AMC No 3 to 21.A.263(c)(2) Procedure for the approval of minor changes to a type certificate (TC) which affect the aircraft flight manual (AFM)    

CAA ORS9 Decision No. 1

1. Intent

This AMC provides additional guidance for developing a procedure for the approval of minor changes to a TC which affect the aircraft flight manual (AFM).

Each design organisation approval (DOA) applicant/holder should develop its own internal procedure, based on these guidelines. For guidance on the classification of changes to a TC which affect the AFM, see GM 21.A.91.

2. Procedure for the approval of minor changes to a TC which affect the AFM

2.1 Content

The procedure should address the following points:

— assessment of any change to a TC for the impact of the change on the AFM;

— preparation of revisions or supplements to the AFM;

— classification of the change to a TC, taking into account the impact on the AFM;

— classification of stand-alone revisions or supplements to the AFM;

— control of the configuration of the AFM;

— approval of the revisions or supplements to the AFM; and

— the approval statement.

2.2 Assessment of a change for its impact on the AFM The procedure should include an assessment of whether or not the AFM is impacted by the change.

2.3 Preparation

The procedure should indicate how revisions or supplements to the AFM are prepared and how the coordination among the persons in charge of design changes is performed.

2.4 Classification

The procedure should indicate how changes to a TC which affect the AFM are classified, in accordance with the criteria of GM 21.A.91 Section 3.4.

The procedure should indicate how classification decisions are recorded, documented and signed.

Easy accessibility of these records to the CAA for sample checking should be ensured. All classifications should be accepted by an appropriately authorised signatory. The procedure should indicate the authorised signatories for the various products listed in the terms of approval.

2.5 Configuration control of the AFM

The procedure should explain the traceability of changes in order to understand who has approved what. Especially if a given page or data module has been revised several times, it should be traceable which part(s) of the page or data module has (have) been approved directly by the CAA under which approval, and which part(s) has (have) been approved under the privilege of a DOA holder.

2.6 Approval

The procedure should indicate how the approval under the privilege of point 21.A.263(c)(2) is formalised.

The authorised signatories should be identified (name, signature), together with the scope of the authorisation, in a document that is linked to the DOA handbook.

2.7 Approval statement

The amended AFM, or the supplement to the AFM, approved under the privilege of point 21.A.263(c)(2) should be issued under the obligation of point 21.A.265(h) (see point 21.A.265(h) and the related GM) with a respective statement in the log of revisions.