities to achieve adequate configuration control of manufactured parts, to enable the production organisation to make the final determination and identification for conformity or airworthiness release and eligibility status;

— The identification of the responsible persons/offices who control the above;

— The acknowledgment by the holder of the TC/STC/repair or change approval/UKTSO authorisation that the approved design data provided, controlled and modified in accordance with the arrangement are recognised as approved.

In many cases the production organisation may receive the approved design data through an intermediate production organisation. This is acceptable provided an effective link between the design approval holder and the production organisation can be maintained to satisfy the intent of 21.A.133.

When the design and production organisations are two separate legal entities a Direct Delivery Authorisation must be available for direct delivery to end users in order to guarantee continued airworthiness control of the released parts and appliances.

Where there is no general agreement for Direct Delivery Authorisation, specific permissions may be granted (refer to AMC 21.A.4).